Recruiting event with Siemens Advanta Consulting

April 23th, 2024

The Siemens Advanta Consulting recruitment event allowed the participants to engage with four team members of the company and learn about Siemens’s culture and its innovative projects. The event began with a brief introduction to Siemens Advanta Consulting; the consultants shared insights about the company, their roles, and the exciting projects they work on daily.

The highlight of the event was the “Sustainable Twins” case study. Participants were challenged to develop innovative solutions in the form of a digital twin for B2C customers that integrates sustainability into everyday life, focusing on the minimization of waste in the food and beverage industry. Three teams were tasked with identifying a target group, drafting a product idea, outlining the value proposition, and creating a business model with a realistic timeline.

In just one hour of collaboration, participants came up with creative solutions, such as a refrigerator sensor that tracks food expiration dates. This sensor uses measurements and pre-existing data to determine the expiration dates of stored items, suggests recipes based on those dates, and proactively alerts users, leading to a reduction in food waste.

Each team presented their ideas, followed by a round of questions from the Siemens team to evaluate the feasibility and impact of the proposals.

The event concluded with a networking dinner at Vino & Friends, allowing participants and consultants to connect. Thank you to all the participants for participating and contributing their creative ideas, making the event an inspiring experience filled with innovation, learning, and meaningful engagement with real-world sustainability challenges. Many thanks to the Siemens Advanta Consulting team for hosting this event and sharing invaluable insights about their work and culture.

Daphne Koken

November 17th, 2024

Daphne Koken, originally from Maastricht, spent 20 years in Amsterdam before deciding to return to her roots, drawn by nature and a slower pace of life. She began her career in marketing but felt something was missing—a sense of meaning and freedom in her life. Her journey into health and well-being started with shiatsu therapy, coaching, and nutrition, and yoga became a personal path. Her dedication led her to explore yoga deeply, assisting her teachers and discovering a path she truly loved and enjoyed.

In 2016, she chose between marketing and yoga. While marketing offered financial stability, yoga fulfilled her desire for purpose. Returning to Maastricht, inspired by nature, she realized one of her dreams of creating a space to express her vision—a place where people could be and find themselves. This vision combined her marketing skills and passion for yoga, rooted in pure intentions.

Daphne encouraged the audience to follow their dreams bravely and trust that life will often go differently than planned—but that this is exactly how it is meant to happen. She emphasized the importance of self-reflection and self-care and stressed the power of women coming together to share and grow. Her ultimate dream is to expand her work with a nature retreat center while embracing life, one step at a time.

Members Night

November 5th, 2024

A big thank you to our new and existing members for attending our member’s night on the 5th of November at Mr. Smith bar. It was wonderful getting to meet all of you!

Kerstin Zerbe

October 30th, 2024

Kerstin Zerbe, the Managing Director of BVB Merchandising, recently shared her inspiring career journey with our members. She began by outlining her professional path, starting as a trainee at Borussia Dortmund before moving to Nike, where she held two roles: Senior Business Planner and Strategic Account Executive. These experiences broadened her expertise in the industry. Seeking a new challenge, she joined Accenture, but when an opportunity opened at BVB merchandising, she realized that the sports industry was her true passion, perfectly aligning with her qualifications and interests, and returned to BVB.

During her talk, Kerstin showcased vibrant BVB brand films and described the dynamic, young team she currently leads. She emphasized her commitment to female leadership within a male-dominated field, sharing her efforts to create a flexible, supportive work environment—especially for women returning to work after maternity leave, inspired by her own experiences as a mother of three.

In the Q&A session, Kerstin answered questions on managing her role in sports merchandising and navigating career challenges while fostering her team’s growth. Her talk resonated with the audience, leaving them inspired by her resilience, dedication, and commitment to empowering women in the sports industry.

Sina Sanwald

October 15th, 2024

Sina Sanwald, Head of Human Resource Development at E. Breuninger GmbH & Co., captivated the audience during her recent session with Women in Business, where she shared valuable insights from her diverse career. Sina began by reflecting on her early experiences in leadership, from her time as Divisional Sales Manager to Head of Department at Breuninger’s flagship store. Her journey, defined by stepping into new roles and industries, emphasized the importance of courage and vulnerability in both professional and personal development.

Throughout the session, Sina spoke about how taking risks and embracing the unfamiliar were pivotal in her growth. She urged attendees to get comfortable with discomfort, viewing each challenge as an opportunity to learn. Sina stressed the significance of self-awareness and introspection, encouraging the audience to examine the external influences in their lives, such as their work environment and mentors, and their internal motivations, such as values and passions.

Sina’s passion for teaching yoga also played a key part in her discussion. She explained how mindfulness has helped her balance a demanding career with a fulfilling personal life. By incorporating mindfulness practices, Sina has learned to stay grounded and connected to her goals, urging the audience to approach their own journeys with curiosity and intention.

