Author: Martina Eckermann

In the pursuit of better diversity, inclusion and equality, one pivotal question that companies need to consider is: Do we have a gender pay gap? Wintershall Dea investigated this question and have since initiated and completed out a 12-month certification process with the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Learn more!

The Global Female Leaders summit 2022, the economic forum for female leaders, was a great success. This article gives a brief overview of what the speakers and participants had to say.

In this blog post, Martina Williams, Head of JLL Work Dynamics DACH and CEE at JLL, describes, how sustainable cities can scale their impact on decarbonisation

The preparations for this year's Summit have paid off: Our 7th Summit for Women Leaders starts this afternoon. We will be updating our website with new photos throughout the event. Stay tuned!

Women's opinions on business issues are still heard far too little. Therefore KPMG and Global Female Leaders launched a global business survey four years ago to capture key challenges and opportunities in their business as well as personal aspects of women in leadership from around the world. Please support the fourth edition of this study!

Learn more about the impact of climate change on companies' activities and the main focus of COP26. Here is a brief summary of a fascinating discussion.

In this virtual meetup, moderator Kathleen Schroeter ably guided two high-profile business technology leaders Eva Zauke, SVP, Global Head of SAP Enterprise Adoption, SAP SE and Dr Feiyu Xu, SVP, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence, SAP SE to share some fascinating insights into this highly topical subject.

“Female Investors for Social Justice”: A highly topical issue, and having it expertly unpacked by a top-ranking researcher and practitioner in the field is a rare privilege. This became a deeper dive into the topic by Dr Vanina Farber.

Futurologist Anabel Ternès von Hattburg interviewing scientist, virologist and entrepreneurial business leader, Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff – a truly distinguished line-up! Prof Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff has developed breakthrough medicines against infectious diseases and is a change-maker, impacting the lives of countless people.

To an audience drawn from business leaders around the world, Audrey Tang is a breath of fresh air and inspiration. The Minister is quietly confident that challenges are there to be overcome, and without a second thought, they apply the creative thought processes and deploy the resources required to overcome them.

Europe, Asia and back to California: Business travel is second nature to Denise Ruffner. The Covid 19 pandemic has made her rethink her approach. Read what she will do differently.

Denise Ruffner is a top evangelist for quantum computing worldwide and explains what is meant by quantum computing and what are the possible applications.

The Covid-19 pandemic is acting like a burning glass on many issues. Also on working conditions for families. With it comes a new perspective on what companies and management need to do for people to feel well taken care of. Read more about the mood among female leaders here.

Sustainability, resilience and stakeholder expectations - find out what Global Female Leaders think about these topics. The GFLO results provide interesting insights into the current economic situation

The 2020 GFLO study was a great success. Read details here about what female executives think about economic growth and necessary investments in digitalization.

Our changing world calls for a new approach by those in charge of businesses and organizations, means Karen Penney. Now is the time for a more authentic, female leadership to make its mark. It’s time for more women to be at the helm.

As smoothly as the transition to remote went at her institute, Vanessa is finding it much more difficult to balance motherhood on lockdown.

For Xenia, home office has been the normal state of affairs for 20 years. And it takes the COVID 19 pandemic for her to stop justifying herself! And her team has an even bigger gain from it.

With the start of the pandemic, Asher Jay was slowed down from a hundred to zero. The initial uncertainty very quickly gave way to inner contemplation, from which a new company and deepened self-understanding as a leader emerged.

Additional work, family life and keeping her team together at Webasto have shaped Christine Cheminay's work for the past year. She has benefited greatly from her inner attitude.

Béatrice Guillaume-Grabisch is responsible for the employees of a globally active company and must protect them as well as business partners and customers.

The Covid-19 pandemic is the defining global crisis of our time and thus shaped the third Global Female Leaders Outlook (GFLO) to a great extent. Enjoy this inspiring report and be prepared for some surprising results.

At the same time as the pandemic began, Ilka Hartmann started a new job and had to throw all considerations overboard and turn the concepts completely upside down.

Deborah Lorenzen gives a very deep insight into her career and everyday family life during the pandemic and addresses the question of how women are viewed in the economy after COVID-19.

Do you call yourself a female entrepreneur? Do you have the determination to create a business and conquer the world? Here are 10 secrets of successful female entrepreneurs that hopefully inspire and motivate you to start and grow your business today!

In the first part Inna Braverman reports on the changes within Eco Wave Power due to the pandemic. In this article she now describes the global impact of Covid-19 on the environment.

Inna Braverman produces electricity from renewable energies with her company. She explains how Eco Wave Power is mastering the pandemic with its employees and partners.

