Women in consulting

Consulting and women. Is that a fit? We think: definitely. The consulting sector and the automotive industry are still regarded by many as a male domain – but here too we are driving forward change. To achieve this, we have created an environment that specifically promotes and supports female talent. Are you in?

Much more than a question of quotas

The Volkswagen Group is also in the midst of a transformation in terms of gender equality. And so are we. Over the past few years, we have increased our proportion of women to just under 30 percent, but that is far from enough for us. And not because we want to achieve a model rate, but because we are convinced that we also need diversity in our thoughts and actions. This is the only way we can develop optimum solutions for our customers. For this reason, we are constantly developing our working conditions and keeping an eye on the needs of our employees.

Wirtschaftswoche, Germany’s leading business magazine, awarded us 1st place in the “Female Consultants” award in recognition of our exemplary activities for more equal opportunities.

Networking power among women: our FemConnect network

According to a recent OECD study, the proportion of women in management positions has been stagnating for several years. This is an issue that also concerns us. We therefore founded the FemConnect network for female consultants back in 2009. It provides a protected space for dialogue, support and inspiration, and is the mouthpiece for women within the Volkswagen Group. FemConnect also offers training on relevant topics, informal evenings with external speakers and much more.

FemConnect’s activities

Ensuring dialogue and networking of women within the Volkswagen Group

Promoting recruiting to attract female top talents

Women-specific trainings for personal and professional development

Driving cultural change and promoting equal opportunities

Susanne Giesbers, former Senior Project Manager, now in a leadership role at the Group

In conversation with Susanne

How did you join us?

It was actually a coincidence. I got to know Volkswagen Group Consulting consultants on a project we were working on together. I realised that their work had nothing to do with the clichés I had in my head.

What was it really like?

Really different from what I had imagine beforehand. I found many young, highly motivated colleagues here. There was not a self-interested mentality, but rather a work ethic that was always geared towards the common solution of problems.

Be honest: Were you a workaholic?

Sure, we had to work hard sometimes. But it was fun, well mostly anyway :). And, as a rule, I was able to schedule my working time flexibly, which of course helped me a lot as a mother.

Not just for women: our offers for parents.

Working parents make an important contribution to our future. A contribution that can be quite exhausting. We support them with a range of offers, including flexible working hours, job sharing, or time off. Would you be interested in knowing what else we offer?

Benefits