Hall of Femmes

(1) What I love about my current job is...
...the variety of tasks, the ability to influence things, the contact with technology and people and the challenges I come up against.

(2) My current job suits me perfectly because...
...it is varied and challenges me with all my skills.

(3) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
...taking on the management of TEAM GmbH.
This brings with it honorary posts, which make networking even more interesting. These has included launching the “Paderborn ist Informatik” (Paderborn is computer science) initiative in 2006 (now an association; known as PIT for short), membership on the board of technology network InnoZent OWL e.V. and collaborating with the Software Innovation Campus Paderborn (SCIP).
In 2000, municipal consulting agency Wirtschaftsförderung Paderborn (WFG) asked me to participate in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia’s mentoring programme. Since then, I’ve mentored about 15 people on their career path.
I was also Chair of the University Society from 2012 to 2021. During this time, we supported a multitude of key projects. One highlight for me was the provision of funding for Paderborn University’s AStA city campus.

(4) When I look back on my career to date, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
…the challenges of project work associated with striking a balance between customer satisfaction, financial success and employee satisfaction.

(5) I try to inspire young women for my discipline and passion(s) by...
...being involved in PIT. Through the mentoring programme “girls4IT”, we succeed in attracting young women to computer science every year – both for apprenticeships and part-time courses and university degrees.
As an IT company, we’ve also been participating in Girls’ Day since 2003. Ideally, I’d like to see STEM subjects being promoted to girls as early as in nursery school.
When I acquired my pilot’s licence in 2003, I was one of just a handful of female pilots (even today, just 6% of pilots are female). This imbalance, and the associated feeling of being in the minority has also led me to campaign for gender equality in all areas. As President of the Association of German Women Pilots (VDP), it’s particularly important to me to empower women in aviation.

(6) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
…get a mentor and/or personal coach.

(7) One challenge I believe still needs to be conquered on the road to gender equality is...
...the division of roles within the family and in thought patterns!

(8) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
...freedom, recognition and working on the weekly worksheets together with others, sometimes late into the night. Ultimately, this enabled me to further hone my analytical thinking. I also really liked being able to take advantage of the university’s wide and varied sports programme in my free time.

(9) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
…to continue to successfully promote the sciences in order to stay true to its highly successful path, while also inspiring more women for STEM subjects and – last but not least: to have a meaningful co-operation with the University Society.