Interview

Could you please introduce yourself briefly in 2-3 sentences, your function and how you came to it (short biography).

I joined Skyguide 11 years ago in the regional investigation team of the safety department. I took over the lead in 2012 and became Line Safety Delegate in 2017, working mainly on the development of safety culture. Now, as Head of Cultural Transformation, corporate culture is my responsibility since May 2021 and I am passionately committed to it alongside a great matrix team.

What means “Transformation” for you and especially at Skyguide?

Transformation is evolution because you are always transforming towards something more evolved. That means we all master one or more disciplines, but we need to accept and enjoy becoming students again, to learn new ones, and to reflect well on ourselves in the transformation process. Our cultural transformation towards our sincerely lived new value framework is the essence for a successful business transformation of Skyguide.

In your opinion, what additional competences can a woman bring to a company?

Generally, I think there are no competencies that a woman has that a man could not have as well. And vice versa. Nevertheless, I think that diversity in general enriches the perspectives and thus improves the business output.

On gender equity, what needs to change in the next 10 years?

I love that in this question you use the word equity instead of equality. Achieving equity will not be accomplished by treating everyone equally. It will be achieved by treating everyone justly according to our circumstances. As a company, one may be brave to take this into account, even if we are partly in a framework of equality, through e.g., CLAs.

Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman or have you observed barriers in the society and if yes, what would you recommend?

No, there are no barriers at Skyguide. But there are hurdles in our society, both professionally and privately. Do you remember the coffee “Jacobs Krönung light” advertising? A woman starts her day with sports, then successfully pursues her work as a boss. In the evening, she plays with her happy, well-educated children, hosts guests for a perfect dinner and later disappears sensually into the bedroom with her adorable husband. For me, this is an all-is-possible lie! Nobody can achieve such an ideal every day. As a leader and mother, I can say that I find it detrimental that I must still explain myself sometimes when not everything works. I am not a Krönung light woman, even after 10 cups, and that’s good. And we must protect our children from false ideals so that they grow up mentally and emotionally happy, healthy, and strong.

If you could have dinner with an inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would she be and why?

Nelson Mandela! But to stay with the gender, there would be so many wonderful women. One of them is the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Mother Teresa. I would like to express my deepest admiration for her unconditional effort for the poor and listen to her how she helped others in such a completely unselfish, empathetic, and sustainable way!