Women in Print Alliance director Lisbeth Lyons Black met with over two dozen print and graphic communications students representing college and university print and graphics communications programs during the official PRINTING United Expo Student Day, rallying the group in advance of a career tour of the trade show floor.

Lyons Black urged the female students to take advantage of Women in Print Alliance’s free student membership category, which allows them to participate in special events, educational programming, and networking opportunities.

“A career in print is non-linear. The segment, role, or technology of your first job in print may look much different in your second, or third, or even fourth job in print,” said Lyons Black. “Exposing yourself to the job pathways of women in print who’ve gone before you will help keep your industry career vision open and exciting.”

Lyons Black also highlighted a recent LinkedIn study that showed more than 80 percent of Gen Z workers would leave their current jobs for a job with a company that better aligned with their personal values, including the value of gender inclusion and diversity.

“Our industry hears your generation’s desire to find authentic alignment between personal and professional values.” she told the student group. “And Women in Print Alliance is committed to cultivating an inclusive industry that attracts and advances women while providing them channels to thrive and shine.”

To the male students in the group, Lyons Black issued a specific call to action: pay attention to gender inclusion and gender diversity while visiting exhibitor booths on the trade show floor to avoid the trap of inherent gender bias.

“Don’t assume every power broker or executive in the booth is male. Give equal attention and respect to both men and women that you in the meet on your tour today. We’re depending on you to be allies for your fellow students who are women,” said Lyons Black.

Following the meet and greet session, the student group heard vendor presentations from Landa, EFI, Konica/Minolta, and HP before observing technology demonstrations in the Expo’s Apparel Zone.

The Student Day event was hosted by Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation and PRINTING United Alliance.