[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ min_height=”100px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Credits: Enercon[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_margin=”||-25px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Review: early in 2024, a group of female employees from ENERCON, the manufacturer of wind turbines, launched a new global women\u2019s network, the ENERCON Women\u2019s Network. Just under two years later, the community already has around 700 members \u2013 both women and men. \u201cThe initiative is an important step in strengthening female prospects at the company and boosting diversity,\u201d says Katharina Hirsch, Senior Manager Corporate Strategy at ENERCON and a spokeswoman of the women\u2019s network. \u201cWe firmly believe that the company can achieve the best results when different perspectives and experiences challenge each other,\u201d she adds, emphasising that executive management and the Human Resources (HR) department fully support the initiative.<\/p>\n
ENERCON CEO Udo Bauer is quick to agree: \u201cPeople are at the heart of everything our company does. Equal opportunity regardless of gender, age, cultural background, disability and orientation should be a given \u2013 from both an ethical and economic point of view.\u201d According to Lea-Maria Sandker, Head of Global HR: \u201cAs part of the ENERCON sustainability strategy, we\u2019re working on several initiatives to promote diversity and equal opportunity. The women\u2019s network serves as a valuable sparring partner and provides access to women\u2019s perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n
The network is clearly structured, with a core team of four people at the top who manage all the activities in coordination with the management and HR. Below them there are four working groups \u2013 antidiscrimination and inclusion, career development, networking and events, and work-life balance \u2013 which are in charge of concrete projects and key responsibilities. The two levels maintain contact with each other and the members at all times. \u201cOur aim is to create a visible community that enables the knowledge and experience to be shared as well as strengthening women at our company,\u201d explains Hirsch.
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” bottom_divider_style=”waves2″ bottom_divider_color=”#DFE6EE” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Logistics-Pilot_Family-Room-Schulkinder-Enercon.jpg” alt=”A picture of a study that doubles as half a children's room” title_text=”Logistics-Pilot_Family-Room-Schoolchildren-Enercon” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||25px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Parents can work in special \u201cfamily rooms\u201d at ENERCON as their children play.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Events held at the headquarters in Aurich in May and in Lisbon in November were two of the network\u2019s most important activities last year. More than 90 participants enjoyed a programme comprising workshops, expert talks, a group lunch and key notes by Udo Bauer, Heiko Juritz (COO) and Lea-Maria Sandker.<\/p>\n
An awareness campaign on discriminatory language at the workplace, which was linked to a digital Advent calendar, received a great deal of attention in late 2025 and is the source of the quotes used at the beginning of the article. Every day from 1 to 24 December, the network also provided exciting background information as well as recommendations for how women should respond in such situations \u2013 for example, by setting clear boundaries, demanding accountability and addressing the inappropriate behaviour directly.
Hirsch recalls a conversation with a male colleague who, during a tender process, said, \u201cWe need a strong man in this position.\u201d\u201cHe didn\u2019t mean anything by it,\u201d says Hirsch. \u201cI always respond immediately to comments like this in a friendly way \u2013 ideally with a pinch of humour and without making accusations.\u201d In that situation, Hirsch asked the colleague in question if a strong woman would be too strong for the position. In her experience, this usually results in a brief silence, followed by a moment of realisation and then an engaging and often clarifying conversation. This demonstrates what many psychological studies have found: language influences the way we think and our decisions, often without our knowledge. Terms and formulations have an impact on how we perceive roles, abilities and opportunities \u2013 and thus the reality we create together.<\/p>\n
For this reason, the women\u2019s network is eager to involve men to a higher degree. \u201cWe view ourselves as an inclusive network that invites everyone to work on solutions together. It\u2019s not about \u2018women against men\u2019. On the contrary. Men are part of our work environment, and in most cases they support us,\u201d says Hirsch. \u201cBut they often have a different perception of the challenges women face every day. And that\u2019s why we\u2019re interested in creating awareness and sensitivity as well as including their perspectives and ideas when it comes to implementing measures. After all, it\u2019s only by working together to affect change that we can create a sustainable culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ENERCON Women\u2019s Network has also been expanding its activities beyond the company\u2019s borders. For example, it joined the women of new energies (w.one) network last year, allowing female ENERCON employees to take advantage of coaching by external mentors. \u201cTogether, we\u2019re committed to improving visibility and equal opportunity for women in the renewable energies sector,\u201d says Hirsch.<\/p>\n
Looking to the future, ENERCON and the Women\u2019s Network have set their sights on some quantitative aims. As part of the company-wide sustainability strategy, the management have committed themselves to increasing the percentage of women in management roles to 25 per cent by 2030. With women currently accounting for approximately 17 per cent of company staff and around twelve per cent of management, the company has a lot of work ahead of itself. Building on the momentum of this collaboration, all the participants also want to create conditions for sustainable structural changes that ultimately allow them not only to achieve their aim but also create a culture that boosts diversity over the long term. (bre)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Logistics-Pilot-Katharina-Hirsch_Enercon-Womens-Network.png” alt=”Portrait photo by Katharina Hirsch” title_text=”Logistics-Pilot-Katharina-Hirsch_Enercon-Womens-Network” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Katharina Hirsch, Senior Manager Corporate Strategy at ENERCON[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Unfortunately, sexism is alive and well. Comments like \u201cUnloading the dishwasher is a woman\u2019s job\u201d and \u201cAll you have to do to get your way is bat your eyelashes\u201d are still all too common at many companies today. The ENERCON Women\u2019s Network has put together a comprehensive package of measures to prevent these from taking hold at ENERCON. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":70356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-portrait-en"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cWe can only create a sustainable culture together.\u201d
\n<\/h3>\n