That was one of the key questions of the “Learning Journey – Women in Leadership. Co-creation Leadership” (2022-23) at the European University Viadrina. Dr. Claudia Neusüß (programme head), Bastian Bretthauer, Patricia Redzewsky and our wonderful swarm partner Deborah Ruggieri accompanied the programme with great joy. The concept explicitly focused on leadership and leadership culture as a field of competence and learning space in the academic world. Something that has so far rarely been the case in routine academic operations. Leadership is often designed as a “task” among many and is perceived as secondary in importance compared to the more important academic topics in the narrower sense (research, teaching, publishing), is assumed to be less important than academic profiling or is simply “assumed” as a given. Fixed-term contracts, work overload and the idea of ​​science as a vocation stand in the way of consistent management and work-life integration, especially for women, including those who are mothers or caregivers. The programme offered three formats: core workshops, topic workshops and individual coaching. In these different constellations, as well as moderated groups and free small groups, the participants explored leadership dimensions and leadership tools as spaces of opportunity. The fact that the participants came from different areas of administration, science management and science, and were experienced in leadership as well as interested in leadership, promoted an exciting exchange on eye level. Awareness of existing (own and other) know-how and experience, the formation of successful tandems and networking between the participants were other important topics. The individual coaching sessions followed the empowerment and work-life integration approach in order to focus on strategic career development, opportunity structures and peer networks. Developing knowledge where there are questions means working inductively and in a way that is relevant to practice. The participants tried out looking to the future, developed visions of good leadership, well-thought-out communication and negotiation, managing team conflicts and balancing areas of tension in leadership processes. The roles and methods of leadership, diversity-oriented, lateral and other forms of leadership, one’s own leadership image and one’s own role in a group, as well as different leadership models (shared leadership, part-time, etc.) were discussed from the perspective of equality; power bases, force fields, visibility and beliefs were continuously reflected on and readjusted. The participants perceived areas of opportunity, were heard and received feedback.

Insights into this in the short documentary.

This learning journey has strengthened individual pathfinding as well as the change agency of equality in the academic world. Many thanks once again to Bettina Gebhardt, Katja Kraft – Equal Opportunities Department at the European University Viadrina , Prof. Dr. Ulla Gläßer, LL.M., Anja Hennig, Niki Kasis, Thekla Lange, Anja Rillcke, Johanna Habenicht – Production, and all participants!