Kyocera Newsletter
Message of the week 11 - 15 August 2025
Women’s leadership in print and tech matters
It’s nearing the end of Women’s Month, and that’s a timely reason to pause and reflect, not only on where we are today, but on how far we’ve come, and where we’re going next.
I recently read a piece highlighting how, although more women are entering the ICT sector in South Africa, leadership positions remain male-dominated. It’s an ongoing challenge, but also a reminder that every visible leader makes a difference, and every appointment matters.
Encouragingly, our own industry has a surprisingly progressive history. In 1860, Emily Faithfull established the Victoria Press in London. At a time when women had few rights, she employed young women as compositors and proofreaders and ran her business on principles we still admire today: profit-sharing, an eight-hour workday, safe working conditions, and even housing support. Despite fierce resistance from the male printing unions, her press flourished for two decades and helped lay the foundation for future generations of women in print.
Closer to home, the Remata Print & Communication case study we recently published makes me proud. Led by women founders and directors, Remata is not just an example of innovation, it’s a local story of bold leadership, long-term thinking, and the kind of partnership we believe in at Kyocera. Their co-owner, Esme Bense, speaks openly about building for the future, challenging outdated models, and creating a print business that is both sustainable and inclusive.
At KDZA, we’re committed to this same vision. Our management team is already ahead of the national curve—with 54.5% women and 45.5% men. These numbers mirror the very findings of the ITWeb report and reflect real progress. It’s a sign that balanced leadership is not only possible, it’s already happening here. We know that representation at every level matters, and this is a milestone worth acknowledging.
We still have work to do. But the good news is, we’re not starting from scratch. We’re walking a path shaped by pioneers like Faithfull and powered by local leaders like Esme. The goal, I believe, is not to count women in leadership, but to count on them. And one day soon, we won’t need to make it newsworthy. It will simply be normal.