“Be brave and simply go ahead and take the first step”

The initiative Starke Frauen – Starker Mittelstand (“Strong Women – Strong SMEs”) was founded because women continue to be underappreciated in the business world. In this way, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs is seeking to ensure greater visibility for female managers. One particularly actively involved business leader is Melanie Baum, owner and managing director of the company Baum Zerspanungstechnik in Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ms Baum, as a female managing director, are you a rarity or an established figure in your industry?

Strictly speaking, as the sole female managing director and owner, I’m actually something of a rarity in my industry. But perhaps it isn’t that important to be 100 percent solely responsible for a business. What is more important is to have more women in industry who have the confidence to be leaders. Fortunately we’re now seeing this more and more, but there’s still a long way to go, so it’s a fascinating situation. 

You were able to continue a family business and maintain existing structures. Since then, have you made your mark as woman in any particular way? 

Our industry has faced major transformation processes in recent years. Changes needed to be pursued with great sensitivity. Developments that I was able to support and implement more effectively than my father have included an open approach to problems and conflicts, a shift in the communication culture towards greater transparency and participation, and establishing mixed-skill teams. Was all this down to gender? It might have been, but it doesn’t have to be.

Is networking particularly important for women? What is the significance of the initiative “Strong Women – Strong SMEs” in this connection?

Here, too, the key for me is to establish mixed teams. Regardless of gender, I’ve always found it greatly enriching to bring together different skills and personality traits – both within my company and in networks. Through our initiative, we’re focussing on the needs and framework conditions of women in SMEs, but we also welcome any “male input” from the outside. Our common goal is to strengthen the SME sector. Whether on the subject of “women” or in any other context: heterogeneous teams, diversity and variety are highly worthwhile and add value.

What would you say to a young woman in her 20s who is thinking about which career to pursue? What really matters if you want to move forward?

You should think carefully about how you want to spend your working hours and earn your money: what comes easily to me? What am I good at? What is especially satisfying? Then the issue of work-life balance is not so important, regardless of gender: you stay at a productive energy level and draw motivation from your own value creation. This often gives rise to desires and visions in terms of your own career path. And for all those women out there in particular: don’t be too hard on yourselves. Have the courage to make mistakes. You don’t have to be perfect. Be brave and simply go ahead and take the first step.