Women in Print goes down a treat

Women in Print is wrapping up its 2014 season, with the final Sydney breakfast event scoring a good turnout to hear Dr Sally Cockburn talk life, health and secret women’s business.

Cockburn rocked the room with a rollercoaster ride from success, stress and mentors to spinning plates, relationships, colonoscopies and gorgeous reflections in the mirror.

Pearls of wisdom were also on offer via the industry panel discussion, led by Karen Goldsmith, executive director of GAMAA and NSW patron for Women in Print, and featuring Joanna Love, managing director of Copeland Publishing, and Nicole Jandik, sales manager – edge, with Blue Star.

Love, who began publishing the first incarnations of the now national My Child magazines in 1989, shared her top two secrets for career success. She says, “Keep sharp, keep aware of what is happening around you in your business, keep up to date with any trends.

“The second is, think about the profile you are presenting to people because you are selling yourself. If you want to go somewhere in your career, make sure you present yourself well and in the best light for you. Put your best foot forward.”

Jandik, who has several years of experience in print sales, says it is important to constantly review what you want from your job and talk to your manager about where you see yourself heading in the business.

She says, “It all comes down to what you want out of your job and your role, where you want to go. You might be really happy in what you’re doing, but you might also want to champion some projects to give you a bit of variety.

“If as part of your career you would like to head towards a manager-type role and you have the opportunity to take responsibility for a task, show them you can do it.”

She adds that in today’s changing print world it may pay to diversify your skills and learn about the different parts of the business – being proactive is key.

Throughout the event and particularly in Cockburn’s presentation one clear theme arose time and time again – ‘Dr Feelgood’ says keeping on top of your work/life balance and looking after yourself, as well as the million other things on the to-do list, is important for a woman’s health and her ability to enjoy her success.

Jandik says, “As much as we do love our careers, constantly look at that balance between your work and your life. Don’t let one become more than the other. You are going to be a much better, healthier person when you constantly look at finding that balance in what you are doing every day.”

The industry’s women-only breakfast and dinner events in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, organised by Heidelberg, are now wrapped up for 2014.

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