The first in-person meeting of the REWE Group women's network f.ernetzt since the coronavirus pandemic offered plenty of input and even more dialogue. Three colleagues tell us what else f.ernetzt offers its constantly growing number of members and why they are part of it.
In the time-honoured brewery pub Stapelhaus on the banks of the Rhine in Cologne, furnished with lots of dark wood, the atmosphere and vocal tones were a lot brighter than usual when it was the venue for the first f.ernetzt meeting "live and in colour" since corona at the end of September.
Only the sign at the entrance was closed, the hall itself was open and lively. Around 70 women from all areas of the REWE Group accepted the invitation from the f.ernetzt organisers. Moderated by Laura Seggedi (Head of Corporate Development at REWE FÜR SIE) and opened by f.ernetzt patron Dr Daniela Büchel, Divisional Director of REWE Group, the first part of the evening was given over to networking expert Dr Juliane Kronen. Kronen is the founder and managing director of the non-profit company Innatura, which collects donations in kind from industry and retail on a large scale, stores them temporarily and passes them on to where they are needed. She uses and expands the professional network she has built up over the decades for this commitment in particular. One of the lessons that the former partner in a consulting firm learnt from her career path was to be and remain curious, not to bend - and to network: "People who support and challenge us shape our path in life.
Dr Juliane Kronen. Founder and Managing Director of the non-profit organisation Innatura
This advice acted as the unwritten motto for the second part of the evening. It belonged to the f.ernetzt women and their dialogue with each other. In small and large groups, at stand-up and regulars' tables, over cool drinks and Cologne-style snacks, they took the opportunity to get to know each other better. The QR codes on the name badges, which linked to the respective Linkedin or Xing profiles, were helpful for sustainable networking.
The presentation on networking provided a good start to the subsequent dialogue
Two participants and one organiser were asked how successful the exchange was, what they took away from it - and why they are active in a career-related women's network at all.
one: Bettina, you're from Lekkerland and now part of the REWE Group. What's that like for you?
Bettina Klädtke: I am very curious about REWE Group. I've been with Lekkerland for 20 years and am very satisfied, but REWE Group opens up a new and exciting world for us. It's good for staying loyal to the company - and it also offers opportunities if you want to develop in a different direction.
one: In addition to your participation in Women's Drive, you are also a member of f.ernetzt. Why is that?
Bettina Klädtke: We also had a women's network at Lekkerland, but it is no longer very active. The f.ernetzt network, which I joined through my participation in Women's Drive, is even more broadly based and shows me how many great women there are in the company. And a network like this helps to encourage each other to take the next professional step and learn a lot of new things. One example: I have a ten-month-old daughter. At Women's Drive, I got to know a colleague during my pregnancy who did everything differently during her parental leave. And that inspired me to rethink the classic parental leave model and to work out my own model in consultation with my boss and our team.
one: Unlike Women's Drive, f.ernetzt is a network that is open to all women in the REWE Group. What are the benefits of such a broad-based network for you as a senior manager?
Bettina Klädtke: Firstly, I meet lots of potential female candidates for jobs with us here. For example, I spoke to very young, very interesting women at the event who I wouldn't have met otherwise. That's why a network like this is simply cool. And personally, I'm also interested in what REWE Group has to offer. For us at Lekkerland, everything is still fresh, we are still growing together. Meeting women from other areas, from Travel and Tourism or PENNY, for example, is very exciting for me. And last but not least, it gives us the opportunity to introduce ourselves in turn. Quite a few people came up to me that evening: "May I ask what exactly Lekkerland does?
one: Was the event worthwhile?
Bettina Klädtke: For me personally, definitely. I thought the talk was great, I like it when women talk so honestly about their CVs. I made new contacts and met a few women I'd only ever known via Teams. The atmosphere was very lively and open. Unfortunately, there were a lot of tables I didn't go to and I certainly missed out on a lot of exciting women. But it certainly wasn't the last time..
Bettina Klädtke is Head of Category Management Tobacco at Lekkerland
one: Iris, to you as co-organiser of f.ernetzt and the f.ernetzt event: Are you satisfied with the meeting?
