Female Leadership. Male Allies. Young Talents.
How can we successfully increase the number of women in top management? And what role do “male allies” play in this? We’re joining the discussion!
The proportion of women in leadership positions is a major issue in nearly all industries. While the numbers in the real estate industry are more balanced than they were 10 years ago, we are still far from achieving gender parity in leadership roles. As part of the EXPO, the “Frauen Verbinden” network at Messe München, the “Frauen in der Immobilienwirtschaft” association, and FRAUEN !N FÜHRUNG (F!F) therefore hosted a panel discussion titled: “Female Leadership – Male Allies – Young Talents: How to Successfully Drive Change Toward More Women in Leadership Roles in the Real Estate Industry.”
The figures are sobering: A study from March 2021 shows that while women make up 45% of students graduating from real estate-related degree programs, the average percentage of women in top management is only 11%. In administration, on the other hand, women hold exactly half of all positions, and in accounting (46%) and HR (42%), the proportion is only slightly lower.
Numerous factors contribute to this slow progress, ranging from male-dominated networks and communication structures to differing leadership mindsets. However, what is absolutely essential on the path to greater parity are so-called “male allies”—that is, men who support women in their careers and strive for equal opportunity—and do so honestly and without prejudice.
In the survey, only 42% of all male participants saw a need for action in this area. We are proud that Norbert Hermanns, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Landmarken AG and Managing Director of Stadtmarken GmbH, is one of them and speaks clearly on the matter:
“If we want to understand how society works, then we must, of course, also include in our teams those who are part of this society and who want to shape it. We see Landmarken AG as a hub where exceptionally talented people come together to rethink society and develop the real estate concepts necessary to support this social change. And how are we supposed to do that with a team made up entirely of men—or even one made up entirely of women? We need to be diverse; we need to bring the right people together in interdisciplinary teams and ensure that communication flows smoothly—and then we’ll achieve the right results.”
The recording of the entire event—including all the facts and figures as well as the panel discussion—is available here!
Photos: Benedikt Roth Photography
