Last year, the Plastics News team was tasked with coming up with a new, memorable name for our annual feature highlighting women in the plastics industry.
We tossed around options — Women to Watch in Plastics, Women of the Plastics Industry, Dynamic Women in Plastics. Finally we settled on Women Breaking the Mold, because journalists are suckers for a good pun.
At the time, it didn't sit quite right with me. I didn't like how the phrase seemed to frame successful women as novel, an exception to the rule. (To say nothing of the fact that to molders, a broken mold is hardly a positive.)
I know from my reporting that there are talented, knowledgeable women all over the plastics industry.
We saw proof of that at the inaugural Women Breaking the Mold networking forum last month, where more than 120 women from the plastics industry gathered for an afternoon of networking and discussion. And we continue to see it in our annual special report profiling women professionals working in all aspects of plastics.
It's time again to celebrate the contributions of women professionals in the plastics industry.
The 2017 Women Breaking the Mold special report will appear in our July 17 issue. We're looking to share the stories of dynamic women of all ages and career levels within the plastics industry.
To apply, or nominate someone you know, go to www.plasticsnews.com/wbmsurvey and fill out the survey — as many questions as you are comfortable answering. You may be contacted by a Plastics News reporter afterward for further discussion.
The deadline for nominations is June 30.
If there is a mold to be broken, it is one of expectations. It is certainly not a lack of capability shaping women's experiences in this industry.
I look forward to seeing the range of talents and experiences recognized in this year's group of Women Breaking the Mold.
