A new Schwarzkopf study examined modern women and their attitude towards career and family. The Study took a closer look at the self-conception and requirements of women from Germany, France and Russia. It shows: today’s women are self-confident. 50 percent of women under 30 describe themselves as emancipated and self-confident. At the same time the study revealed that men are sceptical of this development. But despite the changes, one thing in women’s lifes hasn’t changed: the leading fields of interest are fashion, hairstyles and cosmetics.
The results of the study were combined with another study about women and beauty and resulted in a new Schwarzkopf-typology: “Youth on the move” are young women under 35 without children. “Modern Mothers” are between 35 and 50 years old, have kids, but aren’t working. “Kids & Career” are a group of women between 35 and 50 years who have children and a career. “Working women” on the contrary, don’t have kids. “New beauty age” includes 51 to 70-year old women without children, respectively grown up children. [DE]
Women in Business
Today’s Schwarzkopf Customer / Die Schwarzkopf-Kundin von heute
July 30th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
Best Practices, Diversity & Inclusion
New form of apprenticeship helps young parents / Neue Ausbildungsform hilft jungen Eltern
July 29th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
The Deutsche Welle in Bonn was one of the first companies to introduce a new form of apprenticeships: the part-time apprenticeship for young parents. A part-time apprenticeship allows young parents to finish an apprenticeship and still take care of their children. The part-time apprentices work less hours per week. However, it is still possible for them to finish the apprenticeship within the regular time.
The part-time apprenticeship is being supported by the Modus project, an initiative of the chamber of commerce and industry Bonn/Rhein-Sieg. Each year the project helps 12 – 16 young parents to find an apprenticeship at a family-friendly company.
The project recently won the second prize of the “Hidden Movers Award 2010”, a nation-wide award presented by Deloitte.
The demand for part-time apprenticeships is high and the apprentices are highly motivated. But only few companies offer this type of apprenticeship. The Network for part-time Apprenticeships lists initiatives in Germany that help young parents to find an apprenticeship. [DE]
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Best Practices
Are men “better” changemanager?/Sind Männer die “besseren” Changemanager?
July 29th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
Are men „better“ changemanager for affirmative action programs for women?… This question send my google alert from the Xing group “Success via Diversity”.
This question already led to some discussions within our team. Is gender important to transmit diversity messages? Or is it more about the character and personality to ensure the success of diversity projects?
What do you think?
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity-to-Go: Mediaplanet Special “Diversity Management”
July 28th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »Diversity-to-Go: This is what the new Mediaplanet publication “Diversity Management” offers. There might be enough good reasons for a strategic diversity approach – practical tips with focus on the diversity dimensions gender, disability and cultural diversity is what you get packed on 15 pages in that newspaper.
Gender diversity:
Starting with Monika Schulz-Strelow foreword, who is president of the FidAR initiative (women for the board), to the dialogue between Wilhelm von Haller, CEO Sal.Oppenheimer Private Bank and Ana-Cristina Grohnert, Partner at Ernst & Young and an article about a father during his parental leave – there are lots of arguments and information about gender diversity, the need for a balanced workforce and the increase of women in leadership positions.
Disability:
95 percent of all disabled people are getting disabled within their professional lives. To save recruitment costs and to get highly motivated and loyal colleagues, Ford AG introduced for the first time a disability manager in Europe, who is responsible for the integration of disabled people at the working place. That saves money and increases productivity.
Cultural Diversity:
The mother dimension of diversity. But nowadays as important as in the past is the intercultural harmonization at the working place. Within this article you get some practical advices to take care of to gain economic advantages out of the cultural diversity a company has in place.
All in all the publication is as readable as informative to get an insight in the reasons why and the benefits of diversity management.
Women in Business
Kathrin Menges: one of the 100 most influential women in Germany / Kathrin Menges: eine der 100 einflussreichsten Aufsteigerinnen
July 26th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
Recently, the Handelsblatt introduced the 100 most influential women in Germany. Among them are three Henkel-women! We already introduced our head of the shareholder’s committee Simone Bagel-Trah and Tina Müller, the Corporate Senior Vice President. Today we devote our daily post to our third Top 100 woman: Kathrin Menges, Corporate Senior Vice President Global Human Resources.
Since November 2005 she manages more than 50.000 Henkel employees worldwide. Kathrin Menges has the reputation of being a calm and fair manager. Her background is exceptional what makes it particularly interesting. She has a master’s degree in education and worked as a teacher before she stepped in the Human Resources sector. First she worked as Human Resources Manager at the Bankgesellschaft Berlin. Later she was responsible for the Human Resources Region North at KMPG. She joined Henkel in 1999. Before her nomination as Corporate Senior Vice President Global Human Resources she was Corporate Key Account Manager responsible for employees who work for the management board and the IT department.
All good things come in threes but in this case we would not be sad to make a role-modeled exception. [DE]
Diversity & Inclusion
Smartphones, mobiles and laptops: electronic tags? / Smartphones, Handys und Laptops: elektronische Fußfesseln?
