Women of WÜSTHOF

WÜSTHOF Managing Partner

What is one of your proudest accomplishments as a woman in leadership?

At WÜSTHOF, I’m the first female in leadership after six generations! 

What are the benefits of having women in leadership?

When you bring men and women together in leadership, you have many synergetic effects! And different points of view are important, especially for long-term business.

What makes a good leader?

Follow your values. Be authentic, responsible, courageous, and passionate. Respect towards employees, resources, nature, and economics is fundamental.

What do you admire about your female coworkers?

I am happy to have them on my team working in sectors previously reserved for men. 

Do you have any advice for women looking to move into a leadership role?

Be as you are! Understand your values and believe in yourself.

What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Be yourself, be true, believe in you! 

If your personality were a WÜSTHOF knife series, which one would it be and why?

On the one hand: Amici for sure! And on the other hand: Performer - for sure as well.

EVP Global DTC & Digital Marketing

What is one of your proudest accomplishments as a woman in leadership?

Every time I see the successes of people I’ve had the pleasure to mentor, coach, or lead, I get to share in a little bit of what they are accomplishing. It’s a wonderful feeling to see people take big strides in their career and to know you may have contributed in some small way to their success.

What are the benefits of having women in leadership?

If we had more women in leadership, we might not have to ask questions like “What are the benefits of having women in leadership?” in the year 2023. Numerous studies have shown that having diverse leadership, including women, has a positive impact on teams, decision making, and business results — but those benefits still come with the unfortunate fact that working women are often undervalued. According to the International Labour Organization, women globally earn twenty percent less than men. That gap grows even more for BIPOC women. I think it’s important to underline that the need to highlight the benefits of women in leadership comes from the fundamental fact that it is somehow still a novelty. We must continue to work on dismantling that system — not just celebrating those that have made it through into leadership roles, but uplifting those who have not.

What makes a good leader?

For me, being a good leader means having the confidence to listen to the people around you, plot a course, and steer your team to the destination without leaving anyone behind. It is a willingness to take responsibility but give up control. It is consistency, stability, and the desire to inspire others to be their best.

What do you admire about your female coworkers?

I have admiration and respect for many of my coworkers, but I am constantly impressed by the emotional honesty, dedication, and intensity that the women in my life bring to their work. Many of these women are also working just as hard privately to be mothers, daughters, partners, friends, and advocates.

Do you have any advice for women looking to move into a leadership role?

Find mentors, whether formal or informal. They are a great way to broaden your network and get meaningful feedback to help you advance.

Which women inspire you and why?

Does everyone say Michelle Obama? Just kidding. While I believe it is an indisputable fact that she is inspiring, my inspiration comes mostly from the humour, intelligence, thoughtfulness, grit, and ingenuity of the women I work with and those I call my friends. They inspire me because I get to watch them overcome challenges every single day. I get to learn from them, and I get to celebrate the wins with them.

What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Always negotiate.

If your personality were a WÜSTHOF knife series, which one would it be and why?

The Performer series: a sometimes serious exterior but secretly a lot of fun and sharp as hell.

President WÜSTHOF USA

What is one of your proudest accomplishments as a woman in leadership?

My proudest moment would be becoming President of WÜSTHOF. Not because of the title, but because I have the privilege of leading an amazing team of men and women that love this brand and company.

What are the benefits of having women in leadership?

I think it is always good to have a balance of men and women in leadership. It brings a fresh outlook and different perspectives. 

What makes a good leader?

A good leader needs to have passion for what they do and stand for. They must be able to translate that passion to their team and inspire their team to be the best they can be. A truly great leader needs to be authentic and lead from the heart. They must put their team first. They must listen and empower their team. 

What do you admire about your female coworkers?

WÜSTHOF has some amazing women working for the company. These women are not afraid to get their hands dirty and dig in when needed. They have high standards and hold themselves accountable as much as their teams. They are great mentors.

Which women inspire you and why?

So many women, but my biggest female inspiration is my mother. She was a single parent that dedicated herself to raising strong, independent women. She taught us to lead by example and that we could do or be anything we wanted to be. 

