Power, networks, change

PANDA - The Women Leadership Network as a guest at the Office Club

The evening was organised by PANDA Ambassadors Ute Lehmann and Anne Fuertjes. PANDA - The Women Leadership Network is committed to promoting women in leadership positions in business, politics and society.
With its "50/50" mission, the network pursues a clear goal: equal representation in leadership positions. To this end, PANDA brings together experienced female leaders, aspiring talents and companies as a platform for sparring, career impulses and structural change.
And the PANDA event at the Office Club fulfilled precisely this goal, as organiser Anne Fuertjes notes:

"For me, this evening was proof that change begins where doors open. Office Club not only gave us a space, but also trust. And this trust gave rise to encounters, dialogue and real movement. The reading gave a stage to topics that are otherwise far too quiet and that's exactly what we need."

An evening that reveals power structures

The evening's impulses are summarised in a book that takes a look behind the scenes of top female managers: "Machtgebiete". The two top female managers Anna Sophie Herken (GIZ board member) and Christina Sontheim-Leven (supervisory board member and multiplier for female empowerment), together with business journalist Bettina Weiguny, spoke to around 50 top female managers.
The resulting conversations provide rare, unvarnished insights into the reality of female managers: scientifically categorised and at the same time close to personal experiences.
Ute Lehmann, who initiated the fireside chat and hosted the evening, explains:

"I know a lot of the book from many years of professional experience myself. I immediately thought: if there's a book that fits in with PANDA, then this one does. So I organised the book launch and fireside chat with the aim of drawing attention to the power asymmetries between men and women in the world of work."

In addition to the authors Christina Sontheim-Leven and Bettina Weiguny, the evening's panel participants included Katja Hessel (FDP), former Parliamentary State Secretary, Supervisory Board member and lawyer, and Franziska Hoppermann (CDU/CSU), Member of Parliament and member of the Committee on Digital and State Modernisation.
The topics ranged from structural discrimination and informal power circles to subtle mechanisms of exclusion in everyday management. One thing became clear: The higher women rise, the more complex the resistance becomes.
One example from the book describes bias training at a bank: at the beginning of the event, three female participants are mistaken for service staff by a male colleague - during training on unconscious bias, of all things. An episode that exemplifies how deeply anchored stereotypical thought patterns are.
At the same time, the panellists looked to the future. Instead of adapting to existing systems, it is about actively changing structures and recognising female leadership qualities such as empathy or collaborative strength as future skills, especially in the age of AI.

Voices from the panel and practice

The lively and multi-layered nature of these topics was demonstrated in the ensuing discussion. Representatives from business, politics and the media contributed their perspectives and experiences.

The focus was on questions such as:

The combination of personal experiences and structural analyses made the discussion tangible and showed how closely individual career paths are interwoven with the struggle against traditional power structures. Ute Lehmann comments:

"We wanted to send a signal with the book launch: Almost all women have experienced unequal treatment in the work context. But we often think we are alone in this. On the contrary: we are not alone! This is exactly what has become noticeable, and this is exactly where we want to start."

Face-to-face events as a lever for change

Formats such as the PANDA fireside chat at the Office Club highlight the role played by strong networks. The evening also showed that such discussions need the right environment. Ute Lehmann emphasises the importance of personal encounters:

"I'm a big fan of face-to-face exchanges. Meeting physically - that's the be-all and end-all. Of course, you can also network online and in video calls. But when it comes to real, sustainable networks, there's no way around meeting in person."

This shows that places where networks, the world of work, discourse and community come together are extremely important. They facilitate encounters that can give rise to new perspectives, collaborations and initiatives.

Whether it's a fireside chat, panel discussion, regular team meeting or spontaneous meeting - at the Office Club, we provide you with the right premises and meeting rooms for your face-to-face event. Find the right meeting room solution for your next event.

Conclusion: When exchange becomes a driver of change

The PANDA evening on "Areas of Power" made it clear that the debate on female leadership touches on essential issues: economic strength, innovative capacity and social justice in equal measure. Books and networks make an important contribution here, but it is only through personal dialogue that these issues can unfold their full impact. Real change begins where experiences are shared, structures are scrutinised and new alliances are forged.

Ute Lehmann takes stock:

"Despite adverse weather conditions with snow and ice, numerous women found their way to the Office Club on Pappelallee to hold intensive discussions and share experiences in a protected setting. The fact that the evening didn't end until half past midnight impressively shows how great the need for dialogue was - and still is."

Inspiring conversations need inspiring spaces. The Office Club offers companies, networks and communities the perfect setting for events that promote dialogue and create momentum - from panel discussions to dinner formats.