Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers e.V. (GSO)

Visibility isn’t the goal. It’s what it does. At the Zia - Visible Women in Science & Humanities Congress yesterday, one thing became clear: visibility is not a trophy or a branding exercise - it’s a force that shifts structures. As Dr. Hanna Proner put it, visibility isn’t an end in itself. It influences status, access, perception. It creates momentum for individuals, and for the system around them. We were invited to take part in the “Thementische” format - a setting designed for deeper conversation, not only small talk. We spoke about the quiet #mechanics of #visibility: how #presence can become #power, how #networks don’t have to feel like work, and how #change is often sparked in moments that don’t look like milestones. We met colleagues from across institutions, disciplines, and sectors—but also across career stages and lived experiences. ✅ And honestly, it didn’t feel like networking - showing up doesn’t feel strategic here - it feels like joining in. Fellows and alumni like Stefanie Bärthel and Katrina Meyer (our #KTBoost Fellows) stopped by to chat, and Clara von Randow (our new Leadership Academy fellow) and Prof. Dr. Carolin Krahn (our Leadership alumna), dropped in simply to say hello. That’s the kind of presence a strong network makes possible - #uncomplicated, #genuine, and #impactful. ➡️ What we took home: ✅ Networks are not backup plans—they are infrastructure. ✅ Being seen is not the same as being visible. ✅Equality isn’t a future ambition. It’s daily maintenance. Even after experiencing it with our Leadership Academy fellows at Schader-Stiftung, 'Versäumte Bilder' by Gesine Born left a lasting impression once again - a posthumous #tribute to #womeninscience through powerful AI-generated portraits of what history never officially recorded. Many thanks to Hanna Proner and Alexandra Lion for the invitation and to all those we ran into, listened to, and learned from: Elena Lichtenthaler, Tatjana Gust, Magdalena Skipper, Henrike Hartmann, Alessa Ringel, Swantje Rother, Franziska Kraus, and the many more whose work resonated throughout the day. And to those behind the scenes - VolkswagenStiftung, ZEIT Verlagsgruppe, Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together Berlin – Inspire Together: thank you for creating this space. Some impressions from the day - thanks to ©Phil Dera for capturing part of the atmosphere for Holtzbrinck Berlin, and a few snapshots from our side as well. ➡️ Let’s stay visible - and keep others in view, too.

📣 Thinking beyond the lab? The Postdoc Career Fair 2025, hosted by Berlin University Alliance, is your chance to explore what’s next — outside academia. When: June 26, 2025 Where: Humboldt Graduate School, Luisenstr. 56, Berlin Register soon — first come, first served! What to expect: ✅ Strategic input from keynote speakers on navigating career shifts ✅ Panels with researchers-turned-leaders from #sciencemanagement, #startups, #industry & #nonprofits ✅ Hands-on advice in small group sessions with HR professionals & career coaches ✅ A “Career Marketplace” with companies & organizations actively #recruiting #postdocs 🔁 We know how valuable these spaces can be - this fair is designed to support researchers navigating change, facing questions, and looking for meaningful next steps. So if you’re in Berlin (or nearby) and asking yourself what’s next — this is worth your time. Registration link and program details in the first comment!

Meet one of our newest GSO members: Dr. Nele Diekmann - Historian by training, creative by conviction. Nele always had a knack for making the past come alive. After studying ancient languages and religious studies, she earned her PhD in Assyriology, researching how cuneiform was deciphered in 19th-century England. But during her academic years, she realized that #academicwriting — while rigorous and essential — didn’t match how she naturally communicated: curious, engaging, and imaginative. That insight sparked a bold career pivot. Today, Nele is the co-founder and creative lead of Historicity, an agency for #culturaltourism and #publichistory. Together with her partner Marcel vom Lehn, she designs compelling ways to share historical stories with broad audiences — whether through tours, exhibitions, or written dialogues for adults and children. Her #interdisciplinary #approach and innovative thinking shape every project she touches. ➡️ Nele’s advice to others who may be questioning their path? ✅ Do ask yourself what makes you truly happy. Talking to people? Writing? Finding out new things? Teaching? Or maybe none of the above? ✅ Don’t shy away from looking for career opportunities outside academia – and don’t let yourself by defined by being a researcher or scientist alone. We’re so happy to welcome Nele to our community — and to have her perspective as someone who bridges research and storytelling, analysis and creativity.

