How I got here
“As a woman, do not limit yourself when choosing your professional way – everything is possible!“
Christiane von der Eltz, General Manager and Managing Director Merck Schweiz AG
What was your dream career as
a girl?
When I was a child, I wanted to be a designer for Haute Couture. I designed and sewed clothes with my friend and I wanted to look special and be in a driver position.
What was your aha-moment when you realized that gender stereotypes may (or do) have an impact on your career development?
How did you deal with it?
In the early days of choosing my studies, I actually thought about which professions would be more compatible with family life as a woman. This filter narrowed down my choices considerably and I certainly don’t think that my male peers had to think about this topic at the time!
Today I am not a designer but fortunately, I chose well what I wanted to study and didn’t hold myself back too much during my professional life. I ended up in a driver position after all. Reconciling work and family is not easy, but there is always a way. Everything is possible as a woman and as a mother if you set your mind to it.
What is your number 1 advice for career aspiring women?
Don’t limit yourself from the beginning but choose the profession you have a passion for. There are enough women in different professions who have proved that 360° success is possible and I am convinced that more and more women will continue to drive businesses forward.