Continental female leadership workshop

On the 1st and 2nd of December, two girls from the team had the opportunity to attend a Female Leadership Workshop organized by Continental. After short consideration, two of us made the journey from Ravensburg to Hanover, the Continental Headquarters.

On Friday, the first day of the two-day event, all the participants had the chance to get to know each other and each other’s team experiences. After that, the program continued: four female executives from different departments presented their careers and personal experiences. After a subsequent question and answer round, we were strengthened with new insights and excitment as we headed to dinner together. At the end of the evening, Continental had planned a city tour, which – as it should be – was Advent themed, so the whole group could get cultural insight of Hannover and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere at the Christmas market.

On the second day the actual part of the workshop started. It was led by a woman who made it clear from the start that female leadership is not feminism. She explained to those present that there are two poles in each person – the feminine and masculine intelligence. A good leader combines both the masculine qualities (control, authority and concentration) and the feminine ones (trust, compassion and calm). She also told us that leadership is not a position, but a decision. Nobody is born the perfect leader – you can learn it all in life.

It was also important to her that we listen more to our intuition in the future and consider her to be an authentic choice. In closing, she summed up that we should accept and grow in the opportunities that life offers.

With a lot of information and new acquaintances within the Formula Student Ladies, each team went back home. Now the next step is to implement what we have learned!