REWE Group's women's network, f.ernetzt, recently welcomed its 1,000th member, Julia Pietzko. We spoke to her and founding member Lara-Christina Sell and introduce the many regional women's networks that now exist in our company. Not only in Germany..
It all started with a small group of female senior managers, but today the number of members has reached four figures: REWE Group's women's network, f.ernetzt, recently welcomed its 1,000th member. The network received a major boost, not least with the move from the Jam platform to Teams 2022. Not only has the number of women from all REWE Group divisions and companies who have registered with f.ernetzt increased rapidly since it was founded in 2019, but also their willingness to get involved with contributions, suggestions or the creation of thematic subgroups, according to Iris Nguyen, who, as the organiser of f.ernetzt organiser still holds most of the reins, but many of them are now in the hands of the members: "For example, they suggest interesting experts for workshops or set up subgroups themselves, such as the book club, which is not about beach reading, but about work-related literature." Overall, says Nguyen, the network has become much more active. "The members are no longer afraid to set their own topics. And they don't just focus on careers with and without children. Rather, the network now covers a broad spectrum of topics in which knowledge transfer, encouragement and dialogue take place in a "benevolent" environment
Iris Nguyen
"Our women's network is open to every female REWE Group employee," says Nguyen. With now 1,000 women, the network provides a huge scope for many topics - and at the same time something like 'a protected space': "Both together have recently led to the fact that we have not only become broader in our choice of topics, but above all more personal." A colleague recently presented her own book, which deals with her experiences with eating disorders, among other things."It was very well received."the decision to have a child or health issues, which are primarily private topics but can also have an impact on professional decisions, now also take up a lot of space alongside the many work-related topics. In view of the diversity and positive interaction, organiser Nguyen sees f.ernetzt as a kind of Group microcosm. "The Group idea lives on in the network: we are one."
f.ernetzt member no. 1,000: Julia Pietzko
"Before I registered with f.ernetzt, I was already a member of the REWE Dortmund women's network, FREDO, where we recently passed the 100 mark. I had very good experiences with FREDO, so I thought it would be no different with f.ernetzt, where I could have equally great experiences. Only even bigger..
At FREDO, we meet once a month in the company restaurant for lunch without obligation and can take part in workshops. I find the opportunities to exchange ideas with more experienced colleagues or working mums, for example, and to get to know mentors or role models valuable.
I believe that you are more open in a women-only network. I probably wouldn't talk about some things in mixed networks. A women's network is a protected space where we are more visible, where our voices are heard.when I ask around my friends, I realise that a professional women's network like f.ernetzt and FREDO is not a matter of course, that we at REWE Group are doing a lot in this direction and have already come a long way in terms of giving women responsibility. I think that's good."
Julia Pietzko, Assistant to the CEO of REWE Dortmund
f.ernetzt member 1: Lara-Christina Sell
"I was in the second year of the Women 's Drive programme. Like the first cohort, we discussed a lot about how we could continue the valuable dialogue, what would support us on our career path - and what we were missing. We kept coming back to the topic of networking.so, with the power of two Women's Drive cohorts and together with Bettina Mächler, we launched her HR team f.ernetzt. And I was one of the first to be involved. It was initially intended as a network for Women's Drive graduates, but the idea of opening it up to all interested women in the REWE Group soon emerged. And it quickly became a success story, especially when f.ernetzt moved from Jam to Teams.
f.ernetzt is a great programme. It shows the Group's appreciation of its female employees as a valuable part of the overall strategy. It is an open offer. I can start an initiative, attend an event, write a contribution, but I don't have to. This informality is perhaps part of the success.speaking of success: mixed teams, i.e. men and women together, are generally more successful. But we women need our own role models and mentors to shape us. It's about filling a toolbox that you work with over the years. Certain tools are easier for men to use than women. Networking is one of them, it's simply important for career advancement. For many women, it's easier to build up a network in a protected structure like f.ernetzt than on their own initiative. And that's why I think this structure is a good way to upgrade your toolbox.
Especially when it comes to women-specific topics, a women's network is a good place to exchange ideas. Of course, reconciling family and career is increasingly a male issue, but it still affects us women differently in one way or another. I myself am a part-time senior manager, and for certain topics I need to exchange ideas with other women to get a different perspective and suggestions. That's what a network is good for."
Lara-Christina Sell, member no.1 at f.ernetzt and one of the first Women's Drive graduates, manages three teams in the Indirect Spend department at REWE Group Buying.
