Meet April’s “Member of the Month:” Anja Wetzel, CFO bei WITTE Automotive Group

Why did you join the Women Automotive Network?

I really love the inspiring exchange with women who I experienced in most of the topics have very clear statements and strategies on their career and business processes.

Why is DE&I important to you?

Having a finance background I am driven by results. Too many researches come up with the result that diverse organizations are just more valuable figure wise than one dimensional ones.

What is the number one automotive trend you are keeping up with currently?

Getting this question I firstly would place here that it would be the inflationary increase of material and energy prices after having tackled down COVID in the last 2 years. I guess I have to reset this statement and we are back in the situation to carefully control supply chains and ad hoc high volatilities. But I highly believe in the Automotive business drivers which in my opinion always knew how to cope with all kinds of challenges. That’s also the fact why I love being part of this community.

Who is your inspirational woman?

Every women fighting her way through and tackling down all the day-by-day challenges. I met many woman in all parts of the world and it’s not always the one mentioned as lighthouse in magazines and posts, it might be mom trying to fulfil all others expectations and needs and still follows her dreams or the little girl overcoming prejudices being the best in whatever is meant to be a men’s taks or skill.

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome?

Maybe some of you would not expect still reading this experience, but for me it was overcoming some internal old-boys-networks by not being involved not getting information needed and a kind of carreer-freeze announcing my marriage when the organization was waiting for my baby-break … which never happened. At that time a had a very empathic boss who told me one rule which I still follow “You have to speak out load what you want, nobody will offer that to you if they don’t know about your dreams and wishes”. That is also something I would give as an advice to every woman starting their way and find a mentor which could be male or female to support your selected path.

In one word, what is the opportunity for women in automotive currently?

Finally and slowly world is changing, now is the time to stand up and follow your dreams, the world will listen.

What advice would you offer to those considering starting a career within the automotive industry?

It’s not linked to automotive, but I would say be and stand for how and what you are, don’t try to change to fit in an organization or position meant to be. Quoting Astrid Lindgren: “Be cheeky and wild and wonderful!”

Don’t forget to connect with Anja on LinkedIn here.