Yes She Can

Susan Arndt is a professor of English literature at the University of Bayreuth, where she works with Shakespeare and diasporic literatures. As an intersectionality scholar, she works primarily on racism and sexism in the tension between power, privilege, and discrimination. The dialogue between academia, politics, and society is central to her work.
For me, diversity is a word that is often hastily misused to disguise discrimination and corresponding contexts of power. Strictly speaking, the world itself is diverse. Power relations, however, result in white males being the most represented and privileged in structures and debates. These constellations of power and domination must be identified so that discrimination can be undermined.

What motivates me: Dreams and hopes that give individuals and societies the power to stand up against discrimination and social inequality.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: To trust themselves and to equip their own lives with dreams and visions instead of letting themselves be imprisoned and tamed by the binary gender box.

Mali is one of the people who is playing a major role in shaping the future and opportunities for female founders in the startup ecosystem in Berlin and Germany. She is the CEO and founder of WLOUNGE, a network that connects startups and companies. At the same time, Mali promotes diversity in the tech industry and has launched MAGDA GROUP, a new European fund of funds that focuses on diverse teams and invests in the European tech industry. Her goal in doing so is to build more success stories/unicorns in Europe and invigorate the local tech ecosystem by leveraging her global network. She is an advisor and jury member at the European Innovation Council of the European Commission and active in several startups and impact VCs.
For me, diversity is a way of life. The German market lags behind when it comes to success stories of women. The VC world, companies, and mid-sized cities need diversity for their innovation process and for economic success in the German market. Diversity is the key to innovation and to above-average company performance.

What motivates me: My children, my family, my community, my mission. It is my calling to bring my experience from the global market to Germany to make the market more powerful and to build a bridge to the world.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: It’s time to not only talk about it, but to see results in our culture, for more successful exits by female founders and for female investors to support this.

Since 2016 I’ve been heading Amazon Business in the DACH region, the service for business customers on Amazon.de. As a business graduate with an MBA from the Open University Business School, I joined Amazon in 2008 and have held various positions in the company, including in the electrical appliances and media divisions. I am also interested in diversity and equal opportunities in the company and actively supported the Affinity Group Women@Amazon as well as a mentoring project for refugees together with Plant-a-Talent. Outside of Amazon, I am involved with the Digital Female Leader Award, or #DFLA.
For me, diversity is creating an environment where diversity is encouraged.

What motivates me is being a good #heforshe ambassador.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: Stay yourself and believe in yourself.

During her studies in nonprofit, social, and health management, Katharina Mayer founded Kuchentratsch, the social start-up in Munich where grandmas and grandpas bake cakes together. With her company, she wants to show that social commitment and economic activity are not mutually exclusive but can cross-fertilize. In addition to her role as managing director at Kuchentratsch, she is an advocate for equal rights and volunteers in humanitarian disaster relief.

For me, diversity is: colorful.

What motivates me is my belief in the good in people.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: Dream it, then do it!

Tijen Onaran is the founder and CEO of Global Digital Women and initiator of the documentary Yes She Can – Women Change the World. When it comes to diversity, visibility, and digitization, she is one of Germany’s most important opinion leaders. In 2021, Handelsblatt selected her as one of the “Top 100 Women Who Move Germany”. As an investor, bestselling author, sought-after speaker and moderator, she inspires throughout Europe. She supports corporations and medium-sized companies in the conception and implementation of events and advises them on all issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equality. With her expertise, she also advises organizations, governments, or individuals.
For me, diversity means not only one; diversity means many!

What motivates me: The fact that our world is so much better with diversity than without it! Diversity makes our economy and society fit for the future. And one part of diversity is gender diversity. Because one thing is clear: More women in business, but also in politics, is not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have!

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: There is nothing you cannot achieve! Look for role models, join forces with other women, build a strong network. Together you are always stronger!