Women's power in business: WHU is providing new impetus for International Women's Day!

Women's power in business: WHU is providing new impetus for International Women's Day!

On March 8, 2025, on the occasion of International Women's Day, the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen the role of women in economics. According to current data, women are severely underrepresented in this field; Only 5% of the researchers in German-speaking countries included in WirtschaftsWoche's business administration ranking are female. However, there are two researchers from WHU in the top three quality rankings: Prof. Dr. Nadine Kammerlander and Prof. Dr. Fabiola Gerpott, who take first and third place. WHU uses this day to honor the achievements of female researchers and highlight their important contributions to science, especially in teaching and research.

As part of its initiatives, WHU decided to waive application fees for women applying for full-time bachelor's or master's programs in March. This measure is part of a larger strategy to promote young women in business, which is being implemented in various forms, from students to junior professors. The challenges faced by female founders are also the focus of current research. Junior professors Julia de Groote and Pisitta Vongswasdi highlight that women in the startup scene face three significant obstacles: the constant need to prove themselves, exclusion from crucial networks, and resistance to serious investors who actually want to support diversity initiatives. These barriers often lead to female founders giving up their projects in frustration.

Research and challenges in leadership

Additionally, Dr. Lioba Gierke and Dr. Sofia Schlamp Diversity in management levels from the perspective of gender. Her goal is to break down the barriers women face in leadership and support organizational change. The findings of her work show that although there are often no significant differences in the behavior of male and female leaders, there are differences in perception that are strongly influenced by stereotypes. It is emphasized that women can have a decisive influence on future management and business concepts.

The situation for women in startups is just as precarious, as a study published by PwC Germany in partnership with other institutions shows. This study on diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion in German startups found that the majority of founders consider DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) to be important, but only 35% see this as entrepreneurial added value. Women in particular experience greater discrimination in the start-up process, with 46% of those surveyed confirming this. Despite the great importance of diversity, only a few startups have implemented concrete DEI measures. 76% of female founders think DEI is important, in contrast to 66% of male founders.

Diversity as a strategic resource

The AllBright Foundation points out that there is still a strongly male-dominated leadership culture in German companies, especially family businesses. In listed companies, the proportion of women on boards is only 25%, while large family businesses have a proportion of men of 87%. This inequality has a negative impact on company success, particularly in sectors such as automotive, which have historically often favored homogeneous teams. The increasing public pressure on companies to promote diversity could ultimately lead to a rethink.

The risks in times of economic crisis should also not be underestimated; Wiebke Ankersen from the AllBright Foundation warns that equality and diversity can quickly be neglected in such times. It is all the more important that companies understand diversity as a strategic resource and actively use it to shape jobs and careers. Homogeneous teams that show little enthusiasm for change can endanger the company's success at critical moments. Diversity, on the other hand, promotes better decision-making by incorporating different perspectives and discussions.

Overall, the efforts towards equality and diversity in the German economy are still far from reaching their goal. Future initiatives must ensure that women's voices are heard more prominently in leadership roles and that the challenges they face are finally addressed.