Our Community: the heartbeat of the brand.

Mariana Ilic

Mariana is the managing director of ruhrHUB and, with the r26 Festival, is creating a new platform for innovation, entrepreneurship and networking in the Ruhr region. She believes that real change happens when different perspectives come together. For her, female empowerment means above all making women visible, connecting them and giving them spaces where they can exert influence.

Julia Abbenhaus

For me, female empowerment begins in the mind and is driven by the feeling that arises when I see women energising each other in different ways and on a wide variety of topics. Women should feel part of a community that inspires them, and for that we need more visibility and, above all, support at every level. For me, this also includes the compatibility of family and career. This issue is particularly close to my heart, both personally and professionally. Companies need to create structures that allow parents, and especially mothers, flexibility, and that starts with things like guaranteed childcare places. Julia Abbenhaus – Manager, Partners and Cooperations, Kinderhut GmbH

Max Dommers

I am Max, a musician and cultural worker. For me, it goes without saying that, after centuries of male dominance in the industry, I should do everything in my power to help my female colleagues achieve greater equality and simply offer them support. I believe it is very important to raise awareness of injustices among all my colleagues without pointing fingers; my aim is always to promote respectful coexistence. Culture in particular should of course be entertaining, but at the same time it should always take a critical look at current events and the spirit of the times. I find the long-overdue shift in consciousness very refreshing, incredibly inspiring and enriching. If we want to do it right, let's do it toget[h]er.

Sarah Müller

Language is the basis of our interactions and an omnipresent platform. As a communicator, I work (with and for others) to sharpen our focus on it, consciously change it and thus open up new spaces. My empowerment principle: Be unapologetically yourself.

Luis Germes

I have been with SGS Essen, the last all-women's football club in the Bundesliga, for almost three years. I am responsible for marketing and partnerships. Seeing how much heart, discipline and resilience our players put into their passion is incredibly impressive. The energy with which our professionals also master their everyday working lives off the pitch inspires and motivates us every day!

Lisa Eppinger

Hi, I'm Lisa. I'm really excited to be here as a supporter. As a designer, I know how much can be achieved when we inspire, support and make each other visible. Shine brighter together.

Jan Schellenberger

I am an inventor of digitalisation and AI innovations. True innovation arises where diversity is not just a buzzword, but the basis of architecture. By radically making female voices and perspectives visible, we are programming a future that finally reflects the full potential of our society.

Claudia Michel

I am Claudia, founder of POSITRON. I develop brands with substance and believe in the power of positive communication that empowers and connects people. Inspired by the amazing people in my life, I want to pass on exactly that: courage, appreciation and growth – rise by lifting others. POSITRON Strong people. Strong brands.

Christiane Joachimi

I have crossed the Atlantic twice by sailboat – and learned that you can only overcome great challenges with courage, trust and equality. Today, I apply exactly that in my work: I support people with disabilities on their path to a self-determined life. It is particularly important to me to empower women in their role as employers. For me, empowerment means providing security, encouraging others and breaking new ground together – at sea and in life.

Lucia Pilgram

I am a mother, founder and psychologist specialising in mental health during pregnancy and early parenthood. For me, female empowerment means empowering women so that they can make informed decisions and trust their own judgement. Giving a voice to women’s perspectives opens up new possibilities – for women and for all of us.

Tabea Lersmacher

I bring people, start-ups and companies together on stage, at events and within strong networks. As a point of contact for Essen’s start-up ecosystem at Essen’s Economic Development Agency and as a freelance event presenter, female empowerment is particularly close to my heart; I actively seek out inspiring female entrepreneurs and public figures to give them visibility and a platform in Essen.

Hannah Karck

I come from the corporate world, where I long felt caught between two stools. As a people person, I’ve always felt that connection, empathy and genuine interaction are just as important as strategy and performance – even though these are often dismissed as ‘soft’ or trivial. At some point, I realised: I’m not caught between two stools. I’m building a new table. As a leader, mother and bon vivant, I have learnt that true strength does not lie in forcing oneself into existing moulds, but in having the courage to redesign spaces. Spaces where people are allowed to express themselves – with their voice, their body, their perspective. With the OM Club, I create precisely such spaces: for movement, connection and genuine interaction. For me, female empowerment doesn’t mean speaking louder or fighting harder. It means reminding women that they can trust their inner voice – and that this is precisely where their greatest strength lies.

Giulia Mier

My name is Giulia – co-founder and managing director of INCLUYOU.<br/> In this role, I work to create structures that enable genuine self-determination.<br/> I am fascinated by the question of how we can shape society in such a way that participation does not depend on systems or chance, but is simply a given. To this end, I am particularly interested in new forms of collaboration, community and organisation.<br/> I believe that change happens where people take responsibility, rethink things and work together to create spaces for greater freedom and participation.