A key takeaway from Sina’s talk was her advice to recognize and celebrate small wins, no matter how incremental, as they accumulate to form significant growth. Her reminder, "Great transformations need a beginning," resonated with the audience, who were encouraged to embark on their own paths with determination and resilience.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where Sina connected with participants, addressing personal and professional challenges. Her closing message that vulnerability can be a powerful asset and that success comes from staying true to oneself inspired attendees to pursue their ambitions with renewed energy and focus.

Sina’s journey and insights offered an empowering reminder that embracing challenges, staying mindful, and remaining authentic is vital to personal and professional success.

Anette Bronder

September 24th, 2024

Anette Bronder, a passionate leader in technology and operations, shared her insights during an engaging session, imparting valuable advice from her dynamic career path. Starting with her early experiences in unfamiliar industries, Anette emphasized how being open to opportunities and embracing risks shaped her professional course. She discussed her strategic relocations across global cities, including her recent move to Hong Kong to support Prudential, illustrating her commitment to chasing career goals wherever they lead.

Anette also highlighted the importance of balancing a demanding career with family life, reflecting on her dual role as a family person and a leader. She stressed the necessity of building strong teams and maintaining visibility in the workplace, urging members to "Believe in yourself" and "Be excited about what you are doing."

The session concluded with Anette engaging in a Q&A, interacting digitally with members of Women in Business, where she left the audience with a resonant message: "Passion first, and everything else will fall into place." Her journey not only showcases her successful adaptation to diverse environments but also serves as an inspiration for those looking to navigate their career paths with passion and determination.

Members Night

September 12th, 2024

A big thank you to our new and existing members for attending our members night on the 7th of February at Le Lanteern. It was wonderful getting to meet all of you!

Katrin Hölter

May 29th, 2024

Katrin Hölter, the Chief Operating Officer at DHL Supply Chain, delivered an insightful guest talk that left a lasting impression on attendees. Katrin not only shared exciting insights into the logistics world but also shared her path and experiences.

The session started with an introduction of herself and her life path. She took us on her journey from Maastricht University to being the COO at DHL Supply Chain.Further, she gave us insights into her daily work at DHL. In addition, the audience got the opportunity to look behind the scenes of DHL warehouses.In the second part of her speech, Katrin addressed the challenges that women face in the men-dominated logistics industry. However, the biggest takeaway for our audience was that “you can achieve anything in life; you just need to want it.”

Katrin’s open-minded character and goal-oriented attitude inspired our young audience. This guest speaker event reminded us of the unlimited opportunities our generation has.

Members Picnic

May 22nd, 2024

Thank you to our new and old members for coming to our amazing picnic on the 22nd of May. We had a wonderful time and it was great to spend such a lovely evening with you all!

Recruiting event with EY Parthenon

April 23th, 2024

We are pleased to share a recap of our recent recruitment event, which was hosted in collaboration with EY Parthenon. This event brought together a group of 16 motivated students, all eager to delve into the intricacies of consulting and investment analysis in the consulting world. With an agenda full of engaging presentations, interactive case studies, and networking opportunities, the day was both educational and inspiring.

The event began with a comprehensive company presentation about EY Parthenon, delivered by a team of consultants from different offices across Germany. The presentation was followed by an engaging Q&A session that allowed participants to learn more about the company, its values, and its role in the consulting industry. The consultants then introduced a captivating case study that set the tone for the interactive workshop. The focus of the case study was "Sustainable, Alternate Food: Investment in the Plant-Based Meat Market - Attractive or Not?"

To start the workshop, the consultants engaged the audience with thought-provoking questions about their familiarity with the plant-based food market and shared relevant market data. This set the stage for the next part of the workshop, which involved participants working in groups to discuss the benefits and risks of potential investment in this emerging market. The collaborative environment enabled attendees to analyze various scenarios and exchange insights on the market's potential.

The event concluded with an open discussion where participants presented their findings and shared their recommendations on whether to invest in the plant-based meat market. This final session provided an opportunity for participants to interact with EY Parthenon consultants, seek career advice, and explore potential opportunities within the company. To wrap up the day, all participants gathered at Brandson Maastricht for a delightful dinner, where they continued to network and deepen their connections.

We are grateful for the chance to collaborate with EY Parthenon and to host such a vibrant event. We hope it provided valuable insights and resources to participants, and we look forward to witnessing the positive contributions they will make in the consulting industry.

Monika Kolb

March 25th, 2024

Monika Kolb, an Initiator at Transform Academy, delivered a powerful guest talk that left a lasting impression on attendees. Monika Kolb shared her knowledge about ‘‘how to lead the shift in business paradigms and sustainability’’.

The session started with an introduction of herself and her life path. She shared valuable insights about her experiences.