Iris Nguyen: Absolutely. Our main aim was to network the participants. And we were finally able to meet in person again for the first time since coronavirus, so the women who had been networking virtually in recent years were able to meet "in real life".
However, it was not only important to us organisers that the participants were able to exchange ideas, we also wanted to provide input with Dr Kronen's presentation. She explained how she has benefited and continues to benefit from networking in her career, which was very valuable. In addition, Dr Büchel, who is the patron of the network, officially opened the event and once again emphasised the benefits of such a network.
one: What is the aim of f.ernetzt?
Iris Nguyen: f.ernetzt aims to network all women at REWE Group, to enable them to exchange ideas on all professional topics both nationally and internationally, whether it's personal development, work-life balance, leadership issues, New Work or one of many other topics.
one: Such events only take place once a year. How else do the f.ernetzt members keep in touch?
Iris Nguyen: f.ernetzt moved from Jam to Teams a few months ago. This has made it much easier to access and use the platform, as most of us have been working with Teams since coronavirus. Everyone can actively contribute, post articles and ask questions. The network serves as inspiration, as an opportunity to think outside the box, i.e. beyond one's own job, beyond one's own sales line. We have various formats for this, for example regular virtual meet-ups on topics such as job sharing, agile working or panel discussions with experienced female senior managers. The completely uncomplicated coffee f.ernetzt, where you can network and exchange ideas with a random female partner over a virtual coffee, has also been well received.
one: How many members does f.ernetzt have?
Iris Nguyen: The number is growing every day, mainly through events like this and word of mouth. There are currently 317 women networked here.
one: And colleagues who want to network..
Iris Nguyen:...write us an email at: f-ernetzt@rewe-group.com.
Iris Nguyen, CoE Talent Management Expert (HHET) at Retail Germany, is one of the organisers of the REWE Group's women's network, f.ernetzt.
"I thought it was an all-round success. Juliane Kronen was very enriching. In general, the trio of presenter Laura Seggedi, Daniela Büchel as greeting speaker and the speaker was good.
When I first heard about f.ernetzt, I thought "wow". Because of the structure of the REWE Group, which is spread across SBUs, regions and countries, I think it's important to network virtually or in person.
Why is that? Well, you look beyond your own nose and beyond your own area of interest. You find out what is being done in other areas and departments and can take away ideas for your own work. In my experience, you always take something away from every Contact. The REWE Group is simply huge and a network can be a home port where you can dock and not feel so lost, especially when you are new to the Group.
I am in favour of f.ernetzt being an all-female network. It's a safe place for all female colleagues to exchange ideas about career opportunities, job experiences, contacts and perhaps also more difficult topics. "
Sonja Krüll-Murawski, Head of Business Administration (Z B), has been a member of f.ernetzt since March 2020.
the REWE Group's "Women's Drive" personnel development programme was founded in 2017. This programme provided aspiring female senior managers with experienced mentors who supported them with questions relating to leadership. In addition, the women were given the necessary tools to advance their careers even more confidently in several training sessions.
F.ernetzt emerged from Women's Drive in 2019. The women's network, which is now active on teams, aims to offer all women in the REWE Group a platform to exchange ideas and network on issues relating to career, leadership, personal development and work-life balance. The patron of the women's network f.ernetzt is Divisional Board Member Daniela Büchel. Today, f.ernetzt has over 300 members from all REWE Group divisions, regions and countries.
Colleagues who would like to join f.ernetzt are welcome to contact
f-ernetzt@rewe-group.com
Both German and English comments appear here.
Apparently you can't write an e-mail to the e-mail address given, it's supposedly undeliverable. I would like to be added to the network. Greetings from Lekkerland, Andrea Raasé
An error had crept into the e-mail address. We have corrected it. The article now contains the correct address for registering with f.ernetzt. Thank you for your understanding and successful networking.
Dear Mrs Raasé, thank you very much for pointing this out. The correct email address is f-ernetzt@rewe-group.com. I have already added you to our network. Have fun with "F.ernetzen"! Best regards, Iris Nguyen
f-ernetzt@rewe-group.com seems to be correct.