Rachael Carter Account Executive, Mighty Color
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-carter
What do you do?
I am the newest Account Executive at Mighty Color, the largest full-service commercial printer in Tennessee. We specialize in 4-color process sheetfed printing. I am very new to this role, having served as Executive Assistant to Brandie Herrell for two years when she was the Senior Sales Executive here. When a position on the team opened up, I jumped on it. They say you have to get uncomfortable to grow, and boy, is that true!
I am in my second month here at Mighty Color, and am realizing just how much more I have to learn! It’s so much more than just selling print work- it’s time management, multitasking, some marketing, and some dumb luck! I thrive when I’m learning, and it seems like I’m learning something new with each passing hour.
More importantly than that, I am a single mother to three children, ages 6, 2, and 9 months. For most of my life, I have worked in factories and restaurants, and it still shocks me that I can bring my daughter to work with me if I need to, or work from home if they’re sick! Starting this journey has been the best thing I could have ever done for myself or my family, and I will never look back unless it is to help someone rise as Brandie did for me.
When I’m not working or raising children, which is unsurprisingly not often, I enjoy reading, writing and crocheting. I’m also a hobby herbalist, having worked with over 30 plants and herbs last year alone. That started when I overheard a conversation on a city bus about how Valium was originally made from Valerian Root. I thought to myself, ‘What else did they take from nature and pervert for profit?’
I have no reservations about saying that I am starting at the farthest depths of the ‘bottom’. I live in government housing. I drive a beat-up 2007 sedan that sometimes decides that it doesn’t want to start. I deliver pizza at Domino’s after I leave the office for the day because the tips buy my groceries. The struggle is real; However, I feel that the hardships that I have known most of my life put me in the perfect position to jump in head first with the hunger and drive to excel in this new role. When you start with almost nothing, the only option you have is to succeed! I won’t ever be the smartest person in the room but I will outwork them all to keep my children from living the struggles I have lived.
What investments have you made in your professional career development?
I realized very quickly that I might be a little bit over my head here, so I started watching YouTube videos immediately. I learned the ins and outs of Outlook, some basic marketing skills, and touched upon the Microsoft Office skills I haven’t used since High School. Then, I upgraded to LinkedIn Premium and am currently taking advantage of all of the professional development courses that it offers. I don’t see pursuing a degree feasible for me until all of my children are in school, but it is something I want to do in the future!
What investments have you made in your personal development?
I haven’t considered personal development until now, but I would say that I invest in my personal development by making sure that I eat real food, and drink LOTS of water (I’m currently breastfeeding so I drink about a gallon and half a day), exercise more regularly now that I sit at a desk for a majority of the day, and I don’t know if this is too personal, but I have recently started therapy. I can’t be the best version of myself without healing from past trauma.
How can the industry proactively invest in women, and why should this be a priority?
Women made up 54% of the workforce in 2022, but less than 35% of those women held positions of leadership. We can do better. Research has shown that companies with female leadership outperform their male-led counterparts by 30%. That’s because we rock. However, an independent study showed that 43% of women in leadership roles say they are held to a higher standard than their male co-workers while being paid significantly less. That’s absolute crap.
Women can bring a multitude of perspectives to an industry. And with women representing the majority of the workforce and buying markets, we deserve representation in the companies we work for and interact with. I think the simplest thing the print industry can do to make investments in women is to hire and support and LISTEN TO more women. Women buy close to 80% of all U.S. goods and services, and marketing trends reflect that. With print being such a HUGE part of the marketing world, we need more women in decision-making roles, and we need their voices to be heard!
Get Involved and Get Empowered
Join Girls Who Print in May for TWO in-person events at America’s Print Show
Get your Girls Who Print Gear at our store!
Join our women-only, Girls Who Print LinkedIn Group
Sign up to join our global mentoring program – it’s FREE!
Listen to the Girls Who Print Podcast series playing on Podcasts from The Printerverse.
Subscribe to Podcasts From The Printerverse where you listen to podcasts so you’ll never miss an episode.
Printspiration is streaming 24/7/365 through our growing library of original programming for print and marketing professionals at ProjectPeacock.TV
