Forum ”Germany’s Women Executives”

Odgers Berndtson hosted the first ”Germany’s Women Executives” forum in Frankfurt on 26 May 2010. 32 board women met with Telekom Chief Human Resources Officer Thomas Sattelberger for a roundtable conference to discuss the issue of having a quota for women.

What causes women’s careers to fail? Does Germany need a quota for women? What alternatives do companies have to promote more women in leadership? These and other questions were subject to intense debate by 32 leading women executives invited for the first time by Odgers Berndtson to take part in a high-powered round table at Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt.

The Odgers Berndtson forum ”Germany’s Women Executives” was set up to provide board women and women in executive positions in the leading companies in Germany with an exclusive platform to discuss the promotion of women in senior management and to share their experience and their tried and proven solutions.

The focus of this initial event was to allow for personal exchange and getting to know one another. The brief introductory speeches by Daniela Weber-Rey, Partner in Clifford Chance and the only female member of the German Corporate Governance Commission, Dr. Margarete Haase, Board of Management member of DEUTZ AG, as well as Thomas Sattelberger, Board of Management member of Deutsche Telekom AG, left enough time for an intense discussion of the overriding issue, ”Are women in Germany ready for the quota?“

The women executives responded quite positively to the event: All of the participants said they found the discussion to be very open, constructive and personally rewarding. Thomas Sattelberger summed it up:”Show me a circle of men whose discussions are as honest, authentic and thoughtful. You won't find one!“

WELT published an extensive report on the Odgers Berndtson”Germany’s Women Executives” forum on 31 May 2010. The online version of the article (in German) is available here.

 

The facts: Gabriele Stahl, Partner at Odgers Berndtson, presents the findings of her study “Germany´s Female Executives”.

 

The codex: Daniela Weber-Rey, Partner at Clifford Chance and member of the German Corporate Governance Commission, comments on the new recommendations and guidelines for women in board rooms.

 

The quota advocate: Dr. Margarete Haase, Board of Management member of DEUTZ AG, describes how she turned from a quota opponent to a quota proponent over the time.

 

The pioneer: Thomas Sattelberger, Board of Management member of Deutsche Telekom AG, explains why he established a quota for women in leadership at Telekom as one of the first big corporates.

 

The quota opponent: Elke Strathmann, Board of Management member of Nestlé Deutschland AG, comments on why she counts on the right corporate culture than on a quota.

 

Lively discussion: Gabriele Rittinghaus, Managing Director of FINAKI Deutschland GmbH, argues for her point of view.

 

Relaxed atmosphere: Openness, persistence and fun characterized the discussion. In the picture (l.t.r.): Karin-Brigitte Göbel (Board of Management member Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf), Dagmar Haase (Board of Management member DB Netz AG), Dr. Monika Sebold-Bender (Board of Management member Westfälische Provinzial-Lebensversicherung AG), Isabell Remus (Managing Director Sandoz Pharmaceuticals GmbH) und Barbara A. Knoflach (Board of Management member SEB Asset Management AG).

 

Get Together: Afterwards, during the reception and dinner, there was plenty of time for personal networking.