#PrintHERStoryMonth 2025: Meet Anja Macan, Macan

Anja Macan CMO Macan

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjamacan

What does empowerment mean to you as a woman in printing?

Empowerment is a mix of impact, results and being surrounded by role models. Seeing young women in leadership roles powers me as well to push further to achieve my vision and dream big. Doing things that matter to you and seeing how they impact the bigger picture – this is what empowerment means to me.

Can you share a moment in your career when you felt truly empowered?

As I’m working in a client-facing role, and despite the previous experience I had with sales, fundraising, and external relations, where I frequently had meetings, I experienced big “stage fright” during meetings in my new role. My voice was weak, with shaky hands, and I’d find myself struggling to match my breathing with talking. I felt totally out of place and even questioned my skill, I spent years honing. I talked about this with my mentor at work, another strong woman role model, who helped me overcome this blockade with her advice. The empowering moment, about a few months after experiencing this blockade, was when I signed a client that I could have only dreamed of a year ago. It felt like coming a full cycle, and for sure it felt like a validation of my skills when I achieved a result like that!

What resources or programs have helped you grow in your career that you would recommend to young women?

Investing in education is always a way to go. Reading is the key to growth and development, and not just in your career, but also personally.

Some newsletters I follow: Beauty Packaging, Packaging Europe, Sustainable Packaging News, PaperSpecs, etc.

Books: I have recently opened a Goodreads account and my New Year’s resolution to read more this year. Currently, I’m reading Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building by Claire Hughes Johnson, and I must say, it is one of the best reads I’ve had in a while!

Networking: It is a cliche but for a reason. I’m always trying to scout relevant trade shows, industry talks, or any other conference with interesting speakers, and remember not to be afraid to come up to the speaker and introduce yourself. I always try to ask a question during conferences as well, to ensure I get the maximum value for myself there.