When virologists look back on the adaptation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the results are rather sober. Our speaker Prof Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff proves this in her statement.

We asked female leaders, who will be speaking at our summit in 2021, to share their personal thoughts on the challenges, opportunities and new perspectives they have personally encountered as they navigate through the still ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This special series should inspire and encourage you to continue to manage the crisis in the best possible way. Enjoy the first article from Bianca Stringuini.

This is the moment for women to step up and be counted. We have the opportunity to do things differently. Dr Rebecca Harding shares her thoughts about the Covid-19 and the effects on the global economy and how we can address the new challenges.

Women´s voices are underrepresented in the public when it comes to business issues. Therefore, KPMG International and Global Female Leaders decided three years ago to change this by creating a business survey focusing on the views and issues of women business leaders around the world.

What do companies like SAP, Microsoft and Google have in common? Some of their top female managers are members of the Mission Female network. Find out what challegend Frederike Probert (Mission Female Founder) faced during the founding process in our exclusive interview.

We know we need cross-border and cross-sector collaboration, but do we fully understand how to lead these multi-stakeholder collaborations effectively?

We know we need cross-border and cross-sector collaboration, but do we fully understand how to lead these multi-stakeholder collaborations effectively?

Guy Grainger’s keynote at the Global Female Leader summit 2019 addressed the reasons why it is necessary instead of demolishing existing buildings to repurpose them, how AI and the rise of robots can be used in the workplace to connect people even more and why this is critical for business success. Learn more!

Diversity and inclusion are no longer topics created by engaged human resource managers. A diverse and included working atmosphere leads to higher employee commitment. Margot Slattery explains how Sodexo manages diversity and inclusion to get the full engagement and support of its employees.

Having the same vision and knowing how hard it can be for startups to succeed in the free economy, the startup community has a special sense of solidarity. How to become part of that group? In this article, we would like to introduce the top 5 worldwide startup summits you should visit in 2020.

This morning event will be an opportunity for you to connect with female leaders from across industries and engage in a rich exchange on digital leadership with keynote, panel discussion and networking. You are also invited to join a guided tour of the Microsoft Germany HQ in Munich, a modern working space to promote collaboration and connectivity.

Many products and advertisements forget something really important: Customers don’t wait only in a company’s home market! Allyson Stewart-Allen, CEO of International Marketing Partners and speaker at the Global Female Leaders 2020, shares with us her thoughts on this topic.

In this exclusive interview, Asher Jay shares her thoughts with us about why protecting wildlife is about protecting humanity too, about Asher's goals in the near future and why it is so important for her to help more brands and non-profit partners effectively towards delivering high impact efforts and truthful narratives to the masses.

What will be the biggest challenges for cities and mobility in the next years? And what are the opportunities? What about digital health - which developments can we expect in this field? In this interview, Mobility and Digital Health expert Karolina Korth answers all these fascinating questions.

Have you ever thought about establishing your own startup company? This article explains the founding journey in 7 simple steps – from the product/service idea to introducing it into the market and starting making profits. You will notice that it is not as hard as you might have imagined.

A "continue as it is" is not an option for female leaders. The second Global Female Leaders Outlook shows, that there are new ways to tackle digitalization and the climate challenge and to approach a more sustainable way of living. Enjoy this 2019 thought-provoking report.

At the Global Female Leaders summit 2019, we had a great panel discussion about technology. Three female leaders talked about how they are handling customers’ needs and technological trends in the banking and software sector. Find more insights in our video!

Anna Zeiter hosted a think tank about privacy and digital ethics at the Global Female Leaders summit 2019 and gave us an exclusive interview about her perceptions of development in this business field. This article gives a summary of the talk!

We met Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen at the Global Female Leaders summit 2019 and asked why mentorship is so important for her and which experiences she made with this approach. This article provides a summary of that interview.

We are delighted to keep you informed with the trends that can inspire and help you lead your company in the right direction. Therefore, we created an exclusive and free whitepaper for our Global Female Leaders community: The Greatest Trends in our Digitalized World.

We all know some technological trends that promise to simplify our companies’ processes. There are several tools on the rise, but Vuyiswa M’Cwabeni highlighted five of them we should focus on if we strive for success.

We are glad that Simona Scarpaleggia spoke at the Global Female Leaders summit this year. Of course, we took advantage of this opportunity for a short interview regarding the still existing gender leadership gap. This article gives a summary of that interview.

The Gig Economy is on the rise – and it is moving faster and becoming more powerful than we all thought it ever would. You are not sure what this concept even implies and how it would influence your business? Laura Esnaola gives you a short introductory course.