What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

My mother always taught us the golden rule: “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” I use this mantra every day, both in business and in my personal life. This goes for team members, customers, end consumers, and suppliers. 

If your personality were a WÜSTHOF knife series, which one would it be and why?

Classic Ikon: practical, well balanced, and strong, with an elegant simplicity.

EVP Human Resources

What is one of your proudest accomplishments as a woman in leadership?

As the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at WÜSTHOF and as a mother of three children, my proudest accomplishment is balancing family and a leading position. It requires a commitment to both roles and a willingness to be flexible and adaptable. By staying organized, prioritizing effectively, and taking care of myself, I can achieve a balance that allows me to be a profound part of both areas of my life.

What are the benefits of having women in leadership?

The benefits of women in leadership include having diverse perspectives, increased collaboration and creativity, improved communication, and better decision making.

What makes a good leader?

A good leader should possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, be a good listener, have a clear vision, inspire and motivate others, and have the ability to make tough decisions.

What do you admire about your female coworkers?

I admire my female coworkers for their dedication, hard work, and ability to balance multiple responsibilities while still achieving their goals.

Do you have any advice for women looking to move into a leadership role?

My advice would be to develop strong communication skills, seek out mentors and sponsors, be confident in your abilities, and take calculated risks.

Which women inspire you and why?

There are many women who inspire me, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai, and Angela Merkel. They all have broken barriers and achieved incredible things in their respective fields.

What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

To always be true to myself and stay grounded in my values.

If your personality were a WÜSTHOF knife series, which one would it be and why?

The Classic series, because it is versatile, reliable, and always gets the job done with precision and ease.

WÜSTHOF Academy Director

What is one of your proudest accomplishments as a woman in leadership?

At WÜSTHOF, I have the honour of leading our Learning and Development Academy. One of the academy’s first initiatives was developing a leadership program. We are nearly through our first year of this program, and the growth and change I have witnessed with our first class has been my proudest accomplishment. Seeing the dedication to hard, personal work pay off has been rewarding. I am equally proud of the women and men in this program. 

My first foot forward in anything I have done has not been about seeing myself as woman in whatever field or position I have been in — and I have spent significant parts of my career in fields that are typically made up of less women (chemistry, firefighting, and leadership). To me, the key to success is to tap into your unique, personal values and strengths and work from there. Sometimes this is connected to being a woman, sometimes it isn’t. 

What makes a good leader? 

Well, this is one of my favorite topics, but I will try to keep it brief with the 5 components I think comprise a good leader:

Personal Integrity. Understanding who you are, your values, and your deepest motivations creates the foundation for authenticity and the ability to lead from a place where you truly know yourself. A leader who understands their genuine values, passions, and purpose knows their cause and their reasons for pursuing it. It is not about position, title, or ego. This creates a deep confidence and openness to possibilities. Know yourself, don’t compromise on your core convictions, wrestle your dragons, and you’ll be the kind of leader others want to be led by. 

A Commitment to Growing Others. Leadership comes with a responsibility to grow individuals and teams. Leaders who understand and actively pursue this can make positive, forward-moving impact on the community of people they lead. 

Consistent Yet Flexible. Leaders who demonstrate self-discipline and consistency show up with focus, determination, and a steady hand. In the face of challenge, they find a way forward. The flexible side of the coin is the ability to show up with a leadership style that meets the team’s current development needs. Every team is on a development journey, and depending on the current phase, a good leader knows when it is time to direct, coach, support, or delegate. Too often we see leaders who expect the team to meet the leader’s style or ego needs. 

Ability to Listen. Easy to say, hard for leaders to do.

Humility. A lot can be written about this, but being a humble leader helps you see outside yourself.  A humble leader can more easily take on the responsibility of growing others, meet the team’s development needs, and listen. 

What do you admire about your female coworkers?

At WÜSTHOF, we are blessed to have many female co-workers and leaders. What I admire most is their ability to balance care for others and push for results. Every day they practice building trust by working with heart, compassion, capability, commitment, and credibility.