2024/08 I was very impressed by the presentation given by Barbara Lutz, CEO of FKi Diversity For Success and former DAX executive, as a guest at the Women's Union. She spoke about her amazing career and how she started out in the US. Being a woman was never an issue abroad. She was never asked about her marital status or whether she had children, and no one was ever interested in whether she had family support or what role her husband played in the relationship.

In Germany, we are stuck in a mindset trap. Everyone agreed on that. Nevertheless, the opening question from woman to woman in the panel discussion following the keynote speech was: “How did you manage to balance your career and family life?”

Clearly, the causes of our gender issues are deeply rooted in our culture. But how do we get out of this dilemma?

It is definitely too easy to blame “men” or “women.” “They won't let us rise” is too short-sighted. The biggest hurdle we have to overcome is still the social role assignment that is anchored in all of us. This results in both missed opportunities and unwanted discrimination.

I believe it is necessary to approach gender and discrimination issues without prejudice and to deal with them on the basis of the underlying beliefs.

Only then will we be able to break old patterns of behavior and pave the way for a new mindset similar to Ms. Lutz's American experience. Perhaps then, at some point, we will no longer care and it will no longer matter in our encounters and conversations where a person comes from, what gender they are, or what their sexual orientation is.

The Quantum Leap approach is focused on sustainability. We recognize diversity as a great opportunity and help to realize visions through our transformation and leadership approach.

Accordingly, all that matters in a job interview would be the skills and potential that a person brings to the table. Only in this way can an environment be created in which everything else ultimately doesn't really matter, because people deal with the framework conditions in the same open manner and become enablers.

How often do you find yourself being guided by “old” role patterns?