Nadine Henkel - Managing Director of EPC Group

What do you like most about your job?

There are many different challenges. Every project, every client and every country is different. Therefore, each project offers new and exciting challenges and new experiences we can all learn from.

Have you ever been confronted with prejudices in your job? How did you deal with them?

It may happen that you are confronted with prejudices as a woman in a ‘male-dominated” industry. In my opinion, it depends on the character of the other person. At first, it made me feel insecure, but today I don’t have a problem with this anymore. Also, I haven't been in such a situation for quite some time now. My strategy is to just be myself, and to not let myself get confused. I believe that when you are a woman and stay true to yourself, many prejudices dissolve by themselves, because with an authentic appearance you can basically destroy prejudices by the roots.

Which skills are required to succeed in a male-dominated business?

I don't think it is necessary to have special skills for male-dominated professions. A certain assertiveness is certainly an advantage. But I think that many women, especially with their social competence, can bring a lot of positive input into male teams.

How do you generally see the chances for women who apply for jobs in a technical environment? What career opportunities do you see for them, especially in the engineering sector?

Many women do not yet dare to enter male professions. But career opportunities are not so bad in my opinion. We have no prejudices about hiring women, but there are far too few applications. These professions should therefore be made even more popular among women. For example, one could introduce technical professions even more strongly in schools and thus arouse interest.

Which tips would you like to give future female engineers?

It is important to be authentic, to stay yourself and not to let oneself be unsettled. It is also important to bear in mind that men and women are different, but we should try to benefit from these disparities.