Change 1 Woman - C1W

Change 1 Woman - C1W Change One Woman (C1W) is an initiative dedicated to empowering women through connection, conversation and support.

Launched as a women-led initiative, C1W aims to bring women together in the branding, print and signage industries.

Liezle Barrie from Intamarket Graphics says that too often, signage only enters the conversation at the ex*****on stage....
23/03/2026

Liezle Barrie from Intamarket Graphics says that too often, signage only enters the conversation at the ex*****on stage.

If signage is expected to represent a brand consistently and professionally, material specification needs to be part of the conversation from the start, and that conversation should include material suppliers and technical partners to ensure accurate planning and correct specifications.

https://www.signafrica.com/check-your-signage-specification-checklist/

The Change 1 Woman networking event held today at the Sign Africa and Africa Print Cape Town Expo was an incredible plat...
12/03/2026

The Change 1 Woman networking event held today at the Sign Africa and Africa Print Cape Town Expo was an incredible platform to connect with women in signage, print and branding. We hope you left inspired with new ideas for your businesses and helpful contacts.

A big thank you to our sponsors of this event: NUtec Digital Ink, KGS - Kolok Graphic Supplies, Avery Dennison South Africa, Midcomp - Pty Ltd., Graphix Supply World and DTF Printing Africa.

Our next C1W event is being held on 28 May at the Sign Africa Durban Expo.

09/03/2026

We're continuing the empowerment theme of International Women's Day with the free Change One Woman networking event, taking place at the Sign Africa Expo in Cape Town on 12 March on the C1W stand in Hall 2, at the CTICC.

🌸 Connect with women in branding, print and signage. Be prepared to be uplifted, guided and inspired. 🌸 Proudly sponsored by NUtec Digital Ink, - Kolok Graphic Supplies, Avery Dennison South Africa, Midccomp, Graphix Supply World and DTF Printing Africa. RSVP: [email protected]

The Change One Woman Cape Town networking event is your platform to connect with women in branding, print and signage. C...
02/03/2026

The Change One Woman Cape Town networking event is your platform to connect with women in branding, print and signage.

C1W is hosting a FREE networking event at the Sign Africa Expo in Cape Town on 12 March at the CTICC. The event is proudly sponsored by NUtec Digital Ink, Kolok Graphic Supplies, Avery Dennison South Africa, Midcomp Pty Ltd, Graphix Supply World and DTF Printing Africa.
RSVP: [email protected]

The Change 1 Woman networking event held today at the Sign Africa Bloemfontein Expo was an incredible platform to connec...
11/02/2026

The Change 1 Woman networking event held today at the Sign Africa Bloemfontein Expo was an incredible platform to connect with women in signage, print and branding. We hope you left inspired with new ideas for your businesses and helpful contacts.

A big thank you to our sponsors of this event: Kolok Graphic Supplies and NUtec Digital Ink.

Thank you to Avery Dennison South Africa for the awesome badges and DTF Printing Africa for the gorgeous shopper bags. Our next event is being held on 12 March at the Sign Africa Cape Town Expo.

06/02/2026

Be inspired at the Change 1 Woman Bloemfontein networking event for women in signage, print and branding at the Sign Africa Bloemfontein expo.

🌸Get tips and ideas for your business
🌸Network with suppliers and women-led businesses
🌸Share your expertise

🗓️ 11 February
🕗 9am–5pm
📍 Ilanga Estate, Bloemfonteing
🎟️ Free entrance
📧 RSVP: [email protected]

📢 Attend the free Change 1 Woman networking event, taking place at the Africa Print and Sign Africa Expo in Bloemfontein...
03/02/2026

📢 Attend the free Change 1 Woman networking event, taking place at the Africa Print and Sign Africa Expo in Bloemfontein. 📢

Join us on 11 February 2026 at Ilanga Estate, at 12pm. This is your platform to connect with women in signage, print and branding.