Further she went into the topic of sustainability. On the one hand she created an awareness of what sustainable companies already exist and on the other hand, she presented how limited the resources for the business world are.

The core of this guest talk was an interactive activity. The audience had to create a mind map about what comes to their mind when thinking about the subject of sustainability. The second step was to say which aspects on the mind map were positive and which were negative. When it became clear that some points were already positive, Monika Kolb made the connection to what is possible in today's world and she pointed out that our generation has the chance to change today's business world.

Monika’s strong will to make a change in our modern world, coupled with her journey, inspired our young audience. It served as a reminder of the power our generation.

Fabiana Guglielmi

March 8th, 2024

Fabiana Guglielmi , head of Creative and Production at NOVAKID, delivered an inspirational guest talk that left a lasting impression on attendees. Fabiana shared her knowledge about Digital Design and Marketing with our WiB community. 

The session kicked off with an interactive game that tested attendees' knowledge of brand logos, turning the room into a vibrant mix of guesses and revelations. This not only broke the ice but also laid the foundation for understanding the influence of strong visual branding in today's digital landscape.

As Fabiana introduced us to the factors that are vital for effective branding, the audience gained an understanding of the memories, feelings, values, and stories into the recognition and trust of a brand. 

The biggest take away came when Fabiana urged everyone to reflect inward, asking, “What factors make up our own brand?”. This question prompted attendees to consider their strengths, weaknesses, values, and passions in a new light, correlating personal branding with authenticity and the brand's narrative.

Fabiana's open minded character, coupled with her journey, inspired our young audience. It served as a reminder of the power of navigating one's path with authenticity and trusting one's instincts in all areas of life, both personal and professional. 

Members Night

February 7th, 2024

Thank you to our new and current members for joining our members night on the 7th of February at Le Lanteern. It was lovely to get to know all of you!

Members Night

November 30th, 2023

Andrea Melzer

November 27th, 2023

Andrea Melzer, Vice President Controlling at HARIBO DACH, delivered a powerful guest talk that left a lasting impression on attendees. Andrea generously shared her rich and diverse work experiences across countries and cultures, offering valuable insights and guidance to aspiring young women in attendance.

Beginning with a glimpse into her own student life in Maastricht nearly two decades ago, Andrea provided a detailed account of her study path at Maastricht University, where the audience gained valuable insights into her formative years, later marked by diverse internships in Germany, Australia, Poland, and the US. She candidly discussed the challenges she encountered in each location, emphasizing why she ultimately chose not to pursue careers in those different industries, and explained the complexities of moving abroad and leaving friends and family behind.

She continued sharing her experiences balancing career aspirations and family life, particularly after becoming a mother of two. She shared her commitment to maintaining a successful career while being a mother at the same time.

As a takeaway, Andrea left the audience with a powerful message: "Make sure it fits, trust your gut feeling." This echoed throughout her talk, whether discussing internships, industry shifts, or adapting to diverse cultures. Andrea's journey serves as an inspiration, encouraging young women to navigate their paths authentically and trust their instincts in both personal and professional pursuits.

Emma Hakenesch, Ellen von Sydow, Sophie Bauer & Victoria Kreck

November 6th, 2023

We had the privilege of hosting a Guest Speaker Event on the topic: What’s next? Post Bachelor Experiences - Insights and Advice from the WiB Founders & Alumni.

During the meeting, founders Emma Hakenesch, Ellen von Sydow, and Sophie Bauer, along with an alumna and former president of Women in Business, Victoria Kreck, introduced themselves. They shared not only their diverse post-bachelor experiences but also their key learnings. The Speakers provided insights about their internships, experiences, master programs, living abroad, learnings, and skills they have acquired.

Additionally, the subsequent Q&A session allowed all participants to ask personal questions, thereby offering them a chance to draw inspiration for their paths post-bachelors degree. Ultimately, the Guest Speakers LinkedIn was shared so the WiB members could stay in contact with them.

We are thankful for the nice event and the opportunity to learn from it, and we look forward to the next one!

Here you can find the LinkedIn contacts:

Emma Hakenesch, Ellen von Sydow, Sophie Bauer & Victoria Kreck

Andrea Sternisko & Carolin Münch

October 9th, 2023

Last Monday, we had the privilege of hosting Andrea Sternisko and Carolin Münch from KPMG Düsseldorf for an interesting discussion about their experiences and roles within the company.

The event began with an introduction to KPMG. Our members gained an understanding of KPMG's diverse clientele, spanning from large companies to small enterprises and innovative startups. Afterwards, they gave us a walkthrough of a day in the life of a KPMG consultant.

The interactive Q&A held by our president delved deep into their motivations, the evolution of their roles at KPMG, the challenges they faced, and the strategies they employed to navigate them. Both speakers mentioned the importance of effective communication to overcome inhibitions.

