The German Mittelstand increasingly recognizes the relevance of diversity and female representation in leadership positions. In recent years, awareness of the advantages of diverse teams and an inclusive corporate culture has grown significantly. Nevertheless, we continue to see the need and urgent demand to increase diversity, especially in technical fields.
Our experience shows that female leaders with technical qualifications are still rare, yet they provide tremendous added value to companies. They offer not only technical expertise and industry knowledge, but also remarkable leadership qualities and innovative perspectives that can be critical to the success of a mid-sized company.
What makes the search for talented women in this field so challenging?
Women in leadership positions with technical backgrounds are still underrepresented (though rising!). In addition, deep-rooted biases and structural barriers continue to exist, creating particular challenges. This makes it essential to develop a deep understanding of the specific needs and circumstances women face in this industry in order to successfully place them in demanding leadership roles.
What expectations and requirements do women have of future employers?
Women appreciate secure and stable workplaces with clear career paths and development opportunities. In addition to equality and recognition of performance, they value transparency within the company.
So what can the Mittelstand actively do?
It requires
- a shift in mindset and active promotion of diversity
- early identification and targeted development of female talent
- the creation of visibility for female role models within the company
- the development of targeted recruiting strategies to attract women to the company
What do we at etec Consult do to attract women with technical qualifications for leadership roles?
- We use our experienced executive search team (with 50% female employees!) to continuously and proactively identify top female talent – independent of specific projects.
- We rely on a respectful, competent and highly personalized approach and support the long-term career development of female candidates.
- We expand our network of “women in technology” every day and stay in constant exchange with them through our social media channels and at trade fairs.
- We leverage discussions with women for market analysis and support our clients in better understanding the needs and expectations of this target group.
So listen up, Mittelstand: There are talented women with impressive careers. They are in our network – if you want to take the next step in diversity, get in touch with us!