The first 50 ladies to RSVP will get their own C1W badge sponsored by Avery Dennison and a shopper bag sponsored by DTF Printing Africa. RSVP: [email protected]

Industry trailblazer Ayesha Jassiem, who is the Group Director at Trident Press Marketing, shares her advice on leadersh...
11/12/2025

Industry trailblazer Ayesha Jassiem, who is the Group Director at Trident Press Marketing, shares her advice on leadership, success, and navigating tough times in business.

What leadership principles ensure both yours and your team’s success?

Our brand prioritises multitasking, and we never say no to a challenge. Clear communication and trust are also important. In any business, you'll encounter different personalities, cultures, and backgrounds, and we need to celebrate that in one another and support each other so the business can succeed. We use our differences as our strength.

How do you navigate tough times in the industry?

Make sacrifices in the top tier of the business so that your staff aren't affected. We make little sacrifices along the way in management to allow staff to provide for their families.

You were recently awarded the prestigious Women in Print Award 2025. What is your advice to women who want to be trailblazers in the printing industry?

Accept that you don't have to be perfect and you don't have to always get it right. Make sure that your voice is heard and that you are seen. Not everyone is going to accept you or like you, and that's okay — you'll find your crowd and your support structure. Most people fear being rejected or criticised, but if you believe in yourself, then you'll succeed.

Also be bold in your presence, educate yourself and continuously push yourself out of your comfort zone.

What should printing businesses do to ensure their longevity in this digital age?

Do your homework, and make sure that you stay relevant. Invest in relationships with clients and suppliers. Make sure that your brand is seen and heard by using digital platforms to market yourself. People are still going to print, but they generally use social media and technology to get information. So use digital media to make people aware of your services and to ensure that you are the printing company everyone talks about.

How do you achieve a healthy balance between work and your personal life?

Scheduling and planning ahead keep me sane. I don't always get it right, but when that happens, I use that as an opportunity to do better. I've learnt to set boundaries, and to make time for my family, my responsibilities and my children. But I've also learnt to make time for myself. I love dancing and do a lot of Zumba. Achieving a healthy balance first applies to you personally before your professional goals.

Many women say that they are expected to sacrifice a lot and they end up losing themselves. What is your advice to them?

Know where your boundaries lie. Most importantly, think of yourself first, grow yourself first and love and believe in yourself first before anyone else can. When you display that confidence, that is when things will happen for you.

And then also know when to leave the table — when it no longer serves you and is no longer the right place for you. If you are losing your sanity and yourself in the process of growing your professional career, but it no longer serves you, then it's okay to leave and start over again.

There have been times in my career where I doubted myself and the place that I was in. But I'm very grateful to my company because they have adapted their business to allow me space. It's a working relationship that is mutually beneficial.

We are proud of what we have done this year and thank you for all the support! Please enjoy our first Change 1 Woman Upd...
02/12/2025

We are proud of what we have done this year and thank you for all the support!

Please enjoy our first Change 1 Woman Updates newsletter, where we celebrate our growth in 2025 and look forward to more networking in 2026. https://tinyurl.com/muc4wdmu

Poonam Harry is the Director of Harry's Printers, a company with a 96-year history. She discusses the key to business lo...
01/12/2025

Poonam Harry is the Director of Harry's Printers, a company with a 96-year history. She discusses the key to business longevity, how to keep your team inspired, as well as prioritising mental well-being in the workplace.

How do you stay motivated in the workplace?

I ensure that I always remember my ‘why’: the reason for doing what I do. In being able to uplift, inspire and impact the lives around me, from the team I lead to the customers and community we serve, I realise that my job is more than just what I do and the place I operate from. Being true to myself, my values and passions allows me to marry all these elements into the workplace and beyond — I try to constantly remember and live this daily.

How do you keep your team inspired?

I strive to create a workplace that is real and authentic, where we value our team members as people and not just employees. This includes having weekly Tuesday Training sessions where we touch base on anything from new product developments and innovations to the importance of self-care and team building and some fun and games, as well as daily and sporadic check-ins where we share our vision and reflect on the past week — looking at pitfalls and winning moments. It’s a constant conversation and allows open, honest and real leadership to emanate in all that we do.

