A look back at Rossau vernetzt - women entrepreneurs in focus

How do female entrepreneurs perceive Rossau? What issues and challenges do they face on a daily basis as female managers? What wishes and expectations do they have for the future?

Around 25 female entrepreneurs and managers got to the bottom of these questions. Mode von FEUCHT hosted the event, which was jointly initiated and organized by the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce / Women in Business and the Rossau district management. A factory tour at Mode von FEUCHT with interesting details about the building and the transformation of the retail business provided a somewhat different introduction to the evening.

The subsequent round of talks with Barbara Thaler, President of the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce, and Rebecca Kirchbaumer, District Office Chairwoman, was moderated by Claudia Rieser, Managing Director of Frau in der Wirtschaft. Gudrun Pechtl, Head of Neighborhood Management Rossau, led the discussion part of the event with inspiring input from selected female entrepreneurs: Gretl Patscheider, Fließen Center Tirol, provided insights into the start of her self-employment in 1979 in the very male-dominated ancillary building trade and which values and attitudes have accompanied her from the beginning. For example, women and men have always earned the same amount - and to make this transparent, salaries were also disclosed. Nina Fauland, Start Up Wiasano, talked about her path to self-employment and the role family support played in this. It became clear that the issues in the start-up phase are not necessarily a question of gender and what advantages heterogeneous teams offer. Veronika Kärle-Haid, Lichthaus Haid Werbetechnik, is the third generation to run the family business and described how she has seen the neighborhood change since her childhood and drew attention to mobility and street design.

The much-cited glass ceiling, the demands women place on themselves in terms of performance and what contribution a greater involvement of female entrepreneurs in public functions can make were further topics that were discussed together in a relaxed atmosphere in Leo's Bar that evening.

What will we take away?

• Self-confidence: building confidence in your own abilities and your own path is essential
• Passing on courage: female entrepreneurs and strong women as role models and inspiration

What are we looking forward to?

• To a continuation of the new format
• To more honest encounters between women
• Giving explicit space to the female perspective and thereby broadening the public discourse