At the end, we had an interesting discussion round with the audience, where our members could ask individual questions.

Their personal stories, personalized answers, and shared advice made the session memorable!

Thank you to Andrea Sternisko and Carolin Münch and, of course, to all participants!

Here you can find the LinkedIn contacts:

Andrea Sternisko & Carolin Münch

Members Night

September 27th, 2023

Recruiting event with Lincoln International

September 21st, 2023

We are happy to share a recap of our recent recruitment event, held together with Lincoln International and in collaboration with SCOPE. The event brought together a motivated group of professionals and students eager to explore career opportunities and gain insights into the world of finance. With a lineup of inspiring talks, engaging case studies, and networking opportunities, the day proved to be both informative and inspiring.

The event started with a company presentation about Lincoln by Lisa Weigel, a distinguished female investment banker. Lisa shared her remarkable journey in the finance industry and discussed the topic of "Women in Finance." Her presentation was not only motivational but also packed with valuable tips and advice for attendees aspiring to succeed in the financial sector.

Following the presentation, participants engaged in two insightful case studies led by Lisa Weigel, Hannah Rauth, Robert Hittel, and Frederic Rau, a team from Lincoln International. These case studies emphasized collaborative thinking and involved the analysis of real-world financial scenarios. In the first case study, participants were divided into groups to analyze the provided financial statements and match the correct financial statement to the given company. Afterwards, each group had the opportunity to present their findings and pitch their results, fostering an environment of interactive learning and skill development. In the second case, the groups were challenged to formulate motivating arguments for why potential investors should consider investing in the company they were assigned to.

The day ended with a networking session and recruitment drinks. Participants had the chance to connect with each other and engage with representatives from Lincoln International. This gathering provided a unique platform for individuals to share insights, exchange experiences, and explore potential career opportunities within the company. Attendees were particularly impressed by the passion and dedication demonstrated by Lincoln International's representatives, who showcased the company's values and work culture.

We are glad to have had the opportunity to partner up with Lincoln International and to host such an engaging event. We hope that it provided valuable insights and resources for participants, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the business world.

Here you can find the LinkedIn contacts:

Lisa Weigel, Hannah Rauth, Robert Hittel and Frédéric Rau

AlphaSights Workshop

March 13th, 2023

Our online workshop with AlphaSights, the global leader in knowledge on demand, took place on May 23rd. The workshop proved to be an exceptional opportunity for participants to develop their skills in sales and negotiation, led by Ymke van Warmerdam, an AlphaSights Associate, and Morven Hogg from the Talent Acquisition Team.

Throughout the session, Ymke shared practical strategies, transferable skills, and valuable knowledge accumulated through her experience at AlphaSights. Her engaging delivery captivated participants, immersing them in the art of sales and negotiation. Attendees gained valuable insights into effectively navigating demanding clients, a skill crucial for success in various professional domains. Ymke's expertise shed light on the intricacies of client relationships and provided participants with a newfound confidence in handling challenging situations. The interactive nature of the workshop allowed participants to learn from each other in open discussions and broaden their perspectives on sales and negotiation techniques.

Overall, we appreciate having the opportunity to collaborate with AlphaSights on a workshop and to host such an engaging event. We hope the participants left the workshop inspired and ready to apply their newfound knowledge in their respective careers.

Here you can find the LinkedIn contacts:

Ymke van Warmerdam and Morven Hogg

Ute Rajathurai

March 13th, 2023

Ute Rajathurai, the Senior Vice President and Head of Procurement Enabling Function at Bayer delivered a powerful guest talk that left a lasting impression on attendees. With her esteemed position and wealth of experience, she shared valuable insights into her own business journey, and personal growth, and offered invaluable advice to aspiring young women in the business world.

Ute Rajathurai revealed that she initially faced challenges in balancing work and life commitments. However, through perseverance and determination, she managed to figure it out and found a way that worked best for her. Her personal struggle served as a testament to the importance of prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries, leading to a healthier work-life balance.

During her talk, Ute Rajathurai emphasized the significance of confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset. She empowered young women to face the demanding business landscape with courage and determination. Ute Rajathurai also stressed the value of building a strong network of mentors and seeking out role models for guidance, acknowledging their instrumental role in her own journey to success.

As she concluded her talk, Ute Rajathurai left the audience with a powerful message: "Be who you are and be proud of that." This quote encapsulated her belief in the importance of authenticity and embracing one's unique identity. Ute Rajathurai's emphasis on individuality resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring them to overcome challenges and pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations with vigor.

Her transformative insights and ability to overcome work-life balance hurdles served as a beacon of hope, showing that with determination and a proactive approach, young women can achieve both professional excellence and personal fulfillment. Ute Rajathurai's talk left a lasting impact, motivating the audience to embrace their authentic selves and strive for success on their own terms.

