Birgit Hahn Interview


What were the challenges you had to overcome and some of the most rewarding moments of your career?


Challenges have never deterred me, and I don’t think there is a job that can be done without certain challenges. When I started at Krones in the field service, I was one of the first women. Asserting myself in this male domain was of course unusual right at the beginning, but my colleagues were really great. I didn’t have any major problems or difficulties settling into the role of service technician.


Professionally, this start helped me a lot, as I simply learnt the basis of our business from the ground up. I’m now in top management, but because of my experience I know the challenges that our fitters face. That helps me immensely in my day-to-day work. However, I now face the additional challenge of not losing touch with the grassroots. This is the only way I can lead the division in the right direction with my decisions.


You have been with Krones for nearly 18 years. Can you describe your journey with the company? What attracted you to it?


Krones has enabled me to develop in service right from the start. I started out as a service technician, then became group manager, head of regional field service and project management for the Asia-Pacific region. Now I’m head of central field service. Being able to go through this development is really fantastic. And it’s also been good for me because, as I mentioned before, I know what I’m talking about when I raise problems or issues and work with management to find solutions that work in practice. Because I know all sides: from the everyday life of service technicians to strategy development or budget planning.


DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS:


Humorous, down to earth, curious


What do you enjoy most about your role now and what challenges do you face?


Quite clearly: the opportunity to shape things. I can now make my area fit for the future. I really enjoy that. There are also new topics that didn’t exist 15 years ago. One example is digitalisation. It’s exciting to familiarise myself with new technologies and find out what might work for my area.


The challenge now is to find the right balance between the necessary business decisions and the limits and solutions that the service technicians in the field and the important back office in service need. Unfortunately, sometimes conflicting views and compromises need to be found. Another point is the recruitment of employees, especially for the job of service technician.


What steps is Krones taking to create a workplace that is both diverse and inclusive?


Diversity has fortunately become increasingly important for companies. However, the term is not just about the fact that people differ in terms of origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, faith and much more, nor is it just about accepting these differences. It’s about recognising and promoting diversity as potential. After all, everyone has a different perspective on certain problems and tasks based on their experiences and background. And by incorporating these perspectives, you can achieve the best results. Krones has recognised this and set up a diversity board in 2021 to drive forward various measures to promote diversity even more strongly within the company.


Do you see meaningful progress being made on gender equality in the industry?


YOUR FAVOURITE LEISURE ACTIVITIES:


Your favourite leisure activities: Hiking, riding motorbike, outdoor sports


29 metalpackager.com


has a different perspective on certain problems and tasks


based on their experiences and


incorporating these


perspectives, you can


achieve the best results.


background. And by


Everyone


Mechanical engineering has long been a male domain. There were only a few women, for example, in assembly, service and consequently also in management positions. Fortunately, this has changed in recent years and there are more and more women in technical professions. But the change is happening very slowly. But I think to myself: good things take time, and it’s better for it to happen slowly and sustainably than quickly and then to fizzle out again.


Do women need to be “more like men” to move up on the career ladder?


When it comes to their own assessment of their abilities and skills – yes. Women are much more self-critical than men. Men, on the other hand, are much more confident. That’s why some women don’t even end up in the selection process. Women should be more courageous. Apart from that, diversity is what makes women tick and act like women and therefore also brings a different perspective to issues, on the basis of which different decisions may be made.


What are some of the most effective ways to inspire and encourage young women to pursue a career in the manufacturing/metal packaging sector?


It starts in childhood. The clear division between girls playing with dolls and boys playing with cars. This is where parents can encourage enthusiasm for technology.


Young women should also have their fears taken away. Yes, it may be a male domain – so what?


If you perform well and have a bit of empathy, you can also be happy as a woman in mechanical engineering, do a great job and be successful.


To buy a VW bus, customise it myself and take it on tour to pursue my favourite hobbies – SUP, hiking and mountain biking.


ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST:


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