Lisa Flügel

“I think it is important to develop yourself not because you are a woman or despite being a woman but as a woman. It is not about doing something “because”, but about staying true to yourself. My advice: Do not wait for things to happen. Proactively take on responsibilities, network, be present while doing so and really listen to others – and don’t forget to be passionate about what you do.”
Lisa Flügel, Executive Assistant to Prof. Dr. Axel Stepken, Chairman of the Board of Management, TÜV SÜD AG.

What would you say has been the most defining factor for your career Success?

Having a consultancy background definitively helped me to develop hard and soft skills, as well as quickly adapt to new situations. The defining factors however have been and still are my mentors. Their experience and advice guided me – both professionally and personally, especially through receiving honest feedback and trust.

What words of advice do you have for female contemporaries at TÜV SÜD?

I have two pieces of advice. The first is: Do not wait for things to happen. Proactively take on responsibilities. You may fail sometimes but become richer in experience. The second thing is, network. When you have a lot of work to do, networking is often the first thing you skip. But it is so important – network constantly, be present while doing so and really listen to others – and don’t forget to be passionate about what you do.
 

What are 3 things you are still working on to improve yourself?

How to say ‘No’ without having a bad conscience, integrating sports into my work day regularly, and getting things done without time pressure.