Ute Rajathurai

Members Night

April 25th, 2023

Recruiting event with Accenture

March 13th, 2023

We recently hosted a recruitment event together with Accenture and in collaboration with SCOPE. The day was filled with great networking opportunities and inspiring talks. Julia Mirbach and Accenture Strategy & Consulting Manager Marina Weyermann hosted a keynote about „Unleashing your potential: A female journey and mastering the power games“, providing valuable tips and advice to the attendees.

The day continued with a joint lunch, followed by an insightful workshop led by Dr. Christine Solf and Christina Seifert. The workshop focused on self-reflection, guiding the participants to identify their strengths, values, and goals to develop a clear vision for their professional and personal lives.

To cap off the day, we enjoyed a recruitment dinner where everyone had the chance to connect and network with each other and with Accenture's representatives. It was an excellent opportunity to share insights and experiences, and discuss potential opportunities. We learned even more about Accenture's work culture, values, and career opportunities. We were impressed by the passion and dedication of Accenture's representatives towards their work.

Overall, we are pleased to have had the opportunity to partner up with Accenture and to host such an engaging event. We hope that it provided valuable insights and resources for participants, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the business world.

Here you can find the LinkedIn contacts:

Marina Weyermann, Julia Mirbach, Dr. Christine Solf and Christina Seifert

Members Night

March 2nd, 2023

Viviane Minz

February 08th, 2023

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Viviane Minz, Director of Corporate Development at Statista, as a guest speaker at our event.

It was a truly insightful experience, and we were honored to have her share her experiences and expertise with us. Her presentation was informative, engaging and our audience thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Our members were particularly inspired by Viviane's ten years of experience working in the corporate world, and we were delighted that she shared the ten most valuable lessons she learned during that time.

Not only did she share business learnings with us, but also shared personal experiences with us. Her insights were incredibly valuable, and our members were able to take away some practical tips and advice for their own careers.

We are thankful for the time she took to speak with us and for the opportunity to learn from such an accomplished professional. The event was a great success, and we look forward to hosting more events like this in the future

Viviane Minz

Jennifer Graf: Workshop digetiers.

December 06th, 2022

Our members had the opportunity of joining a workshop with Jennifer, Partner at digetiers. The workshop was about how to Maintain Authenticity in Consulting.

We started off the workshop by a minute of mindfulness, where we all acknowledge how we were feeling in the present and what we wanted to take out from the event.

Then, Jennifer shared her experiences and challenges on succeeding in consulting and how her authenticity was challenged along the way. The members shared their thoughts and opinions on what authenticity is, and how it can differ depending on the setting and environment you are in.

As consulting is a world where there is a lot of client interaction and high expectations, it is difficult to perform well and to keep your true authentic self along the way. Therefore, Jennifer recommended some tips on how to manage those situations and shared some moments where herself struggled.

We hope you all managed to learn something new about yourself, about how authenticity can change in the world of consulting and how you can maintain your own authenticity.

Jennifer Graf

Members Night

November 16th, 2022

Manon Verhaeghe

November 08th, 2022

We had the pleasure of hosting Manon Verhaeghe in Maastricht for a guest talk. Manon is a Success Manager at Salesforce in Brussels and is the Co-President of the Women’s Network of Salesforce Belux.

Manon shared her path from graduating at Solvay Business School and her experience being the first female president of a student association there, to becoming Success Manager and Co-President of a Women’s Network in Salesforce.

Our members received some tips and tricks on applying to job, passing assessment exams while studying and learn how to accept rejections. Then, Manon shared her experience on getting a job in one of the largest and most competitive tech firms.

Manon also shared the challenges she had to tackle as she promotes the Women's Network in this international company, as the network doesn't exist in all international offices. Also how important is it to have a work environment where everyone feels safe and supported.

We hope you all enjoyed meeting and speaking with Manon!

Manon Verhaeghe

Panel Discussion with 4 Maastricht Alumnae

October 04th, 2022

As our last event of period 1, we had the pleasure of hosting a panel discussion with 4 Maastricht Alumnae, coming from 4 different industries.

Through a panel discussion, our members listened about the paths each Alumnae took after graduating from SBE around 2003. Each women took a different path and ended up in different industries such as healthcare, tech, consulting and supply chain industries.

All shared some advice on creating and leading their own companies while managing their personal and social life. Some tips and tricks were also discussed and shared to our members.

We hope you enjoyed this panel discussion and hearing about some experiences that Maastricht Alumnae went through!!

As promised, here are their LinkedIn contacts:

Top left: Diana Schramm - Top right: Annette Zimmermann

Botton left: Vanessa Lemarié - Bottom right: Henriette Lundgren

Workshop on Positive Psychology

September 29th, 2022

We had the pleasure of collaborating with BPS Maastricht, the business psychology student association, to host a workshop on Positive Psychology with the professional coach, Iryna Ivanova.

