Cer­e­mo­ni­al Con­clu­sion of the Lead­er­ship Pro­gram for Fe­male Pro­fes­sors 2024

A Year of Growth and Learning

The Leadership Program supports 12 female professors each year, divided into two groups representing the four major Berlin universities: Humboldt University of Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Technical University of Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The program’s goal is to empower participants in their roles as female leaders in academia. Throughout the year, the professors participate in:

• Six thematic workshops on leadership in academia.
• An individualized leadership style analysis.
• One-on-one coaching sessions to reflect on and achieve personal goals.

Distinguished Guests and Inspiring Insights

The closing events provided a platform for the participants to engage in meaningful exchanges with successful women from business, politics, and academia in a supportive and collegial atmosphere. These events also served as an opportunity to expand professional networks. This year, two outstanding guests of honor graced the event: Prof. Dr. Heide Pfarr and Edelgard Bulmahn, who shared insights from their remarkable careers. Their valuable advice and experiences left a lasting impression on the participants. The key takeaways included:

• Having courage Making decisions and taking responsibility often requires the courage to embrace risks and tackle challenges. The guests emphasized that courage does not mean the absence of fear but taking action despite uncertainty.
• Networks are essential Networks are a cornerstone of success, whether for finding support among peers, gaining new perspectives, or uncovering opportunities. The guests highlighted the importance of actively nurturing relationships, for example, through regular meetings and exchanges.
• Failure can lead to new opportunities Navigating setbacks is an inevitable part of both professional and personal growth. Prof. Dr. Heide Pfarr and Edelgard Bulmahn stressed that failure is not the end but often the beginning of something new. It offers a chance to learn from experiences, pause for reflection, and explore alternative paths that might not have been visible before.

Reflection and Goal Work

A central component of the closing event was reflecting on the individual goals set at the beginning of the program year. Participants had outlined personal aspirations and development targets, such as improving their time management or better supporting their team members. During the goal work session, progress was reviewed, and valuable insights were shared. As in previous years, it became clear that the participants were not only able to draw numerous practical takeaways from the program but also succeeded in integrating many of them effectively into their professional routines.