Ana, you are one of the Hispagraf team members with a high level of responsibility for the company’s operation.
✔ Working for a market-leading company is very demanding. What motivated you to work in the graphic industry and what has your professional path been like so far?
Answer: At 16, having just finished secondary school, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, like most teenagers. It was my mother who decided to enroll me in a vocational training program for the graphic industry. She knew this was the path for me, and time has proven her right. Whenever I think about where I am today, I remember that decision and I will be forever grateful to her.
My professional career has always been linked to this sector. I started in reprographics and blueprint plotting, continued as a large-format digital printing technician working with high-quality machinery, cutting plotters, and sublimation equipment, and then spent eight years in a technical office, some of that time at an advertising agency and the rest at a leading company in screen printing and large-format printing.
Six years ago, I moved into a management position. Initially, I managed a production plant dedicated to manufacturing outdoor advertising nationwide—buses, trams, street furniture, and airports—and finally, I joined Hispagraf. Here I have found my place: I feel that I am an essential part of the structure, I see my work reflected in the results, and that motivates me to keep working hard so that the company continues to grow.
✔ How do you manage teams in a large and complex structure like Hispagraf?
Answer: Hispagraf has grown tremendously in recent years, and the team has continued to expand, but we've still managed to maintain a close-knit, family-like atmosphere. I think the key lies in building strong relationships with our people. When employees understand that their work is essential to the company's success, their commitment increases, and their pride in the results grows.
You can have the best technology on the market, but without qualified professionals and a dedicated team, it's useless. Having an experienced and committed team gives me peace of mind when delegating, because I know the work will be done with the same level of rigor and attention to detail that I apply.
✔ Have you faced specific challenges as a woman in the graphic industry?
Answer: Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges has been making people understand that my judgment, my decisions, and my authority carry the same weight as a man's. On several occasions, technicians, suppliers, or external personnel have tried to question my decisions because I'm a woman and, in many cases, also because I'm younger. Fortunately, I'm very meticulous, and I thoroughly analyze every project that comes my way. In the end, the results speak for themselves, and little by little, people stop questioning whether what I say or do is right.
✔ Could you tell us if you think that, in general terms, being a woman raises the level of expectation?
Answer: Personally, I believe that the level of expectation should be based on each person's abilities, regardless of gender. In my case, the fact that management trusts me with the most demanding projects is very satisfying and reinforces my professional confidence. For me, meeting expectations is a challenge, and whenever possible, I try to exceed them.
It's not about being a woman or a man, but about doing your job well. When that happens, respect comes naturally. And in this industry, there's room for anyone who is eager to learn and truly committed.
✔ What positive changes have you noticed in the graphic industry regarding gender equality in recent years?
Answer: Little by little, we're seeing a greater female presence in the sector, although it's still scarce in the factory environment. In our case, combining both companies (Hispagraf and Adhegraf) and the full staff, approximately 40% of the workforce are women. Of that total, 53% work directly in the workshop, and the rest perform administrative and quality control functions, which reflect quite positive figures.
Even so, it's true that few women are trained to operate machinery. They generally occupy handling positions, although we do have female colleagues on our team who are skilled in folding and gluing. I love seeing women operating machines, but I still miss seeing more women in the printing departments. In over 18 years in the industry, I've never encountered a woman operating digital or offset printing equipment.
✔ Do you think the role of women in our market is normalized, or do you think there is still a long way to go?
Answer: No, the role is not at all normalized. There is still very little female representation in certain positions within the production process. In recruitment processes, for example, there are departments like printing, die-cutting, or cutting, where we only receive resumes from men. It's not a matter of a lack of willingness, but rather a lack of female applicants.
I think the idea that certain jobs are “for men” is still very ingrained in society, and that discourages many women from training in this sector and in similar ones, such as metalworking, mechanics or automotive.
✔ What is the most exciting thing about your job and what are your professional challenges?
Answer: I love being at the factory every day: seeing the machines running, interacting with colleagues and suppliers, ensuring safety, and taking care of every detail of the facilities. No two days are ever the same; new challenges, questions, and problems always arise. Furthermore, regulations are constantly changing, and it's essential to stay up to date with them, which means continuously seeking improvements.
Before joining Hispagraf, I considered training to become a Vocational Training teacher in graphic industry, an idea that really excited me. However, right now, I couldn’t leave the factory: I need to remain directly involved in the industry.
One of my current challenges, and one of the projects I'm most excited about, is to start collaborating with Vocational Training centers to host students for internships. I want to share with them the enthusiasm I had when I started and show them that, with effort and consistent work, they can go very far. I think it's one of my favorite short-term projects.
✔ We would like you to share one last thought about being a working woman. What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue a career in the graphic industry?
Answer: First and foremost, I would tell them not to limit themselves. In the graphic industry, everything is connected: knowledge of printing and post-press is invaluable for design and pre-press, and vice versa. Understanding all the processes provides essential tools in the long run.
I would especially encourage them to train in conventional techniques, such as offset, screen printing, and flexography. Digital techniques are easier to learn, but in a few years, printers who know how to operate presses or rotary presses will be very scarce. It is vital and essential that the generation of printers who will retire in a few years be able to pass on their knowledge to new generations. This experience cannot be learned from books and deserves to be preserved.
Thank you very much, Ana, it’s been a pleasure!