The achievements of women all over the world will be celebrated as part of International Women’s Day on Friday. OLP is lucky to have a team of dedicated women who work in various roles within the company. OLP Customer Service Manager Julie O’Brien and Business Development Manager Janise Howard discuss their role within the company and what they love about their jobs.
OLP Business Development Manager Janise Howard
Business Development Manager Janise Howard joined OLP about 10 months ago and brings with close to 30 years of experience in the office product industry.
“I really enjoy the challenge and meeting new people,” she said.
“A lot of my customers have become good friends of mine. Through the job, I’ve learned a lot of new skills. I am very proud to be proud to be part of a diverse, multicultural mix of dynamic women and men who are inclusive, respectful and value everyone’s opinion.”
OLP Customer Service Manager Julie O’Brien
Originally from Ireland, Customer Service Manager Julie O’Brien has been with OLP for almost 8 years. She has witnessed the company grow significantly since its inception, from having about 5 customers to now working with upwards of 400 nationally. Julie runs the Internal Sales Team and is a senior member of the OLP team.
“It’s a rewarding role and each day is different,” she said.
“We have achieved a huge amount over the last few years. I’m looking forward to the continued growth of OLP.”
For Julie, International Women’s Day is about women empowering other women and “girl power.”
Janise believes it’s about having the right person do the job, irrespective of gender or ethnicity.
“I spoke to my 6-year-old granddaughter about International Women’s Day,” she said
“How I explained it to her is that when she grows up, she can achieve whatever she wants, as long as she tries and does the best she can while being kind and caring to those around her.
“I admire women who have been thrown into the spotlight through tragedy and circumstances out of their control, and who lend their support to other women who may find themselves in similar situations. It makes our society more aware of the issues that people are dealing with.”
International Women’s Day is a global event, which celebrates women’s achievements and highlights the actions that are still required to achieve gender parity.