📣 AlumNode Panel Talk: Mentoring in Academia & Industry on Thursday, May 8 #Mentorship can be a game changer – whether you`re in the middle of the academic jungle or taking your first steps in industry. But how do you find the right mentor or become one? What makes mentoring meaningful, impactful, and maybe even fun? We’re kicking off our first #AlumNode #PanelTalk on May 8 at 4:00 pm CEST with a deep dive into the many facets of mentoring — from finding a suitable mentor to becoming one yourself. This session is all about what it really means to support and be supported across different career paths in #academia and #industry. Hosted by the Executive Director of Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers e.V. (GSO), Anne Schreiter, Ph.D., we’ll hear from our inspiring AlumNode panelists: ➡️ Cerene Rathilal, Senior lecturer at the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, #SouthAfrica ➡️ Katrina Meyer, Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPI-MG), #Germany ➡️ Suman Sourav, Assistant Professor at Aalborg University, #Denmark Expect personal stories, honest advice, and plenty of inspiration for your next steps on your mentoring journey. 🗓️ Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm CEST (UTC+2) | Zoom 🎟️ Registration open for our Alumni - please login to your AlumNode account to sign up: https://lnkd.in/dzbabbT2

Meet one of our newest members: Dr. Maxim Egorov ❓ What motivates you to lead? And why should anyone be led by you? For Maxim, these aren’t just philosophical questions — they’re essential reflections for anyone who takes #leadership seriously. ➡️Currently serving as interim Professor for Responsible Leadership at Munich Business School, Maxim also works as an independent #consultant, executive #coach, and #trainer, guiding individuals, companies, and scientific institutions through change and development. His academic affiliations include the Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin | LEIZ at Zeppelin University and the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich. ➡️Maxim’s research and coaching focus on #ethical leadership and leadership development. He earned his doctorate at the TUM School of Management and holds a degree in psychology from the University of Koblenz and Landau. ➡️His message to early-career leaders is clear: Leadership development is often associated with knowledge and skills — but our self-views matter just as much. Leadership development is often mainly associated with the acquisition of leadership #knowledge, as well as specific #skills, and #competencies. Nevertheless, also our leadership-related self-views matter and variables such as leadership self-efficacy, leader identity and self-awareness play a crucial role in effective leadership development processes! (Day & Dragoni, 2015). ➡️His advice? ✅ Do: Reflect on your leadership-related self-views. Ask yourself: What motivates me to lead? Why should anyone be led by me? ❌ Don’t: Believe in the myth of “born leaders.” Leadership is not innate — it’s a lifelong journey. The sooner you start shaping it, the better. We’re glad to have Maxim on board — and look forward to the perspectives and depth he brings to the table!

📣 See you at the Zia Congress 2025! On May 6, we’ll be joining the #ZiaCongress in Berlin - alongside many initiatives to talk about key challenges around equal opportunities in research. Meet Anne Schreiter, Ph.D., and Kübra Kananathan at the thematic session at 3:40 pm — together with #KooperationInternational, the research project Prof:inSicht by Hochschule München, #InnovativeFrauen, and Metavorhaben „Innovative Frauen im Fokus“ (meta-IFiF). 📆 When: May 6, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. 📍 Where: BOLLE Festsäle, Alt-Moabit 98, 10559 Berlin ⭕ Who: Women working in science and research ✅ Registration is still open – find the link to register in the first comment! The Zia Congress is a joint project by Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together, VolkswagenStiftung, and ZEIT Verlagsgruppe. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you there!

📅 In Person Event Alert: Considering a #HAW #Professorship (and missed our webinar)? Here’s Your Chance to Ask (and Learn) Everything If you've ever wondered whether this career path is right for you, the upcoming info event “Mein Weg in die HAW-Professur” on May 16 might offer the clarity you're looking for. Hosted by Hochschule Osnabrück and supported by UAS7 and other partner universities, the event explores what makes an HAW professorship distinct — and what it takes to get there. What to expect: ➡️ Short talks and real-life insights from current professors ➡️ An info market with experts covering topics like academic qualifications, professional experience, teaching credentials, and appointment processes ➡️ Networking opportunities with representatives from multiple universities ➡️ Optional morning workshops on university teaching and self-presentation, plus lab tours across Osnabrück’s campuses Whether you're planning your next steps or just exploring the landscape — this is a chance to get informed and ask questions directly. #Registration #deadline is April 28.

