"I have a great job, and I enjoy being where I am today: I work on the board of a major electronics company, and I did not plan to do it all that way.
After graduating from high school, I first did a social year and then studied techno-mathematics at the University of Karlsruhe. This is an interdisciplinary course of study: Mathematics in the main subject, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science as minor subjects.
I studied mainly with men. That was sometimes difficult, but it also had its advantages - for example, I was quickly recognized by all and, as a result, received a great deal of support from the professors. I have a good network with the women who studied with me. We were all in a similar situation - and had to overcome the same resistance.
"'I'll explain that to you again.'"
I think it's a great pity that we women had to keep hearing that we had something with the professor. Or later with the manager. I have also often disbelief about whether I can really understand the substance - embedded in a care. 'I'll explain that to you again, you're a woman and have a harder time in the technical field than men,' it was said, for example.
An experience that I especially remembered: I went to study counseling, because I was not sure in which discipline I wanted to develop. And the professor there did not take me seriously at all. He showed me photos of lecturers from different disciplines and said that we women look after their appearance - I should choose which man I would like most. I found that out of place!
But men have also often supported me
At the end of my studies, I had a baby. After completing my studies, I stayed home with the child and had two more children - but always had the desire to work. Then I stumbled into my first job.
I was offered a part-time job as a software developer in a PCB production company. Here, in rural areas, there are no part-time jobs for mathematicians. A real stroke of luck, as it turned out. In this job, I was able to combine my passion for logic with my family life.
Later, the company was sold, I moved to another group of companies, was among other things team leader for software development and later rose to the leadership level. Looking back, I find: There have always been men who have supported me a lot. For example, my former supervisor enabled me to take leadership responsibility. At the time, I would not have considered that at all - as the only woman and only part-time worker in the department. But he credited me with that and pushed me - that was the starting point of my career.
Contribute ideas, shape the future
I am fascinated by my job that I can help shape the future. Can contribute many own ideas. Many people think that the profession of software developer has little to do with humans - but the opposite is true. People want apps, they need dashboards they intuitively understand. To be helpful, I like it a lot.
What annoys me: As a mother, I have the experience that is still unthinkable for too many teachers, the idea that girls could be good chemists, mathematicians or physicists. And the areas where girls love technology are far too short in the classroom.
Women should not be misled when it is said that technology or science is only for men. And we women should trust us more. I find it very common in job applications: If a job listing shows five conditions for a job, then women only apply if they feel they have completed all the points. Men also apply when only three apply to them. We women often stand in our own way - that has to change. "