Iryna discussed the different ways to use positive psychology in our everyday lives. We learned how one simple bad comment or experience can cancel out 3 or 5 good experiences you’ve had in that day. By implementing 3 simple steps of: stopping & noticing, observing and finally absorbing, we can be able to be conscious of the negative spiral coming towards us and how to avoid it.

During the workshop, the participants also shared what were their source of daily-happiness and how they handled a funnel of exhaustion. Along with that, we all learned about active constructive responding (ACR). By simply adding body language and asking open-minded questions, you can help someone re-live their happy experiences!

Finally, by focusing on what you want, such as success, being healthy, or have a stable job, instead of focusing on what you don’t want, such as failing, get sick or lose your job, you can have a natural source of happiness and use positive psychology in your everyday lives!

We hope you enjoyed this workshop with Iryna Ivanova, and gained some tips on how to use positive psychology in your life!

Members Night

September 12th, 2022

Zhibek Akimbaeva

May 10th, 2022

Tuesday May 10th, we had the pleasure of welcoming Maastricht Alumna, Zhibek Akimbaeva. With a collaboration with ELSA Maastricht, we had the opportunity to offer our members a guest talk about Women in Corporate Law.

Zhibek did a Master’s in Law about International Trade & Investment Law in Maastricht University. After her studies, she took on different small projects and worked as a legal assistant in the legal affairs and government relations office. Then, she became a company lawyer and worked for corporate law.

After sharing her path and how she came to law, Zhibek touched upon challenges she faced in her career so far. The most difficult one was to get the job itself, then the work-life balance and overtime work was difficult to manage. More importantly, she tackled the subject of female discrimination and how she had to negotiate her salary.

Listening to these challenges, Zhibek also shared some advice to be able to stay strong and continue growing no matter the environment you are in. For example, getting a mentor can be very valuable, and to not be shy if you have questions or an opinion you want to share.

We hope you enjoyed this guest talk with a company lawyer, and received more insights about the world of law!

Workshop with Women for Women

May 3rd, 2022

For the second day of our events regarding “Women in Entrepreneurship”, we had the pleasure of meeting two members from Women for Women. W4W is a mentorship program that provides mentees a mentor in their field of interest and receive constructive feedback and advice for their future.  

Charlotte Sollberger Solari and Luisa Gerstner, two HSG Alumna, offered our participants a workshop on career assessment. Each one of us had the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire about very important topics for our future to help us figure out our values, interests and non-interests.

For example in the world of entrepreneurship, it is very important to use your strengths, but then if you have some weaknesses, it is just as important to ask for support and help in that field. Luisa, co-founder of W4W, shared with us the importance of offering this mentorship program, so that everyone who seeks for help, has the chance of getting some.

This workshop provided our participants with the time to self-reflect and define what is important for them and their future. We hope Women for Women was able to help, inspire and mentor you!

If you are interested in finding yourself a mentor, feel free to apply through W4W’s website here.

Katinka van Kan & Evelyn Janetzki

May 2nd, 2022

For the first time, Women in Business had the pleasure of organising a 3-day event around the topic of “Women in Entrepreneurship” in collaboration with UNSA and Maastricht Entrepreneurs. 

The 3-days consisted of one guest talk, one workshop and one networking event. For the guest talk we had the pleasure of hosting two entrepreneurs: Katinka van Kan & Evelyn Janetzki. 

Evelyn shared her experience leaving the corporate world to start her own business: Coach Thyself. She spoke about different struggles she had to overcome when she started the business and challenges she had to face. Along with that she shared some tips and tricks on how to manage a company, a family and a personal life. 

Afterwards, we heard Katinka’s experience of starting her own student coaching business after finishing her studies. She saw the opportunity of offering a “student-life” coaching to students and help them face struggles they may face. After sharing a very moving story, Katinka offered some advice to the participants on how to dare to take action and do the things you love. 

We were really grateful for the time both entrepreneurs took to come share their inspiring stories with our members. We hope you got inspired and learned more about entrepreneurship!

Julia Wiesermann

April 26th, 2022

Women in Business had the pleasure of hosting Julia Wiesermann for a guest talk about Women in IT. We had the opportunity to listen to Julia’s very interesting career path and what lead her to her current position, as Managing Director of BCG Platinion. 

The world of IT is a very fast-pace growing industry which now appears in most industries. BCG Platinion consults other businesses about introducing IT in their day-to-day activities and how it may help their growth and evolvement. We learned in more specific how the healthcare sector can take advantage of new technologies and how they can disrupt the current market. 

In regard to women in IT, there are still some statistical gaps. However, the most important is that women need to be confident in their choices and take the risk to take on challenges and new experiences. 

