50 Issue 251 - February / March 2024 www.signlink.co.uk INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024 to inspiring and empowering women in the sign, graphics, and visual communications industries who aspire to achieve leadership roles and was launched at the 2019 ISA Sign Expo. Holding the Reins When interviewing women for this year’s article, a common theme was a lack of confidence in ability when looking back to the start of their careers. Funnily enough, this lack of confidence is documented in research with the Global Report on Women and Entrepreneurship 2012 finding that in every single economy included in the study, women have lower capabilities perceptions than men. In every region, women have, on average, a greater level of fear of failure than men. What’s more, according to the Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, HM Treasury 2019, women are less likely to believe they possess entrepreneurial skills. Only 39% of women are confident in their capabilities to start a business compared to 55% of men. This is a perceived gap in ability rather than an actual gap in skill sets. This didn’t however put off two women from taking over the business they worked at and taking the leap to run a successful signage company. Sam Morgan and Donna James took over Signspeed in October 2020 in a management buyout after the directors of the company retired. Whilst working in a zoo, Morgan found herself feeling like she needed a change. When the company that was responan issue for women. We need males and females to be working together to create a diverse and balanced workforce across the industry for optimum performance and success for all. Last year’s Sign & Digital UK was a good example of this with the event’s Explains Lounge hosting a Women in Signs and Graphics talk featuring a ‘Men Supporting Women in Signs and Graphics’ Panel. This demonstrated the importance of male team members supporting and championing women in the workplace to create a better balance in the industry. Founded in 2020 by Sarah Fenna and Izabella Ivanovici, Women in Signs and Graphics (WSG) has been working to make the industry more equal with the aim being to open up more opportunities in the industry for women whilst collaborating with the education sector to encourage the next generation of the industry. In March 2022, WSG co-founder Sarah Fenna paid a visit to wide-format print business MacroArt where she led a session with the business’ client relationship manager Charlotte Barham for its growing female workforce. The session discussed the need for a group like WSG and the women were invited to offer their feedback and insight into their own experiences as women in the industry. Another initiative which was launched by the International Sign Association (ISA) and Sign Builder Illustrated is Women Leading the Industry (WLI). Currently only open to ISA members, WLI is dedicated sible for creating signs at the zoo (enter, Signspeed) was recruiting, she applied. James also entered the industry accidentally. “My working life started as many do in our corner of West Wales at the tender age of 12, in ice-cream shops, and gift shops and working in various bars and restaurants. When I left school after my GCSE’s I dabbled with a course at a local college, but this wasn’t for me. “At 17 I had been accepted by a Highstreet banking chain to take a role 50 miles away from home. Following the birth of my daughter, I returned West and after eight years in the bank, I left and ventured into the world of sales and business development in various B2B environments. This then led to a part-time position at the local newspaper and on to Signspeed.” Fast forward a couple of years and having developed a passion for the industry and recognising the potential, Morgan and James seized the opportunity to take over the business and are currently celebrating its 40th year. Having taken over the reins, James says one of the steepest learning curves she encountered was transitioning from a purely sales and admin role to a managerial position. The new role required moving from focusing solely on site visits, quoting, and following the processes to overseeing operations, managing teams, and making strategic business decisions. “This shift required an entirely different skillset that I am still working on,” James explains. “The balance of the demands of leadership and business management and still carrying out my day-to-day role had been a significant challenge. “I have learned to understand the financial aspects of the business and the impact of the decisions that we make. Over the last three years, I have certainly developed a broader perspective and understanding of the industry.” For Morgan, the learning curve was similar and being a business owner, leadership skills became paramount. She says leading a team effectively, fostering a positive work culture, and making decisions that benefit both employees and the company has been a “transformative experience”. Morgan says: “Whilst the learning curve has been steep, the challenges have also been immensely rewarding. Each hurdle has presented an opportunity for growth and improvement, and the experience gained has contributed significantly to the success and resilience of our business.” Looking back over their careers so far, for Morgan, her proudest career moment has been those instances when a project moves from concept to reality. “It reaffirms that we are not just providers of a service but contributors to our clients’ success.” ▲ [L to R] Sam Morgan and Donna James, directors of Signspeed
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