Hall of Femmes

(1) What I love about my current job is...
...that I get to meet people I’d otherwise never get to meet. That I get to dive deep into topics that might otherwise not necessarily even be on my radar. That I’m always learning something new. It’s such a dynamic job. You share so closely in people’s worries, but also their joys. It can’t help but be inspirational.

(2) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
...definitely receiving the German Radio Award. It’s an honour to receive such recognition for your work, and I still get emotional whenever I think about it. But: There are lots of great things about this job. Especially in situations where we as a local radio station realise just how important we are to our listeners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, and the tornado in Paderborn.

(3) When I look back on my career so far, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
…the colleagues I’ve learned from. Practical experience working in this industry is clearly the most important thing, but the training I did prior to this also gave me a good foundation on which to build my career: My apprenticeship as an industrial business management assistant taught me how to conduct myself professionally. My degree also gave me some key skills for my work, including a moral compass.

(4) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
…devour as much news as you can, be open to world events, sharpen your interests and don’t simply want to work in mainstream media, but consume it, too. The job will only be fun and successful if you’re passionate about it. So go through life with open eyes. There are stories to be found everywhere, once you learn how to find them. Finally, it’s important to keep at it and gain practical experience.

(5) I believe that female role models are important in university and professional life today because...
…it shows that not just one woman can make it to the top. They all can! There’s no need to compete. Role models – and the more the better – show young women that it’s important to network and support each other.

(6) Given my experience as a professional with care responsibilities, I’ve found the following support particularly beneficial...
...Here again, it’s extremely important to network with other women, especially those in similar situations to you. Honest, frank discussions with other women have been what helped me personally the most, and what have also made me realise that when the going gets tough, I’m not alone and don’t have to do everything at once.

(7) For me, gender equality will be achieved when...
…mothers no longer hear things like: “It’s great that you can go out to work and Daddy helps out so much!” Daddy doesn’t “help out”. He’s a dad – it’s as much his “job” as it’s Mum’s!

(8) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
…first and foremost inspiration. I got to work on fascinating things, saw new prospects open up for me and, above all, learned things that I still draw on almost every day today. Sometimes they’re very practical things, but often they’re soft skills that I learned during my degree. Of course, studying at a campus university is also a very special experience and a lot of fun. That had a great impact on me.

(9) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
...to continue to grow, to continue to be a role model in empowering women in research and business and to uphold its standing as a leading German university.

Photo (Julian Jakobsmeyer)