The number of our women's networks is increasing
Just how inspiring the idea of establishing a professional women's network open to all female employees within the REWE Group was can be seen in the growing number of regional or division-specific "offshoots": so far, the REWE regions Centre, Dortmund and North have women's networks, there is also a network of female IT specialists at REWE digital and f.ernetzt Austria was founded in March of this year:
WomEngineers @REWE digital
Agile coach Alexa Bresan founded the WomEngineers @REWE digital network in 2023: "The idea was to create a framework that specifically focussed on our female software engineers. In our IT department, female developers are the core professional group, and at the same time they have very few direct female colleagues. We now have a mailing list of almost 60 women. Anyone who has the time and inclination comes to our meetings. They take place every six weeks, either hybrid or remotely.
During the Hackweek in June, we further developed the network as part of a design sprint - we conducted interviews with the female software developers to better adapt the network and the format to their needs.
are networks for women still in keeping with the times? I think so. We need a framework in which we feel safe to re-establish patterns of behaviour that often don't take place in a male-dominated world. There, women can exchange ideas in their own way about topics that are important to them professionally or personally, inspire each other and grow together. We want to build bridges: within REWE digital, to new colleagues, experts and senior managers - across our domains and different locations."
FREDO, REWE Dortmund
Alena Roth (Deputy Head of Projects & Strategy) and Pia Schulte (HR Business Partner) from REWE Dortmund on their FREDO network
Pia Schulte: "In 2020, the HR department posted a call in the REWE Dortmund employee app inviting women to network. This was the start of various dialogue formats that were launched. Over 100 women from administration and logistics are now part of the Dortmund "FREDO" network. In summer 2023, we revised the original concept and set up regular meetings."
Alena Roth: "Once a month, we meet for an open round table in the company restaurant, where anyone can come along without obligation. We also offer exchange formats where women give keynote speeches on various topics and organise women-specific seminars. We also organised a networking evening, which was really nice because we were able to meet up outside the working environment. We took part in the fernetzt meeting in Cologne to be inspired by what is being done there and to build a bridge between f.ernetzt and FREDO so that we can move closer together."
MITT(E)einander & fürreinander: Centre region
In early 2023, Anja Loewe (left) and Christine Kästel founded the women's network of the REWE Central Region: "Our aim is to empower, motivate, take responsibility and inspire women in our region with our MITT(E)einander & füreinander network. Our first 'Salon' took place in January 2023. Since then, we have been meeting around 40 colleagues in a beautiful location roughly every four months. The salons always have a theme and are moderated by Christine Kästel and myself. There is an 'official' part with two or three interesting speakers, usually including an external expert. They provide insights into their experiences on the topic of 'women' from a wide variety of perspectives... The official part is followed by networking and dialogue. Our regional manager Henning Opper took part in the last Salon - the only man to do so so far. His message was: We want and need more female senior managers.
we also went on a hike and plan to make up for our Christmas market visit this year, which was cancelled due to the snow chaos. The next network meeting will take place on 10 September at store manager Dunja Storck's multi-award-winning REWE Center in Egelsbach. Topic: "Successful women in the sales department."
f.ernetzt North
At the beginning of 2023, Fiona Honig (HR Officer Job, Family and Private Life), Franziska Annette Linder (HR Partner) and Antje Bornschein (Management Officer Retailers) founded a women's network in the REWE North region. The first meeting of f.ernetzt Nord took place in Henstedt-Ulzburg in May 2023 with 45 female administrative employees. The focus was on "authentic encounters between female colleagues". Further meetings have followed since then, both at the logistics centre in Stelle and in Lehrte. In addition, f.ernetzt Nord offers female colleagues their own platform as part of the f.ernetzt channel. The plan is to expand the network to include market colleagues, create a safe space and intensify dialogue and mutual support. Networking between sales department, administration and logistics employees remains an important topic - also in order to strengthen mutual understanding.
f.ernetzt Austria
Since March this year, Retail International, Austria, has also had a f.ernetzt network with currently 211 members. Kosima Kovar, founder and CEO of Ada Power Women GmbH, which promotes women in professional life with the ADA app, among other things, attended the kick-off event. The network also regularly offers insights into the work and experiences of women in key management positions within Retail International. For example, Elisabeth Unger-Hitzinger, Head of Furnishing Technology, together with colleagues, gave an insight into the remodelling process - from planning to implementation - during a construction site tour of a BILLA shop. f.ernetzt is a place where women can exchange ideas, network, learn from each other and make their achievements in the company more visible. Last but not least, f.ernetzt aims to provide impetus for a corporate culture in which women can contribute their leadership styles to mixed teams.
