When did you take on your first leadership role?

I actually took over as Head of Controlling at another company in my early 20s, parallel to my training and studies, and built up the department from scratch. I was also very lucky with my boss at the time, who placed the necessary trust in me as a young woman and supported me.

Did you realize early on that it would lead to the CFO position?

I didn’t have a concrete plan at the beginning. However, I knew very quickly that I didn’t just want to be responsible for one area, I wanted to manage the interaction between the various elements. I was incredibly fascinated by co-designing and co-deciding. That’s why it was clear to me early on that I wanted to take on responsibility. I then had my first CFO role at the age of 27.

27 years is very young. Was that challenging?

Absolutely! To achieve this goal, I had to change employers more often because from small to medium-sized companies, the next career step was often not possible. But it’s not always easy. You’re constantly taking a new risk because you always have to adapt to new situations and a new environment. That’s the opposite of a comfort zone.

Looking back, were there any key moments in your career?

I’ll be honest: I’m not the most patient person. I never wanted to just wait and see, but actively seek out and seize opportunities. Once, at the beginning of my career, I went straight to the CEO when I heard about a vacancy and said that I wanted to do it. I got the job – first on an interim basis, then permanently.

Looking back, the key moments were always those in which I changed my career. When I saw the requirements in the job advertisements, I often thought, I can’t do all that. That’s a thought that often holds many women back. But over time, I’ve learned to embrace it anyway. So, my advice to other women is this: Have courage! No one can do everything — and it’s absolutely okay to keep learning new things.