Yesterday evening, fourteen experienced communicators founded the association GWPR Deutschland in Munich, the German chapter of the Global Women in PR (GWPR) women’s network established in 2015. The founders of the association – all of them at the top of major communications departments, agencies, consulting firms or service providers in the industry – have the goal of empowering female communications professionals and encouraging them to assume leadership roles.
GWPR Deutschland was established on 16 January 2018 as a charitable organisation. The goal of the network is to reduce the imbalance between men and women in leadership positions and to motivate more women to strive for the top of the career ladder in this profession which tends to be dominated by women. Activities focus on network meetings on future topics of the profession, peer-to-peer formats for regular exchanges at eye level and mentoring offers. Above all, women on their way to the top need more female role models and support networks which work well; there is a need to catch up in both of these aspects, claims Cornelia Kunze, First Chairwoman of the new network. “We are thrilled at how much spontaneous support we have already received for our plans so far. This also shows that this network is of great interest and is necessary.”
Each of the fourteen founding members has committed to organising their own events and to be available for mentoring network meetings. Eight events have already been announced for the first six months of 2018. The Executive Board is formed by the four initiators: Cornelia Kunze (i-sekai, First Chairwoman), Barbara Schädler (E.ON, Deputy Chairwoman), Sabia Schwarzer (Allianz, Deputy Chairwoman) and Monika Schaller (Deutsche Bank, Treasurer). An extended Executive Board was also elected with department roles. It comprises Gabi Kaminski (GK-Personalberatung, Member Acquisition Dept.), Susanne Marell (Edelman.ergo, Next Gen Leaders Dept.), Tina Mentner (Hering Schuppener, Mentoring Dept.) and Edith Stier-Thompson (news aktuell, Events Dept.).
Women in communications professions who have at least ten years’ professional experience can become members of GWPR Deutschland. There is also the possibility to become an associated member, requiring minimum five years’ professional experience. GWPR Deutschland e.V. is financed through membership fees and sponsoring memberships. The membership fee is staggered: members (min. 10 years’ professional experience) pay an annual membership fee of 300 euros and associated members (5 to 10 years’ professional experience) pay an annual contribution of 100 euros.
The GWPR Deutschland launch was celebrated following the inaugural meeting with around 60 communicators in the premises of Allianz AG. An overview of GWPR Deutschland e.V.:
Executive Board
Cornelia Kunze, i-sekai, First Chairwoman
Barbara Schädler, E.ON, Deputy Chairwoman
Sabia Schwarzer, Allianz, Deputy Chairwoman
Monika Schaller, Deutsche Bank, Treasurer
Extended Executive Board
Gabi Kaminski, GK-Personalberatung, Member Acquisition Dept.
Susanne Marell, Edelman.ergo, Next Gen Leaders Dept.
Tina Mentner, Hering Schuppener, Mentoring Dept.
Edith Stier-Thompson, news aktuell, Events Dept.
Other founding members
Kristina Faßler, WeltN24
Clarissa Haller, Siemens
Inken Hollmann-Peters, Beiersdorf
Babette Kemper, Ogilvy PR
Tina Kulow, Facebook
Anke Schmidt, BASF