We are happy that Dr. Parul Pandey visited the Global Female Leaders summit 2019. We have been curious regarding the impact of technology on the working force. And who would be a better interview partner for this topic than the Vice President for Talent and Engagement of a fast moving-forward company like DIAGEO India?

If you did not make it to this year's summit, don't worry – the official and complete review for the Global Female Leaders summit 2019 is now available for download!

Our human health is already restricted by environmental problems. At the Global Female Leaders summit 2019 we talked about planetary health with the CEO of GHAI, Dr. Nicole de Paula. Whatch the video now!

Cybercrime is undoubtedly the biggest threat in our hyper connected and digitalized environment. A study shows that companies are more vulnerable than they think. Learn more about this hot topic!

Jac Phillips attended the Global Female Leaders summit 2019. She was delighted and fascinated by the quality of the summit and the wide array of topics and discussions it offered and eagerly shared her views and insights on some topics she could personally relate to.

Amy Jadesimi's vision for Nigeria’s future is big: She aims to develop the private economic sector so that it becomes as big as the public sector. We discussed this topic with her at the Global Female Leaders summit. This article gives a short overview of our talk!

From BREXIT to the future of WTO – Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Trade enlightens the current situation and explains what she expects. The following article gives short insight in the exclusive interview!

Emily Penn raises awareness for the current environmental issues, especially with the plastic problem. At the Global Female Leaders Summit, we had the chance to meet her and get to know her engaging personality - we would like to share it with you.

Katarzyna Mol-Wolf is convinced that we can only achieve equality together with men. That is why promoting equality between men and women includes making the right men accomplices. Read more about this fascinating topic!

How to use Social Media for Business? And what kind of guidelines are needed? In this article, Stefanie Babka, Global Head of Employee Content and Media at Merck in Germany, presents the main topics discussed during the correspondent Think Thank at Global Female Leaders 2019 in Berlin.

Consumer’s needs, desires and expectations are changing faster today than at any time in history. Monika Schulze, Head of Customer & Digital Experience at Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, gives seven thoughts about sucessful innovation.

Workforce is diverse, multi-generational, eager to develop and firm in ensuring they follow a purpose and do not sacrifice their personal striving for fulfilment. Would it not be surprising if leadership would not have to define itself afresh?

Our 2019 summit is already over. It has been a pleasure to be the host of this great event with so many powerful, strong and impressing people! Also a big thank to all of our speakers. We are looking forward to see you again at the Global Female Leaders summit in 2020!

Take a look at some impressions of our fantastic Gala Dinner at the Global Female Leaders 2019. It has been a great evening with nice discussions and great people!

We made sure to capture some impressions from our Welcome Reception in pictures that we now published on our website. We hope you like them!

Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen is CEO at one of the most innovative cinemas in the world: Novo Cinemas. How did Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen come to that position? Why did she lead her company in especially this direction of making a whole experience out of the cinema visit? If you are interested in the answers, you need to read this article.

The preparations for this year’s summit are completed and this afternoon our 6th summit for female executives starts. Have a look at today´s highlights!

It may seem obvious that the creation, assessment and regulation of new technologies demand open-minded approaches and the expertise that comes with the thorough study of subjects like philosophy or history - but this is often neglected. Here are three reasons why this should change.

We are now entering an era where technology is built into every single interaction, forcing companies to look for the next competitive edge to meet rising expectations. Here are five technology trends that will help business steer through this next phase of innovation.

For years, powerful female politicians and executives that wielded power in what was historically a man’s world dressed as a man, but brighter. Female leaders nowadays – thank goodness – are facing different times, but style, tone, and attitude are still of huge public interest.

Are businesses, governments and city agencies using the insights provided by data to put citizens at the heart of decision making? Design thinking is an approach tech companies have been using for years. At its core, it’s about empathy – seeing the world through the eyes of the end user. Its potential to benefit citizens, business and the environment should not be underestimated.

What if the supply chain, from every corner and process, is organized around the customer's experience? Hala Zeine shares her thoughts with us about the advantages of a customer centric supply chain!

In 1998 L'Oréal and UNESCO founded the For Women in Science programme to promote and highlight the critical importance of ensuring greater participation of women in science. The Global Female Leaders summit will proudly host the German award for the second time, during which three young fellows will be honored.

In March once again Linklaters brought selected clients and lawyers together at its women's networking event "Hochkaräter". Read more about the key learnings!

There are many examples which demonstrate the immense breakthroughs in the field of artificial intelligence and the growing adoption of its applications. Monika Niederhoff gives an overview on the key trends in using intelligent technologies and the impact on business and society and raises the question of how we can shape the era of intelligent technologies.

