“Women at the Top” Forum 2007/2008
Ruhr Region, Germany

What was special about it?

• Cooperation between all networks in Germany’s Ruhr region (with its 5.3 million inhabitants) that promote women managers, supported by the North Rhine-Westphalian government and the European Regional Development Fund.
• Participants: 100 women managers of large companies, women entrepreneurs and female leaders from institutions and the political sphere were personally invited. At the second forum in 2008, 10 per cent of the participants in the discussions were male HR executives.
• Objective: Based on an exchange of experiences among managers, decision-makers and entrepreneurs, the main intention was to develop new ideas on how to increase the number of women in decision-making roles and to launch new activities.
• Process: The discussions between women managers and women entrepreneurs proved extremely fascinating and fruitful. The managers’ willingness to get involved in social issues was even higher than expected.

The “Women at the Top” Forum devised strategies on the following three ­levels of action:

1. Society: enhance visibility of female managers as role models
2. Companies: trigger a change in corporate culture
3. Individuals: empowerment through career coaching

But it wasn’t all just theoretical. 62 commitments were made by participants to take concrete action in their professional spheres. 18 women managers participated eight months in a “strategy team”, which evolved and added detail to the ideas developed at the first forum.

Their proposals were discussed at the 2nd “Women at the Top” Forum in June 2008.

Results

• The majority of the participants in the “Women at the Top” Forum felt that influencing management culture and the traditional gender roles was currently crucial for change. They became aware of their importance as role models and of the possibility of using their actions to get more women into executive management.
• The numerous ideas developed at the two forums have been documented and communicated to key stakeholders in the Ruhr region.
• Perhaps more important than the ideas are the concrete steps that the forum participants are now initiating in the region, i.e. in-company mentoring and coaching programmes for young managers; development of a “Licence to lead” programme; continuation of the dialogue between female and male managers; the managers who took part in the forum are serving as contacts for young women and girls seeking help and guidance.
• The media were willing to publish a series of profiles of women in management positions to mark the event. Our partnership with “existenzielle” magazine led to a series of fascinating interviews with women managers and businesswomen.
• On the internet, a selection of facts, studies, good practice and news about women managers has been put together: www.chefin-online.de
• Five experts in the strategy team, who are also active in networks, are continuing the work of the “Women at the Top” Forum and are available to advise politicians.
• A total of 300 women managers in the region were mobilised to get involved in activities.