Insight Into Women Leaders

Jenny Scherler, HR Manager, Siemens Business Systems

To continue our series of interviews with women leaders, Brompton Associates interviewed Jenny Scherler, HR Manager for Siemens Business Systems.
We asked Jenny if she felt that she faced any particular challenges being a women leader in the business.

She replied “ I have a five and a two year old and when I came back to work after maternity leave I was promoted so I have a lot of pressure to perform well in that job and not let my being a mother get in the way of delivering to the business”.

“I think women feel that they are putting their jobs on hold to have children. I think I’ve compensated for that by doing lots of extra work in the background when I was on maternity leave. I try and show more commitment. I feel I need to convey an image of not being a ‘family person’ as I don’t want to be seen as ‘mumsey’.”

We discussed how Jenny manages to juggle her family life and her career. She said “My brain is consumed by keeping all plates spinning.” Jenny also mentioned that she has a very supportive husband!

The particular challenges that Jenny faces not only surround her role as a mother, but also her sense that she should not show this side of her at work. She mentioned how men can be much more open about trying for family but women have to keep it quiet because it is a threat to the business if they then take maternity leave. “I feel like I have to show a face into the organisation. Siemens is very male dominated and there are only a handful of women, so I’m normally the only women in a meeting – I think that I’m treated as either the token women or as one of the boys. I prefer to be treated like one of the boys”.

Brompton Associates asked Jenny what she thought women bring to organisations.

"I think that being female in an organisation can help because I’m seen as having more empathy so people will confide in me on a one to one basis. Women are good at connecting things together. We will not just look at what we’re going to do but how we’ll do it, the impact on others in the organisation and how we’ll bring things together. I don’t know if I do this because of my role at Siemens, or if it’s because I’m a women?”

Jenny also said that she can challenge people in a more constructive way at work. “I see a lot of chest beating amongst all men but I can challenge in a jokey way instead, I don’t have to get aggressive.”

Finally we asked Jenny if she has any top tips for our readers – she said “yes, be proud of who you are and what you have to bring that’s different, and others will see it too.” Thanks Jenny, we think that is very wise advice, how do we stay centred and true to ourselves as women and still be great leaders of business?

Brompton Associates thanks Jenny for her time and useful insights into her experience as a leader in the workplace at Siemens.