With advanced technology comes big power. Therefore, we need to think about digital ethics better sooner than later. This article outlines what digital ethics is about and why we need to discuss it as private persons, companies and governments.

Let's have a closer look at gender equality in companies like the Financial Times or Bloomberg Media Group! In this article, we would like to focus on why it is so important to have a fair balance between men and women especially in business.

If the Financial Times were a person, what would they look like? The reality might surprise you as the FT is much more than a publication for male finance professionals. The FT is offering all friends of Global Female Leaders a free three month guest pass to ft.com. The pass gives unlimited access to digital articles, columns and features and so much more.

Have you heard about those three words that can tell exactly where you are – without using any address or coordinates? Clare Jones decided to revolutionize the whole navigation industry - but why? And how did she come to her leading position? If you are curious about the answers, read this article!

What is really essential for being not only a leader but a pathbreaking leader in times of digitalization? Susan Uthayakumar answers to this question and points out, that she has learned two lessons that really stand out throughout her career. Be curious about it and find out more about the leadership challenges!

In the age of digitalization, marketers need to thoroughly study the psychology of online consumers as well as offline consumers. So if you are interested in the current practices and future developments of consumer psychology, you need to read this article.

How do digitalization, agility and flexibility have an influence on leadership roles, motivation and performances? Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt is an internationally experienced senior executive and delivers insights into the challenges of leading in today’s new disrupted world of work.

In cooperation, the Global Female Leaders with KPMG International and KPMG in Germany have decided to conduct the Second Global Female Leaders Outlook (GFLO) in order to prioritise the views of female leaders. Be part of this study!

At the end of January, SAP and the Global Female Leaders convened the first Networking Event to connect women leaders from across industries, to start a dialogue, exchange ideas, challenge the status quo, and define the future of the digital economy. Find out more about the key learnings!

In this interview, Tanja Vainio, CEO at ABB Czech Republic and Slovakia, describes her different leadership roles in the last decades and talks about the next big things to watch as far as digitalization is concerned.

Diversity in the workplace matters and has many bottom lines benefits. We would like to give four concrete examples where and why diversity is significant to business success.

Sustainable Economic Zones, such as LADOL, are the solutions to unlock the full potential of Africa. Dr Amy Jadesimi delivers insights into the major opportunities that are given to Africa thanks to LADOL’s daily business and shows how the world can benefit from Africa’s sustainable economic growth.

Research has shown that robots are now taking over jobs in several industries. We had a closer look at 6 industries that have already started wiping out some human jobs. In this article, you will get insights into pioneering companies which employ robots in everyday business.

The rise of the robots and Artificial Intelligence is becoming more and more popular in the world of work. Nevertheless, there are several reasons why human experience will remain as key factor for business success. This article will discuss four of them.

Digital trends are perceived as key factors for future success. To ensure you are aware of the promising opportunities, here are the five digital trends that will drive your business success in 2020 and beyond.

If you want your company to remain competitive in the future, you also need to implement digitalization in the fields of training and education. Here are 3 digital training methods vital for the future of your business.

What are the skills students will need in the future? And how can students develop these skills of tomorrow? Barbara Holzapfel from Microsoft Education Marketing in the USA explains which tools students will need and how improvements in education are changing their journey.

What is happening in the UK? What do we have to expect? And what are the biggest issues for the UK with this deal? Listen to the interview with Karina Robinson who shared her thoughts with us on the current Brexit debate and the near future for both UK and EU!

How can we attract, recruit and retain young and talented Millennials? In fact, Millennials’ expectations differ enormously from Generation X and Baby Boomers. Here are five steps that can help to transform your company into becoming an attractive employer.

This article introduces the strong woman behind the European Commissioner for Trade function and verifies that the world of international trade is more than just negotiating about import and export conditions.

Cynthia Coutu tells an emotional story of losing her job and starting something new that makes her heart sing again. Read more about blending business and the importance of passion!

How does it feel like to be the only woman in the room every single day? Would you fail or prevail? Lauren Simmons is the youngest female full-time stockbroker at the New York Stock Exchange. Her incredible story is what makes her so inspiring for millions of women.

In this article, we will explain what hyperloops are and why they are the future of transportation. In addition, we will introduce one of the female heads behind the technology development: Dr. Anita Sengupta.

It is not possible for civilization to flow backward while there is youth in the world. Youth may be headstrong, but it will advance its allotted length. In this article, Ellen Zentner focusses on the impact of America’s new generations.

In this article, Nicole de Paula, CEO at the Global Health Asia Institute, summarizes the major impacts of our unrelenting material growth and consumption on planetary health. She points out the urgency of a new thinking in order to develop innovative solutions to preserve human and planetary health.