Verena Hubertz: The new Minister for Housing with the best opportunities!

Verena Hubertz: The new Minister for Housing with the best opportunities!

Verena Hubertz has been the new Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Construction in Germany since May 6, 2025. With this appointment, she steps into a key position that is of great importance in the current political landscape. Hubertz, born on November 26, 1987 in Trier, is an alumna of the renowned WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management and brings extensive business experience to her ministry.

After completing her master's degree, she founded the successful food tech start-up Kitchen Stories in Berlin together with Mengting Bönsch. The platform, which makes creative recipes digitally accessible, is now very popular and has over 20 million users. BSH Hausgeräte GmbH took over all shares in Kitchen Stories in 2023, which underpins their entrepreneurial achievements.

Political career

Hubertz joined the SPD in 2009, motivated by protests against the lack of a statutory minimum wage. Her first political position was as auditor in the SPD local branch in Trier-Mitte/Gartenfeld. In 2020, she retired from operations at Kitchen Stories to devote herself full-time to politics. In 2021 she secured the Bundestag mandate for her home constituency of Trier. Most recently, she was deputy parliamentary group leader of the SPD parliamentary group and in this role was responsible for the areas of construction and housing, business and tourism, as well as climate protection and energy.

Hubertz has distinguished himself through various awards; A special highlight was being named on the “40 under 40” list of the financial magazine Capital in November 2022. She also speaks regularly at her former university WHU, most recently at the graduation ceremony in September.

Challenges for women in leadership positions

Her rise to minister comes against the backdrop of a broader social discussion about the role of women in leadership positions. In Germany, women make up 51% of the population, but only 44% of working people are female (UNECE, 2009). This discrepancy is also reflected in management positions: only 25% of the first and 35% of the second management level are held by women.

Cultural and structural challenges influence women's advancement in the professional world, including traditional role expectations and a male-dominated corporate culture. In addition, women are often entrusted with childcare, which affects their career prospects. Hubertz’s appointment is therefore not only a personal success, but also symbolizes the need for qualified female managers.

Senior positions in large companies are dominated by men, but studies show that companies with more diversity in leadership positions have higher profits. The will for change is noticeable, but efforts continue to be made to break down gender stereotypes and promote the compatibility of family and work.

Verena Hubertz is at the forefront of this challenge and could therefore become a pioneer not only for the women in her party, but also for society as a whole.

Her appointment to the Merz cabinet is a step in the right direction to strengthen the image of women in politics and business. Jean-François Julliard recently stated that flexible working models and better child care are important prerequisites for this change. Such structural changes are essential to unlock the full potential of the female labor market.

Overall, Verena Hubertz's ministry is guided by the need not only to create housing, but also to promote equality in management levels. Her story and her commitment could be groundbreaking for the future of women in Germany.

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