ME Printer speaks to Diana Lavender, the Sales and Marketing Support Manager for CAMEA at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, about what attracted her to the print and graphics arts industry
Tell us about your leadership style and philosophy.
Here at Konica Minolta Business Solutions, we are a global and innovative company that is robust and constantly evolving. We have made a pledge towards our customers. It is our pledge to bring the ideas of customers and society to life through innovation and contribute to the creation of a high-quality society. In order to achieve this, we have developed 6 values.
They represent the essence of our innermost beliefs. They describe how we go about our business and act towards all our partners. Our 6 values are: OPEN AND HONEST, CUSTOMER-CENTRIC, INNOVATIVE, PASSIONATE, INCLUSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE.
What made you choose Printing and Graphics Industry as a career opportunity?
My father was a printer for 42 years. I loved graphics arts and painting. I am actually educated in the graphic arts. I learned how to print with the old-fashioned hand presses and I think once you have smelled the printing ink, it’s in your blood. Especially in my case with a printer as a father.
How has your unique background prepared you for success in the industry?
I started young in the printing industry. I did graphic arts college and did an apprenticeship at our local newspaper. I worked my way up from pasting the pages together to working in advertising sales – to managing several departments. I evolved with the industry from paper to digital.
What was your most interesting job?
I believe the job I currently have is the most interesting and challenging job. I am responsible for the Marketing and Sales Support of 45 countries in Central Asia, Middle East and Africa. I travel on a regular basis for my job and I’m always grateful that I get to meet such fantastic people and different cultures.
No day at my job is ever the same. I’m also grateful to my boss who puts his trust in me and the company for giving me the opportunity. I’m very much aware that in this industry you have to earn your respect from your customers and colleagues and I work hard in order to achieve this.
What advice would you give to women looking to break into the field of print and related industry?
Never give up and believe in yourself. If you want to achieve something, you will have to earn it. It does not come automatically. It is very much a male-dominated environment but with the right attitude, you will manage to stand out from the crowd.
What is the greatest transformation in the printing that you’ve witnessed in your career?
The digital transformation. Who could have ever imagined the changes and innovation that we are now experiencing? It is amazing and I’m very excited to be contributing towards this change and to be part of a front-running company like Konica Minolta.
What are your thoughts on the next transformation in the print and graphics industry?
Konica Minolta is a powerful innovator across industries, driving the digitalization of future industries and business. With its heavy investment in R&D, open innovation processes and a broad portfolio of specialized and leading edge industry solutions, Konica Minolta is able to provide its customers with revolutionary, innovative and new products and services for their business needs. All I can say is watch this space and you will be amazed.
Are you involved in any sort of volunteer work? Can you give us some details?
Every year we design/organize/choose a Corporate Social Responsibility project. This time we organized a School Book project for Kenya. We had 10.000 children (from 205 schools) writing a story or a poem or making a drawing covering the subject Space.
The winners of the drawing and writing contest where gathered in a book that we published and the book were brought to life using Augmented Reality. You should have seen the faces of the children when they saw the AR. The books were distributed to the school libraries and the children. (for more information or to download the little book of anything space: https://storycontest.konicaminolta.eu/)
What’s next for you in terms of your career in the printing industry?
For now, I’m happy where I am. We still have a lot of work to do, building the brand awareness and finding more distributors in our area. But most of all enlarging our Konica Minolta market share. I look forward to the new and innovative products and developments that Konica Minolta will be launching in the near future and in order to keep up with all the current and new developments I have started studying again. Just so, I keep up with new developments in the marketing sector. You are never too old to learn and once you stop learning that is it, time to retire.