We hope this guest talk brought you some valuable insights if you are interested in pursuing a career in IT and that you managed to get some advice for your future! 

Antonia Müller

February 8th, 2022

On February 8th, we had the pleasure of welcoming Antonia Müller, Maastricht University Alumna, for a guest talk! Antonia works as a Customer Strategist and Transformation Consultant at Monitor Deloitte.

During this guest talk, Antonia discussed the importance of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) within an organisation and the importance of self-authenticity. The key pillars of DE&I were culture, customer focus and community. For clients, diversity in teams is considered as a key success factor. In regard to service delivery, diverse teams are 22% more productive. However, certain pitfalls regarding DE&I may occur such as leadership constraints, HR issues or even mistaking exploration for action. 

Being a DE&I Ambassador for Monitor Deloitte, Antonia works now for “The Embraced Project” introduced by Monitor Deloitte to implement DE&I in the workplace. Their goals are to change the drive mindset within the firm and the society along with creating an inclusive and safe environment!

Finally, we finished the talk with an interactive part to understand our own connection to authenticity; to be self-aware, to identify our values, and to self-reflect on who we want to become.

Hopefully this event taught you more about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the importance of bringing you authentic self to the workplace!

Working in Private Equity

January 26th, 2022

Women in Business had the pleasure of collaborating with Level20 and SCOPE Maastricht for the first event in January 2022. We had the opportunity to meet 5 panelists working in Private Equity from top investment firms!

During this panel, we learned about what it is to work in private equity, different stages of company maturity, different focus areas and skills required to work in such industry. Today, the percentage of women in investment teams is around 13%, where only 5% have senior positions. Which is why these 5 panelists are very motivated to spread the word, their knowledge and passion about private equity to increase female presence in the investment industry. 

Key takeaways from this discussion were the requirements to be successful within private equity: a good education, some experience in consulting, internship opportunities in this area and the ability to make your own judgement. Moreover, to have a broad range of skills, to stand out from others, such as interpersonal, teamwork, finance, analytics or even IT skills that can be beneficial to your success. 

Level20, SCOPE and WiB hope this event inspired you to find internships or even to work in the sector of Private Equity!  

Isabelle Joswig

November 30th, 2021

In November, we had the pleasure of having Isabelle Joswig as a guest speaker at Women in Business. Isabelle is a Maastricht Alumni, who has been an activist for a more feminist and inclusive economy. With a bachelor in International Business and a master in Managing People, Knowledge & Change, Isabelle has become a consultant in strategic change & organisation transformation at Deloitte Deutschland. 

Isabelle has been encouraging younger students and colleagues to be more self-confident in their fields, has been normalising femininity and advising how to tackle difficult situations in the work environment. She has been advocating for inclusion and normalising disabilities in the consulting community. Isabelle has become a mentor and guest speaker to raise issues regarding discriminations in systems in the corporate life and structural discrimination. 

We hope that you enjoyed this topic of “Making the Invisible Visible” with Isabelle!

Workshop on expectations for your future employer

November 16th, 2021

In November, we had the pleasure of organising a workshop on the topic of expectations we have for our future employers.

During the workshop, we discussed longterm and short-term expectations we can have when starting a new position with a new employer. The most frequent answers that came across the discussion were reducing gender biases and allowing personal growth through a mentorship process for example. Additionally, thoughts and expectations regarding work life balance were discussed; such as child care, work flexibility, or traveling opportunities.

Finally, we discussed different ways a team can connect and communicate in order to create a good work environment, to foster team spirit and to provide mentorship programs.

We hope that you enjoyed this panel discussion and have a clearer idea on what to expect from your future employer!

Yvette van Aarle

November 4th, 2021

We had the pleasure of having an event with a professional in entrepreneurship, marketing and communication, Yvette van Aarle. Yvette has over 25 years of experience in marketing, consultancy and coaching. She worked as a marketing and communication consultant for both large and small organisations in different positions, with both managerial and executive roles. 

In the past years, Yvette started to immerse herself more in the human side and focus on getting concrete results in her consultancy and coaching work. After working for sectors such as the legal profession, financial and HR services, media, municipalities and more, she started to prefer working for an inclusive society and with more sustainable brands. 

During our event, Yvette shared her own take on entrepreneurship and what she learned throughout her career. Having worked with over 30 different brands, Yvette found some tips and tricks to stand out in the world of entrepreneurship. 

We hope this event gave you an insight on what it takes to work as an entrepreneur! 

Workshop on Salary Negotiation

September 21st, 2021

On the 21st of September, Maastricht Alumna Katarina and Laura, hosted an insightful workshop on salary negotiation. After studying in Maastricht, Katarina and Laura started their career in the consulting and sales department of large corporations. Therefore, they were able to provide us with valuable insights and tips.

