Yes She Can

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.

Laura Lewandowski is a Top 30 Under 30 journalist, entrepreneur, and on a mission to redefine success for the era of modern leaders. Co-founder of the Meet Your Mentor Experience, she speaks with contemporary icons on how we can better unite wellbeing and performance, including Wim Hof, Jay Shetty, Toni Garrn, and more. As a columnist, she writes regularly for Business Insider and co-hosts the New Work Podcast Innovator Sessions by Red Bull. She shares her expertise in thought leadership and storytelling with corporations such as Facebook, Uber, and Google. In 2020 she was awarded the Digital Female Leader Award as well as Top Minds by XING.

For me, diversity is humanity in its full beauty.

What motivates me is finding the door hidden in every wall, no matter how high.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: Self-confidence does not depend on gender. Don’t focus on the fact that you can make it as a woman, but that you can make it.

I am Linda Nübling – I studied communication design, live in Munich, and run my own graphic design office, Studio NÜE. Three and a half years ago I founded GURLZ WITH CURLZ, a group that self-publishes a magazine once a year. GWC is primarily about giving space to the experiences and life realities of black women in Germany, giving them visibility and representing them.
For me, diversity is the representation of different realities of life in order to give all people the opportunity to identify with them.

What motivates me: My drive, my creativity, and my curiosity.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: Above all, I would like to pass on to black women: Don’t question your right to exist! You are beautiful and have the right to be respected and loved just like any person with the self-designation as a woman.

I’m Jaclyn Schnau, founder and CEO of Pumpkin Organics. I’m Canadian, and during my roughly 10 years working at some of the world’s leading global food brands, I’ve been committed to lowering sugar content and bringing more sustainable, healthier products to market. Since 2017, we’ve been living this mission in our own company, Pumpkin Organics, which I run with my husband Florian. We met while studying at Harvard Business School and have a wonderful daughter, Olivia.
For me, diversity means valuing differences. So that everyone can bring their strengths to the table, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how old they are, who they love, what they believe in, or if they have a personal limitation.

What drives me personally is the vision of a world where nutrition-related diseases in children no longer exist.

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: Alone, we are strong. But we are unstoppable when we band together and support each other.

Stella Strüfing is the founder and CEO of Laori and Genussmensch. Laori provides an active choice for conscious living by creating equivalent drinking experiences to alcoholic beverages and elevating “alcohol-free” to the same level as alcohol. In doing so, Laori is shaping the alcohol-free drinking culture in society. As co-founder of Laori, Stella Strüfing and her team develop, distribute, and market alcohol-free alternatives to spirits. The top priorities are enjoyment, natural ingredients, and sustainability.
For me, diversity is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

What motivates me: Did someone just say, “That can’t happen,”?

Under the motto “Yes She Can”, I would like to leave women with the following: What if it works? We won’t know unless we do it. So, here we go!