The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association offers participants opportunities to share their experiences
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Mentoring opens doors
Susanne Rösler was a mentee of Kathrin Schönborn-Sobolewski even before the Rhine-Main chapter of the HBA was up and running. She recently earned her doctorate, and now she's working in the pharmaceutical industry. "They also have mentoring programs at the universities in the state of Hesse, and I already knew Ms. Schönborn-Sobolewski from there," she says. Through the mentoring process, Rösler discovered that experience is easily transferred. Many of the skills that are important in professional practice can only be learned on the job rather than from books.
That's why the advice and support she received from her mentor has been very valuable. "In these talks with your mentor you feel much more competent and you find out more about the real priorities," says Rösler. "I never had the feeling I was receiving advice from above. One might have feared that somebody with 25 years of professional experience would talk to a young woman colleague in a slightly condescending way, but that didn't happen. Mentoring talks are always very open and the people involved are definitely on the same level." Rösler's mentoring process was so obviously successful that she got some rather envious comments from men who graduated with her. They asked her, "Why isn't there something like that for us too?"
"It would be a mistake to think that men aren't welcome if we present a forum on a topic such as 'Is there a gender-specific leadership style?' or 'Pharmaceuticals 3.0.' We're happy to have them join the discussion," says Schönborn-Sobolewski. The HBA certainly doesn't lack topics worth debating. It is active in a dynamic sector that depends on continuous innovation processes — not only in the technical and scientific field but also in the area of management and skills acquisition.
There is an increasingly strong realization that the contribution made by women professionals is needed and appreciated at every level. "That's why Merck has been a corporate sponsor of the HBA for some time now," says Schönborn-Sobolewski. "I'm very pleased that the company is officially supporting our activities." Female employees at Merck can therefore become HBA members or participate in the organization's events at reduced rates. The company is committed to actively promoting their interests. It's an investment in the future.
Susanne Rösler was a mentee of Kathrin Schönborn-Sobolewski even before the Rhine-Main chapter of the HBA was up and running. She recently earned her doctorate, and now she's working in the pharmaceutical industry. "They also have mentoring programs at the universities in the state of Hesse, and I already knew Ms. Schönborn-Sobolewski from there," she says. Through the mentoring process, Rösler discovered that experience is easily transferred. Many of the skills that are important in professional practice can only be learned on the job rather than from books.
That's why the advice and support she received from her mentor has been very valuable. "In these talks with your mentor you feel much more competent and you find out more about the real priorities," says Rösler. "I never had the feeling I was receiving advice from above. One might have feared that somebody with 25 years of professional experience would talk to a young woman colleague in a slightly condescending way, but that didn't happen. Mentoring talks are always very open and the people involved are definitely on the same level." Rösler's mentoring process was so obviously successful that she got some rather envious comments from men who graduated with her. They asked her, "Why isn't there something like that for us too?"
"It would be a mistake to think that men aren't welcome if we present a forum on a topic such as 'Is there a gender-specific leadership style?' or 'Pharmaceuticals 3.0.' We're happy to have them join the discussion," says Schönborn-Sobolewski. The HBA certainly doesn't lack topics worth debating. It is active in a dynamic sector that depends on continuous innovation processes — not only in the technical and scientific field but also in the area of management and skills acquisition.
There is an increasingly strong realization that the contribution made by women professionals is needed and appreciated at every level. "That's why Merck has been a corporate sponsor of the HBA for some time now," says Schönborn-Sobolewski. "I'm very pleased that the company is officially supporting our activities." Female employees at Merck can therefore become HBA members or participate in the organization's events at reduced rates. The company is committed to actively promoting their interests. It's an investment in the future.