July 23rd, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
We have reached the point of total availability. We are working in international teams within different time zones. This is made possible by electronic communication devices. Smartphones and laptops allow us to have flexible working hours. But for many employees their phones and laptops have become an electronic tag.
The Wirtschaftswoche asked several companies how available their employees are. Adidas equipped its 40.000 employees with 3.500 smartphones and 16.000 laptops to guarantee their availability during their free time. Also the insurance company Allianz equipped all of its managers with smartphones. At IBM working hours are completely flexible. The employees decide by themselves, how and when they work on a project. For Henkel it is important that employees use their leisure time and holidays for recreation. However, in some urgent cases, managers need to be contacted off the job. In this case, special schedules arrange who can be contacted.
It is an alarming fact that the number of mental health problems has increased. The productivity and creativity of an employee suffer under a constant state of pressure. Perhaps it won’t harm to shut off the mobile after work. [DE]
Women in Business
The decision maker / Der Entscheidungsträger
July 21st, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments » 
Women and men have different decision-making techniques. But what are these differences based on? A recent post by Holly Buchanan on her blog Marketing to Women Online gives an insight on this question. In her post, Holly Buchanan quotes an article, she read on MSN. The original topic was „what men love about women“ and one interesting answer was: We love how you solve problems. When a woman is solving a problem, she internalizes everything and puts herself in every possible solution to see how she would feel. Men on the other hand are trying to find the fastest solution. Holly Buchanan explains, that men and women have different brains. The parts responsible for responsible for problem-solving, decision-making and regulating emotions are larger in women’s brains. When selling something to women it’s crucial to understand her buying process. Two simple thing can help to accommodate women’s preferences and thus, „sell more stuff“, as Holly Buchanan says. First: give women enough time to make her decisions. Second: make an emotional connection with them. [DE]
International Ambassadors
The EDI Conference in Vienna/ Die EDI Conference in Wien
July 19th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
From the 14th to 16th July the third Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) Conference took place in Vienna. This year’s theme was „Leadership for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Work”. The conference addresses academics, policy makers and practitioners and offers an international platform for explorations and discussions of leadership for equality, diversity and inclusion at work.
Several academic and doctoral sessions as well as sessions and workshops were held during these three days. For example, Stella Nkomo, Professor for Human Resource Management at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, held one of the keynote speeches, which highlighted the importance of leadership for equality, Diversity and Inclusion in South Africa. On the same day, Lize Booysen, Professor for Organizational Behavior and Leadership at the Antioch University, USA, held another keynote about diversity perspectives in leadership. Overall, the conference offered 17 streams and several workshops. Some of the topics discussed were: Sexual Orientation, Diversity and Equality in Organizations; Promoting diversity and ensuring equality at work: the role of the state, Relational Managing and Leading: The Role of Gender and Women, Work and Globalization in Developing and Transitional Societies. The next EDI Conference will take place on the February 7th and 8th in Auckland, New Zealand. [DE]
Diversity & Inclusion
Barbeque with the top management / Grillfest mit Führungskräften
July 16th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »
At a barbeque for the apprentices at Henkel in Düsseldorf last week, Kathrin Menges, Corporate Senior Vice President Global Human Resources, took the chance to meet the young people and talk with them about their apprenticeship, career in general and, of course, soccer. Besides soccer, the internationality at Henkel was a big topic.
The apprentices in the different apprenticed occupations deal with many nationalities in their every day work-life. In her conversations with the apprentices, Kathrin Menges also found out, why they chose Henkel as their apprenticing company. It became evident, that Henkel has a very good reputation among young people. The apprentices agreed that the vocational trainers at Henkel are friendly, sincere, attentive and willing to help them with every problem that might occur.
One question was particularly interesting for the apprentices: How do you become Corporate Senior Vice President Global Human Resources? Many of them were surprised to hear that Kathrin Menges started her career as a teacher. The Head of Training, Loert de Riese-Meyer was thankful for the opportunity of bringing together apprentices and top management. This day was clearly one of the highlights in the first year of training, he explained. [DE]
Women in Business
Hypo Vereinsbank Women’s advisory board launches Mentoring Programm / Frauenbeirat der Hypo Vereinsbank startet Mentoring Programm
July 15th, 2010 by Astrid Bosten | No Comments »Hypo Vereinsbank was the first bank in Germany to start its own Women’s advisory board in October 2009. The Women’s Council consists of 30 female managers and entrepreneurs. Its aim is to launch own initiatives, addressing female customers, employees and women in general. The first initiative is a mentoring program. Members of the council support selected women and junior managers on their career path. In a personal dialogue, the mentors help their mentees to recognize their own strengths and to develop skills they will need in management positions.
At Henkel we have a very agile and powerful women’s networking group that also support women in their career. In different working groups topics like mentoring and training programs were initiated and established. Once a year the networking group organizes a huge event for all female leaders within Henkel Germany – the Women’s Networking Day. [DE]
