Konica Minolta Australia has celebrated International Women’s Day by holding morning teas in each of its branches with Sue Threlfo – General Manager Production and Industrial Print – sharing her journey and career highlights in a nationwide webinar.
Threlfo told Sprinter her address to all staff charted the highs and lows of her career journey including her ultimately wise decision to challenge a workplace bully through human resources in 1991.
At the time, she says, she was confronted with two options: either leave the company or challenge the behaviour.
“I decided I could either challenge this guy or leave, I could either make a difference or get fired. I opted to make a difference and I went on to have another 25 years with that company,” Threlfo told Sprinter, adding this is very much in line with the #ChooseToChallenge theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Threlfo also discussed why women should show their “authentic selves” in the workplace, adding she couldn’t count how many managers had seen her cry over the years.
Another key point was for women to get involved, speak up and make suggestions if they think things could be improved in the workplace.
She also pointed out that when she was rising up through the ranks there were very few women role models with the majority of her mentoring coming through external role models, including her mother, friends and other family members.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
Brisbane-born Threlfo began her career in IT in the 1980s and went on to become part of the digital revolution that swept through the printing industry.
After moving to Sydney she took up a role with Xerox Corporation as an IT customer support analyst. Various other roles came her way and she soon found herself selling the merits of digital printing to offset printers which obviously presented itself with challenges all if its own.
This year’s theme #ChooseToChallenge is based on the concept that an alert world comes from a challenged world. And from challenge comes change.
She joined Konica Minolta in 2017.
Yesterday she shared her inspiring journey and experiences of being a female leader in a male-dominated industry for Konica Minolta’s celebration of International Women’s Day.
“I was delighted to be a part of our celebrations for International Women’s Day 2021 at Konica Minolta. It is great to be working for an organisation that is committed to diversity and inclusion,” Threlfo told Sprinter.
“I am pleased to say, our industry has come a long way since I first joined and enjoyed celebrating the contribution of inspirational women within our business.”
Konica Minolta managing director Yohei Konaka also lent his support to the #ChooseToChallenge initiative.
To read a Women in Print special that was published in 2019 on Sprinter about Sue’s journey, please click here.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter