Hall of Femmes

(1) What I love about my current job is...
...the almost daily new challenges, the many interesting conversations I have and that I get to make lots of decisions – it’s never boring! The key basis for this is that I enjoy working successfully with a team of highly motivated, competent people, strategically and at the same time pragmatically and flexibly.

(2) My current job suits me perfectly because...
...I really love the highly dynamic nature of the job and the diverse tasks and wide variety of people that comes with a job in the events business. When I think about the particular problems thrown up by the pandemic, I’m glad that I’ve got a lot of experience, good problem-solving skills and a great team.

(3) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
...On a professional level, it’s difficult to narrow it down to one particular highlight. On a personal level, it was when my husband and I adopted our son and saw him for the first time. Today, I’m aware that being happy in my personal life is what has given me the necessary strength to master challenges in my professional life, which has led to several career highlights.

(4) When I look back on my career so far, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
...experiencing first-hand as a university research assistant just how enjoyable professional work can be when you work in a team of very different people who are all intelligent and super motivated and who enjoy working together successfully in a specific field of expertise and in an environment of mutual respect.

(5) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
...build up not only your subject expertise, but also your leadership skills and a professional network. In my experience, it’s also important to remain true to yourself, to have at least one confidant and to develop as much resilience as possible. I’d also recommend any women wanting to start a family to go ahead and do so.

(6) I believe that female role models are important in university and professional life today because...
...as part of a research project, I conducted a large number of interviews with women in leadership positions and learned a lot about the potential additional challenges that women face. It’s therefore important to have female role models who have ideally also experienced such challenges and so can tell you their story and share how they overcame them. At the same time, I’d like women to be more open to “good” male role models at manager, colleague and employee level. I believe that we’re more likely to overcome these challenges if the right people with an appropriate awareness of the problem actively work together, regardless of gender.

(7) Given my experience as a professional with care responsibilities, I’ve found the following support particularly beneficial...
1. A partner who never questioned my dedication to my career and instead always worked with me to find a solution whenever the need arose
2. An excellent day care centre with lovely, qualified staff
3. Great, reliable friends who help each other out with problems

(8) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
...in my private life, above all my closest friends, who I met as a student. My time as a research assistant also had a big impact on me, both personally and professionally. Looking back, I also have good memories of intense periods of work with knowledgeable people and, for me personally, outstanding supervisors. I still like going back to the university from time to time.

(9) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
...to continue its dynamic and successful development of the past decades – i.e. high-calibre appointments, successful early-career researchers and junior academics and extensive funding for research and teaching. Personally, I hope that the university, with its national and international audience, will have an even greater impact on shaping the city of Paderborn over the next 50 years than it has today.