What can women do to take care of their mental health and well-being?

This is no longer a luxury but a necessity in our daily lives. I have had to learn the hard way that we shouldn’t even be pouring from our cup, but rather from our saucers, as we have to be full first before we can serve or lead others. I encourage women to ‘find their happy’ – whether it’s taking 5 or 15 minutes or more for yourself every day to pray, be in nature, meditate, exercise, have some fellow girl power time or anything else that resonates with you. Ensure that you’re doing anything you can to fill your cup regularly so that you can pour out not just to yourself, but to those around you.

Can you explain the importance of ‘leading yourself to lead others’?

Today’s world, especially the Gen Z workplace, is increasingly looking for authentic leadership. According to authentic leadership expert, Bill George, your True North is: ‘the true compass that guides you successfully through life and is guided by an individual’s deepest values, passion and life story’. Knowing our True North is critical in the working world. If we don’t know who we are, what we stand for, and what we believe in, let alone where and why we’re doing what we’re doing, it becomes almost impossible to lead anyone else. I am deeply passionate about this topic as I lecture part-time at UCT on this.

Harry’s Printers has a long history. Looking to the future: what is the key to ensuring business longevity and that the business is future-proof for the next 96 years?

We are so humbled to still be standing after 96 years with strong foundations laid by my forefathers and mothers that paved the way for the fourth generation. It’s important to always remain ‘RELEVANT’ to your industry and the market you serve:

R: reinvent/reflect/innovate. E: engage team members + clients + community + other stakeholders. L: leadership. E: environment. V: value-driven. A: authentic + adaptable. N: new mindset. T: thankful (+ technology).

Always be thankful and grateful to the Divine and everyone who has and continues to shape and mould your path. We are deeply grateful and honoured to do what we do and serve the people we serve, and we look forward to more than 100 years to come!

Sibusisiwe Zethu Buthelezi, Director of Human Scale Printers, shares her leadership principles, advice for printing busi...
20/11/2025

Sibusisiwe Zethu Buthelezi, Director of Human Scale Printers, shares her leadership principles, advice for printing businesses to ensure their longevity, and how women can transform the industry.

What are the leadership principles that ensure both yours and your team’s success?

I believe leadership starts with setting the tone: being consistent, transparent, and leading by example. Coming from an auditing and risk management background, I naturally value structure and accountability, but I’ve also learnt that people thrive when they feel trusted and included.

At Human Scale Printers, we’re a close-knit team of about 20 people, so communication and collaboration are key. I make sure everyone understands how their work fits into the bigger picture. When people feel supported and know that their contributions matter, they take real ownership, and that’s where success begins.

What is your advice to women who want to be trailblazers in the printing industry?

Don’t wait for permission to lead. Bring your voice, your perspective, and your ambition to the table. The printing industry is evolving, but it still needs more women who are confident enough to take up space and change the narrative.

Learn everything you can, from the technical side to the business side. Be curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes — that’s how you grow. Build a strong network of mentors and peers, and never underestimate the value of your perspective. Women bring creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking, qualities that can transform how this industry operates.

What should printing businesses do to ensure their longevity?

Longevity comes down to innovation, discipline, and adaptability. The printing landscape changes fast — technology, customer expectations, and even sustainability demands are constantly evolving. We’ve focused on investing in modern equipment, expanding into packaging and design, and maintaining strong supplier relationships. My auditing background has also taught me the importance of financial discipline and internal controls — without that foundation, it’s hard to grow sustainably. Businesses that listen to their clients, embrace change, and build solid systems will always be better positioned for long-term success.

How do you achieve a healthy balance between work and your personal life?

It’s still a work in progress! In a family business, it’s easy for work to spill into every part of your life, so I’ve learnt to be intentional about setting boundaries. Balance doesn’t mean a perfect 50/50 split, it’s about knowing when to give your all to work and when to step back and recharge. Staying grounded in my values and remembering my purpose helps me navigate both worlds with clarity and peace of mind.

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