PhD: A Must or a Waste of Time? - Insights from the 7th event in the ‘Junges Podium’ series hosted by Universitäts-Gesellschaft Hamburg e.V. Pursuing a PhD is often seen as the ultimate academic milestone. But does it still hold its value in an ever-evolving research and job market? The debate over whether a PhD is a valuable career move or a time-consuming endeavor continues. The panel discussion with four experts from different fields provided some insights! Moderated by Astrid Dose, featured: Prof. Dr. Simone Neumann, Junior Professor for Logistics at the University of Hamburg Jörg Seidel, Diplom-Physicist and energy expert at Vattenfall Dr. Hanna Proner, Director of Science & Talent at ZEIT Verlag and Managing Director of http://academics.de Dr. Christoph Senft Senft, Literature PhD and manager at semiconductor firm Nexperia Here’s what came through clearly: ✅ Why people start a PhD in the first place ➡️ Curiosity beats strategy: For most, the decision wasn’t about status or career planning. It was about diving deep into something they couldn’t let go- whether it was political polling (Hanna), postcolonial literature (Christoph), or airport boarding processes (Simone). ➡️ Career doors or detours? Some pursued academic careers. Others (like Jörg) walked away mid-dissertation - frustrated by publishing cycles and slow feedback. ✅ The reality check: What makes a PhD challenging ➡️ It’s not a guarantee. The number of doctoral researchers has risen - #permanent #academic #positions haven’t. ➡️ The system isn’t built to keep everyone. Many start with academic hopes, but most will build careers elsewhere. ➡️ #Transferable #skills are often undervalued. Industry still struggles to interpret academic experience as professional expertise. ✅ Does it help on the #job #market? It depends. ➡️ In #STEM, a PhD can be essential (think semiconductors or R&D). In business, practical #experience often wins—especially in roles like #sales or #management. ➡️ Prestige varies: In Germany, the title still carries weight. In Sweden? Less so. ✅ What PhDs really teach you ➡️ How to self-manage for years. ➡️ How to frame questions that haven’t been asked. ➡️ How to finish what you started—even if no one else is watching. ✅Panelists’ advice for anyone considering a PhD ➡️ Use this time to explore what you really care about. The freedom to shape your own work won’t come again. ➡️ Your topic doesn’t have to define your career. Just show you can learn—and go from there. ➡️ Think ahead. In 20 years, what story do you want to tell about this time? ➡️ Let go of perfection. Get it done.

📣 Upcoming Event (Not to Miss): Virtual Case Clinic for Researchers Are you in the middle of a tricky research challenge, stuck in a publication loop, or unsure about your next career step in science? This Case Clinic for Researchers might be just the clarity boost you need. Hosted by SciLead - a team deeply rooted in academic careers and leadership development - this session offers structured peer support for real-life research or career dilemmas. ➡️ You bring a challenge; your peers bring fresh perspectives. No slides. No theory. Just practical reflection and focused group work. Verena Claudia Haage, co-founder of SciLead and Leadership Academy alumna, led a powerful case clinic for our fellows last year that left a lasting impression. We know how transformative these 75 minutes can be. 🗓️ Monday, April 28, 2025 - 6:00-7:00 pm Register via SciLead: https://lnkd.in/eedapQA8

Navigating Career Transitions to Industry: Are You Telling the Right Story? Moving from #academia to #industry doesn’t mean leaving your skills behind—it means learning to show them differently. During a recent Coffee Break session, Ulrike Boehm (now R&D Scientist at ZEISS Group, formerly researcher at The National Institutes of Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)) and Edouard Fouché, PhD (now Data Scientist at Siemens, formerly group leader at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)) shared what helped them make that shift.   ➡️ Here are some insights from the session:   ✅ What changes—and what doesn’t In academia, you're rewarded for independence and deep understanding. In industry, things move faster. What matters is your ability to collaborate, deliver, and adapt to clear goals. 🔹As Edouard said: “In academia, you just have to be a rockstar. In industry, the expectations are more specific.”   ✅ Talk about your skills in a new way Academic training gives you strong tools—but you need to translate them. 🔹 Instead of listing your field, provide a broader description about what you actually do—like solving complex problems or managing long projects. 🔹 Use a cover letter, even if it’s optional. Don’t assume others will see how your background fits the role. Just as Ulrike put it: “Make it crystal clear that you are the perfect fit.” 🔹 Keep your CV easy to read for both people and algorithms.   ✅ Be ready to adapt This is especially true if you come from a theoretical field like mathematics. Your skills might not match a job title exactly—but abstract strengths, like approaching complexity and thinking in systems, are appreciated in industry. 🔹What matters is having a growth mindset: being open to learning, adapting, and exploring new ways to apply your expertise.   ✅ Make yourself easy to remember In academia, your name might be tied to papers. In industry, it’s more about how you show up and communicate. 🔹 Share more than just results—show how you think and work. 🔹 Connect online so people can follow what you do over time. 🔹 Decide what you want to be known for—like a Pavlovian bell, a clear signal helps others recall you in the right moment.   ➡️The takeaway? You don’t need to reinvent yourself—you just need to reframe your story. Thank you, Ulrike and Edouard, for such an encouraging and insightful session!   ❓ If someone heard your name in a meeting—what would they remember you for? #alumnode #coffeebreak