One of their key advice when it comes to salary negotiation was that it is crucial to first conduct research. Salary depends on various factors, for instance, industry or region. They emphasized making use of platforms like Glassdoor, to evaluate salaries and to come up with a realistic compensation package. Moreover, it is important to know how much one wants to earn and to calculate one's baseline. They told us to be ready to explain why we are worth a higher salary and be able to back that up with examples or data to reiterate our ability to help the firm succeed. Moreover, both emphasised that even though a negotiation may not be successful on the first try, we need to continuously implement feedback, improve our skills and then follow up. After sharing their insights, we were able to work on different cases together. Each group was given a persona and some information regarding age, skills and background.

We concluded the workshop with a Q&A session in which Katarina and Laura answered both career-related questions as well as more personal ones. All in all, we learned a lot from Katarina and Laura and would like to thank them again for their time.

We hope you enjoyed this workshop as much as we did!

Ann-Kristin Erkens

September 15th, 2021

Women in Business hosted its first in-person event on the 15th of September in collaboration with Maastricht Finance Society. We were very happy to have Ann-Kristin Erkens come speak with us about her experience as a woman in Finance. 

Ann-Kristin has a combined degree in Industrial Engineering and Business, as well as a master’s degree in Operations Management. She started with a “classic” career at Henkel and has worked her way up to become CFO. After working for 6 years at Henkel, she achieved her first leadership experience after having been there for 6 years. 

In 2009, when Ann-Kristin started working in the Adhesive Technologies division at Henkel, there were only 2 women out of 100 colleagues. This has been a statistic that she has been working on changing over her career at Henkel, and now the ratio has become closer to 40% of women. She also discussed other statistics such as the underrepresentation of women in management positions throughout the world, her opinion on implementing a quota, and how women and men are perceived differently when taking on a difficult task. 

We really enjoyed our first in person guest talk with Ann-Kristin, and we hope you were also able to learn what it is like for a woman in a high-ranking position in finance. 

We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

Nora Sar

Women in Business was happy to host Maastricht Alumni Nora Sar as our second guest speaker. On the 19th of May, Nora brought us along her journey from Maastricht University to her current position in the male-dominated automotive industry at Daimler Truck Asia. Nora, who grew up in Bonn, Germany, decided to go to Wales, Great Britain for boarding school where she loved the international environment. Here she studied economics which triggered her interest in business and how she decided to study International Business at UM with a major and minor in finance and accounting. During her time at UM, Nora received her first internship at Ernst & Young and later on found another internship at KPMG in auditing. Nora emphasized that we as students should see what courses we truly enjoyed during our studies when deciding on what we do for our career. She herself enjoyed that the automotive industry allows for all types of people and professions, almost as if you kind find the whole society within one industry.

 Nora also shared with us a multitude of tips for our future careers including that building a career takes time. When one starts a job, you are there from at least 1-3 years, this means that things will take time and there is not as much turnover as students may be used to. This is why it is important to do a career that you truly enjoy. Nora also mentioned that equipping yourself with skills and achievements allows you to build your portfolio. Making sure that when you start working, you also start building your skills because at some point your network will know your strengths if you can show something for yourself. 

 Overall, we appreciated Nora’s honesty about what the future holds for a career in a male-dominated industry as well as the importance of keeping a work- life blend. We learned a lot from Nora and thank her for her time. We hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did!

Alessandra Cama

April 15th 2021

On the 15th of April we were honored to welcome Alessandra Cama as our first inspirational guest speaker at our event. Alessandra was born and raised in Italy, studied in Cambridge, among other cities, and has had a prospering career to date. Over the course of the evening we were able to gain insights into Alessandra’s astonishing career. Alessandra introduced us to her career path and how she started out in Italy at Cornetto due to her passion towards food and ice cream. Nowadays, after having two children and working at companies such as Roland Berger and Warsteiner among others, Alessandra is the CEO of the german family firm Zertus.

During her career Alessandra has learnt a range of valuable lessons. One lesson was at Warsteiner, where Alessandra conducted a restructuring due to the difficulties the company was facing, which was related to the “game” of the business world. During this period, Warsteiners sponsor Jürgen Klopp who had also turned the fate of the football team Liverpool around, told her that the key to success had been the change in mindset to “wish to win, don’t fear to lose”. Alessandra highlighted the importance of being “free of the game” in order to succeed in the business word nowadays. She also emphasized the important lesson to dream beyond and see the bigger picture. Alessandra explained that in order to reach higher positions within a company, passion and performance are not enough and that you need to follow a vision and look beyond your career and seperate yourself from your job.

Alessandra also highlighted the importance of investing in yourself. She made sure that we understood the importance of taking time out of busy days to do something for yourself, even when it gets stressful. This way we are able to succeed and still have a balanced life. 

We hope you enjoyed this event as much as we did!