Less than one year ago, Sarah Henderson was appointed as the North American regional director by MPS Monitor and Nexera as the two companies joined forces under Valsoft Corp.’s managed print vertical. With a home base in Urbandale, Iowa, a city of about 46,000 people near Des Moines, Sarah is a self-described dynamic public speaker, trainer, and hockey mom/wife: Her husband coaches and her son plays on the ice.
We each poured a cup of virtual coffee recently, and I asked the thought leader how she got started:
SH: Prior to joining this industry, I had experience in marketing and public relations in government and higher education markets and found myself seeking a new role. I started in the channel with GreatAmerica Financial Services as director of strategic marketing for the Office Equipment Group, where I quickly started to learn all the acronyms and business models. Within a month we had purchased a PrintFleet server to offer MPS software support to leasing clients and my passion for the business model, the evolving solutions, and offering value-added services was grounded.
I was recruited to join Clover Imaging Group (West Point Products) as the operational leader for their MPS division, and that evolved into a sales role later on. In the midst of COVID, I transitioned to an internal print asset logistics leader within the enterprise MPS team internal to Wells Fargo Bank. While I enjoyed working inside a large enterprise team, I missed the channel work and was recruited to a regional sales role for Kyocera and learned the front lines of copier sales in national accounts and channel sales support. My current role in supporting SaaS solutions for MPS Monitor and Nexera is really getting to my passion for solutions and bringing value to dealer operations.
CC: What are your thoughts on the importance of women having mentors in the industry? Can you share you own personal experiences?
SH: It is very important to have mentors who help you see the big picture, give you honest feedback on how you can develop and grow, and who have your back in rooms that you are not in. I think mentors are beneficial to anyone new entering the channel, and some of my early mentors were and continue to be both male and female. For me, personally, I have had a few mentors who have helped me evaluate career moves and provide a much needed trusted place to discuss challenges and share experiences.
CC: Have you had many bad ‘bosses’ (who shall remain nameless) along the way?
SH: I have had a couple of bosses I have enjoyed less than others, mostly because they were yellers when frustrated. I am not personally motivated by fear, so I don’t think the ‘old school’ authoritative style of management brings out the best in me. I am a very passionate about my work product, so no one is more critical than me [on myself] when I deliver less than I wanted. I have appreciated the great bosses who truly believed in me and my skill set, got to know me as a person, and helped me achieve my best work through supporting my skills development and sales knowledge.
CC: What is the biggest challenge or obstacle that you’ve faced professionally? Have you faced overt sexual discrimination in the workplace—either reported or undocumented?
SH: The biggest challenge I have faced professionally was prior to joining the channel. I was blindsided by a layoff when I was expecting my first child. I had just been promoted at that company, so it was a complete shock to be let go. I was at home, starting to show, and unable to secure my next full-time professional position because the minute I walked into interviews I recognized ‘the look.’ Instead, I started to consult and pieced together freelance work. It was so incredibly stressful financially but that closed door resulted in me seeking local work and joining GreatAmerica Financial Services a couple years later.
I have pretty thick skin, so I really don’t sit around looking for a reason to feel discriminated against. But I have had one man in the channel tell me I would not be taken seriously due to my gender, but that was 14 years ago and I am still here.
CC: Would you say it’s easier for women working on the IT side as opposed to the more traditional printer/copier side?
SH: There is no easy side of the channel for either gender. It is funny, I have also had a former male colleague tell me I has a distinct advantage being female in the channel, too, so I think you have to focus on growing your knowledge, delivering your best work, and earning trust, and you will be successful on either side.
CC: Let’s talk about family life: Has U.S. human resources policy evolved regarding maternity and parenting leave?
SH: I don’t see a lot of improvements here but trying to standardize a federal policy around this comes at a big expense, so I am not sure there is an easy solution. I think some employers choose to offer better benefits as it comes to maternity leave but that tends to be the larger corporations. I have also seen dealers work hard with new parents and provide needed flexibility.
I recall trying to negotiate a return to work that included working part time for a month when I was trying to ease my way back from the birth of my daughter. My employer at the time did not want to set a precedent for other’s trying to come back part time and limited this to only two weeks. In hindsight I should have waited longer to return to the office but she is 17 now, so I think we both survived. I do think hybrid and remote work arrangements are more family friendly when parents can flex hours or reduce commuting time to be able to be home sooner.
CC: As a parent trying to achieve work-life balance, what programs does your company offer from which you’ve benefitted? How have you been able to successfully juggle work and family obligations throughout your career?
SH: My current employer offers a very generous time-off policy of four weeks holiday, one week for personal/sick leave, and many extra holidays. This is such a great benefit because it reduces the stress around being able to take time for my kid’s sports schedules. I also think self care is important, and taking time off to truly disconnect physically and mentally from work should be embraced more because workers return more refreshed from time off. Working remotely has also been a big benefit for our family.
In the end, juggle is the right term, Carol. There is not real balance like on the scales-of-justice image of your work-life. I am very dedicated to my work, so if I need to login at 10 p.m. to finish up a project, I will. But if I need to take my lunch hour at 4 p.m. to get to the lacrosse field, my employer is supportive.
CC: Has becoming a working mother adversely affected your progression up the corporate ladder?
SH: I have a very supportive family regarding the demands of work travel, so I have not felt being a mom has adversely affected by my career progression. I think the image of a traditional ladder within the same organization is a dated one. Some of the role changes I have made in my career were less about moving up and more about growing my skills set and proving myself in sales.
CC: What would your colleagues say is your greatest strength?
SH: I won’t give up, and I love to learn.
CC: What’s the best advice you’ve received from a colleague or mentor? And, what advice do you give your younger female colleagues about working in the office technology industry?
SH: Best advice: Be yourself. My advice to younger colleagues is the same—know thyself and find the roles where you can apply your skills to the greatest impact for your employer.
CC: The office tech industry is facing a talent shortage: Give us your best recruiting speech about the opportunities for women in the industry.
SH: If you love helping people achieve success and navigating change, you should consider a role in the office technology space. In most organizations, the sky will be the limit, and you can earn a great paycheck while working with businesses that need guidance in what technology solutions will truly impact their profitability. Plus, you are never bored in this channel!
CC: What notable woman (or women) has inspired you by their contributions to history, culture and society?
SH: When I was younger, a core memory was President Reagan appointing Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman to the United States Supreme Court. This is not a political statement but rather as a young girl seeing a woman in a major role was inspiring. I wrote many school reports on Justice O’Connor and gave a speech in competition about her because I was inspired by her service. This lead me to be involved in my passion for public service have served in elected office and on many local and state government boards and commissions.
CC: We so appreciate your time, Sarah. Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience being a woman in this industry?
SH: I hope there is a day it is not notable to be a woman in the industry, but I thank The Cannata Report and the Cannata family for providing a spotlight on women in the publication/website and annual Women Influencers brunch. This has inspired me to know this is where I belong in my career choice.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the devoted, working moms out there!
