Anneliese Wilsch-Irrgang

Anneliese Wilsch-Irrgang

“Bringing projects forward together with a team and also making a diverse team work well together is very rewarding and motivating to me.“

Question 1

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I did not have fixed plans as a child, but I always wanted to become independent and be able to make my own decisions. My vague ideas about my future oscillated between being a biologist, a ranger, a high school professor or an engineer. In the end, I became a chemist.

Question 2

What has motivated you to take on a position of high responsibility within Henkel?

Bringing projects forward together with a team and also making a diverse team work well together is very rewarding and motivating to me.

Question 3

What were the milestones in your career and are there people or circumstances that have favored your career?

In my career at Henkel I always had opportunities to do special projects, be it in the construction phase of a new building (for the analytical department), in a pilot project that explored new flexitime models for my team, or in working abroad in completely different cultures. Also my work as the spokesperson of the executives at Henkel Düsseldorf helped me gather a lot of insights into the dynamics of our company. Above all, my family and my husband have always supported me on my career path. This has been very important.

Question 4

What is your advice to women seeking to build careers?

I think that every woman should reflect on what she wants to achieve in her career, but then also be flexible and take opportunities that arise. She should not be afraid of new, challenging tasks, but rely on herself and her ability to cope and get support if needed.