08.03.2024 Gabriele Strasser 35642

Management job and family: "We need role models!"

As Head of Human Resources at Linde Engineering Headquarters and mother of a young daughter, Evelyn Schipfer wants to be a role model for other women, showing that a management role is compatible with valuable time for the family. In this interview, she talks about her experiences and gives tips for women who want to achieve more at work.

Ms. Schipfer, you are a role model for reconciling a management role with family time. How do you achieve this?

Evelyn Schipfer: There is no standard solution, each person has to find the right model for themselves. When I returned to the office after parental leave, I thought about what was important to me. This includes starting the day with breakfast together with my daughter and my husband. I can count on one hand the times when this wasn't possible for me. Or the fixed appointment I have with my daughter once a week. My boss and my team know this appointment and can take it into account. 

I want to be a role model for consciously planning time slots. This also means that I prepare topics for the next day in the evening and answer important emails. The weekend is family time. If necessary, I only switch on my laptop in the evening. 

There are times when you are very busy as a manager and have little time for your family and yourself. A guilty conscience is then not a good advisor. Instead, I recommend looking forward to more flexibility and enjoyable activities with the family, for example when a project launch or important negotiations have been successful.   

What "stumbling blocks" have you encountered on your career path? 

To be honest, I can't think of any major "stumbling blocks". I was lucky enough to meet people in the various companies who saw my potential and supported me in implementing my ideas and achieving my goals, and who gave me valuable advice at the right moment. But of course there are certain things that you should be aware of. These can be behavioral or communication styles, rules of the game or personality traits. 

What structures are needed in companies to enable women to pursue a career and reconcile work and private life? 

As diverse as companies are, the answers can be just as varied. For me, there needs to be an open exchange and role models on how women, men and parents can combine family and career ambitions. Together with the GDW ("Global Digital Women"), for example, we have organized great workshops under the title "Stepping Up" and regularly present great women with different professional and cultural backgrounds in the company in short podcasts. 

What classic "career tips" and strategies do you think women can do without?

I don't think it makes much sense for a woman to be "tough" in order to make a career. On the contrary, it's wonderful to be able to play the entire keyboard. It's important to be authentic and to value the people you work with. 

An "elbow tactic" was never an option for me. I win people over with my skills and ideas - and not by pointing out the supposed weaknesses of others. When it comes to promotion opportunities, you should also keep an open mind and not just focus on the "master plan". It is important to pursue your own goals. But what great paths have opened up that I didn't think were possible before! 

A quote that I like to share: "Choose your fights wisely".

How to take on more responsibility at work: 6 tips from Evelyn Schipfer

1. invest in appearance and impact 

A good year ago, I was lucky enough to work with a fantastic trainer on my posture, voice and gestures. It didn't take several days of coaching or a rhetoric seminar. There are simple, effective tips on how to build on your own personality to strengthen your appearance and professionalism, increase your visibility and also emphasize female attributes. 

2. sit "at the table"

Show a willingness to take responsibility for new and complex issues and demand participation. For me, this has meant clearly articulating when I want to be involved in important discussions instead of just contributing and being informed about the results afterwards. In return, I invest in good preparation and can be very persistent.

3. seize opportunities and be loyal

When I was given the opportunity to take on a management role five years ago, I was the youngest member of the team and had been with the company the shortest. I approached the task with respect, not too much actionism, but also with the self-confidence that I could look back on several years of relevant experience in large corporations. When my employer put their trust in me, it was clear to me that I would invest at least two years in this role before my dream of having a small family came true. 

4. trust your team and manage complexity 

Share knowledge and all information that is important for the team. I myself want to work independently, and I also pass this on in management. In the first step, "accountability" means giving employees scope for action and decision-making. As a team, we discuss different points of view together and prioritize issues. This is the only way I can create space for new projects and pursue the defined strategies and visions.  

5. build up a functioning network

It is not the number of contacts that is decisive, but the quality. Strategic contacts are important for achieving personal and business goals. But you also need people in your network whom you trust personally, who are honest advisors and critics, and with whom you can share both pleasant and difficult moments.  

6. practice calmness and control your emotions

We all experience situations that trigger emotions: A proposed solution is questioned, counter-arguments come up unexpectedly or conflicts arise. I have learned to remain calm and professional in such situations and to reflect on the situation afterwards. As a result, you gain experience and confidence over the course of your career. I took away two important messages from conversations with a great senior manager: 

1. "As a woman in a male-dominated business, it is not always easy to make a 'career'. That's why we learn together what stumbling blocks you need to watch out for." 

2 "If your manager gives you feedback or criticism, you can doubt yourself. But you can also see it as a sign of appreciation that they are interested in your development and your appearance."