The latest survey by The International Network of Interim Manager Associations (INIMA) on the European Interim Management market presents a sobering picture: only 14% of interim managers are female. Poland leads with 30% female interim managers, followed by France and the UK with 20% each. Austria is slightly above average at 16%, but there is still considerable room for improvement.

I think it’s great that I learn and develop with every job. It’s reassuring to know that I can contribute my expertise no matter which company I work for.

Annelie Nässén

Marei Strack, Chairwoman of DDIM e.V. – Dachgesellschaft Deutsches Interim Management, recently spoke at a round table about the challenges female managers continue to face:

“Although we have been discussing for more than 15 years how to increase the number of women on supervisory boards in Germany, there is still a gap. Throughout my entire career in the corporate world, I was always the only woman in a senior leadership position, such as Senior Vice President. But you need at least 30% women in a team to truly benefit from diversity.”

She also highlighted the different perceptions of competence: “In interim management, men and women still attribute more competence to male managers than to women. Even most men believe that a woman has to achieve much more to receive the same recognition as a man. For female interim managers, this means they have to actively ‘sell’ themselves even more than their male colleagues.”

My task is to give a decisive impulse at a certain moment, in a very specific context, to overcome a deadlocked situation.

Leila Mechai

In addition to structural hurdles, there are also familial and personal reasons that hinder women’s careers. Traditional roles in child-rearing and caring for parents play a part. Women are often more aware of the price that the required mobility and high workload of managers exact on their own family and social lives than men.

We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.

Irmtraud Königshofer

At Management Factory and Valtus, we are firmly convinced that it is essential to increase the visibility of female interim managers to ensure that our clients and our managers can realize their full potential.

An interim manager can act like a turbocharger for a company. The combination of an external perspective and work within the company is unique.

Sanna Reunanen

It is time to shine a brighter light on the perspectives and capabilities of female interim managers and to break down the existing barriers. The full INIMA report provides further insights into the European interim management market and is available here: INIMA Report.

I like to get things done and respond positively to challenge and pressure. I am passionate about transforming people and organizations. This is why I love to be an interim manager.

Gisela Kollmann

Gisela Kollmann was named Interim Manager of the Year 2021 by DÖIM, the Austrian umbrella organisation for interim management.

As an interim manager, you can’t just kick up dust or suspend decisions. As a manager, I make all decisions as I see fit and stand by them.

Annika Muskantor

In the featured image above, we present our outstanding interim managers from Valtus: Annelie Nässén from Sweden, Leila Mechai from France, and Irmtraud Königshofer from Austria. Additionally, we feature Sanna Reunanen from Finland, Annika Muskantor from Sweden, and Bénédicte Bertrand from France in the Valtus Alliance.
Maria Söderström, CFO of Nordic Interim Sylvie LACOSTE FOURNET, CEO of VALTUS – Leader Européen du Management de Transition and Kelly Jones, CEO und CRO of Valtus UK.

Executive Interim Management has a very specific approach: it means immersing yourself directly in a company, immediately taking over the management of the team and offering an external perspective to ensure the highest possible degree of objectivity.

Bénédicte Bertrand

Each assignment expands my skill set and teaches valuable lessons, enhancing my capabilities in every project.

Maria Söderström

Marei Strack, CEO of DDIM e.V. – Dachgesellschaft Deutsches Interim Management, said something very true about female managers at a round table some time ago:

‘Although we have been discussing how we can increase the number of women on supervisory boards in Germany for more than 15 years, there is still a gap. Throughout my career in the corporate world, I have always been the only woman in a senior management position, for example as Senior Vice President. But you need at least 30% women in a team to really benefit from diversity […].

In interim management, men and women still attribute more expertise to male managers than to women. Even most men believe that a woman has to achieve much more to receive the same recognition as a man. For female interim managers, this means that they have to actively ‘sell’ themselves even more than their male colleagues. […]

In addition to the structural level, there are also family and personal reasons. I’m talking here about the often still traditional roles in bringing up children or caring for parents. Perhaps it also plays a role that women are more aware than men of the price of the required mobility and the high work commitment of managers for their own family and social life.’

Building my success as an executive interim manager has been a journey of independent, fascinating career assignments.

Kelly Jones

I’ve never felt more in my element than I do as an executive interim manager, where I can make a meaningful contribution, be of service, and help restore trust.

Sylvie Lacoste Fournet

What I appreciate about interim management is the objectivity that can be brought in from an external perspective.  Particularly in the operational, manufacturing area, it is possible to achieve a lot in a short period of time, particularly as companies usually pursue a specific goal with the assignment.

Yvonnne Pichler

“Executive Interim Management enables us to
establish the necessary groundwork, encompassing time, resources and mindset, to pave the way for successful transformation.”

Pauline Leré

“The most enjoyable aspect of working as an
Interim Manager is to understand what the company truly needs, setting priorities, focusing on them, stabilizing the organization, and preparing for the next phase of development and/or growth.”

Brigitta Dahlgren