Female engineers in focus

At Endress+Hauser, the world of female engineers reveals remarkable achievements – and portrays inspiring stories about dedication, skill and creativity. Six women explain how their jobs set an example for diversity and equal opportunity in technical professions.

Text: Sereina Manetsch

Images: Endress+Hauser

Corporate culture

Education

Diversity

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Women are still underrepresented in most technical professions. A lack of knowledge about how diverse the day-to-day activities are in this field is one reason. Another is a lack of female role models who have successfully chosen this path. The International Women in Engineering Day aims to change this. On 23 June every year, the spotlight shines on women around the world who are putting their stamp on the field of engineering with dedication, skill and creativity. Six female engineers from Endress+Hauser use this opportunity to share their experiences – and to encourage young women to chart this same course.

“Many women on the verge of an engineering career believe that science and family are incompatible, which leads them to become discouraged. My experience has shown otherwise. The support of my family has helped me to advance my scientific career. It was not always easy to balance these roles, but hard work and perseverance bring respect and recognition. My advice is to persevere, stay the course and display self-confidence.”

Dr Anna Kocincová

Head of R&D and Paste Production, Innovative Sensor Technology IST

“Significantly participating in the development of something really innovative provides a deep sense of satisfaction, because it can often be a very long time before a patent is actually approved. In these moments you truly realize that you have created something special and that your contribution is of major significance. And it’s a great experience when your own innovation ends up in production, because you see how it delivers concrete added value. In such moments, you feel the joy and fulfillment that comes with knowing that you made an important contribution.”

Elke Schmidt

Advanced Sensor Engineer, Endress+Hauser Level+Pressure

“Teamwork is of critical importance for innovation. Innovations are not created in isolation in some dark chamber, but come about through interaction with others in a creative environment. Collaboration makes it possible to bring in various ideas and perspectives, which leads to a more comprehensive understanding and increases the chance of an innovative breakthrough. Ultimately, teamwork is the key to success in the development of groundbreaking innovations.”

Felicia Seichter

Senior Engineer, Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis

“In the field of data science, I’m proud to be able to work on such high-profile issues that have genuine added value for our customers. Although it can take some time before an idea can be transformed into a product, I feel like a small piece of a puzzle in the future of processing and interpreting measurement values.”

Julia Mildner

Head of Group, Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis

“Endress+Hauser’s atmosphere of openness, which allows a free exchange of ideas, fires up the imagination. There is no room for competition. Instead, there is a common devotion to finding the best possible solution. Close collaboration in the team leads to a creative dynamic that provides the inspiration for new solutions. Teamwork and a common spirit serve as the driving force for our innovative discoveries.”

Martine Lefebvre

Head of Device Integration Department, Endress+Hauser Flow

"At the beginning you often don’t know when an idea can become a real innovation. It calls for openness and interest beyond one’s own field of specialty, a search for solutions off the beaten path and even outside of one’s own specialty. Sometimes it means scaling things differently or combining them anew, and most of all sharing ideas with people from other areas."

Dr Christiane Ehrling

Department Manager Product Development Sum parameter / Elemental analysis, Analytik Jena

A network for more diversity

With the global initiative known as the Women’s Integrated Network (WIN), Endress+Hauser is actively promoting diversity, equal opportunity and the development of female employees through leadership, training and education, personal and professional development, networking and mentoring. The special emphasis is on careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The WIN initiative aims to increase the share of female managers to 30 percent by the year 2030, while growing the overall share of female employees to 40 percent from the current 30 percent.

At the US Sales Center, where the initiative was launched in 2015, the proportion of women in management positions increased from 21 to 37 percent within seven years. At Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis, the ratio rose from 15 to 25 percent in two years. In addition, managers and those with human resources responsibility around the world have been sensitized to the issue of unconscious bias. With the WIN initiative, Endress+Hauser is increasing the awareness of diversity and inclusion, and in the process making a positive impact on the corporate culture over the long term.