Preparing Women for Leadership Roles
From pay disparities and hiring decisions to everyday workplace dynamics, women continue to face structural disadvantages in professional life. Addressing these gender inequalities requires early action — ideally while students are still at university. One initiative taking this approach is Mynds, a student organization founded at the University of Mannheim in November 2023.
For Nicola Krug, the organization’s current chair and a student in the Mannheim Master in Management (MMM) program, the issue of women’s empowerment is deeply personal. “Too few women still make it into leadership roles,” she says. “Not because they lack ability, but often because they lack networks or confidence.” That’s why she is committed to helping women build skills in areas such as negotiation, self-advocacy, and presenting themselves with confidence.
Mynds was co-founded by Marie Kühn, who was completing her master’s degree at Mannheim at the time. “She recognized the need for a student organization dedicated to supporting women in their career development,” Krug explains. The organization was quickly accredited in December 2023 and has since grown rapidly. “We now have around 350 members, including roughly 100 active students as well as graduates,” she says. Alumnae connections play an important role, enabling current students to benefit from established professional networks at an early stage.
New momentum for Mynds
With a new executive team in place this year, the organization is focusing on further growth and greater visibility. Plans include expanding its social media presence on platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn by launching a dedicated website. Merchandise is another way the organization hopes to attract new members and raise its public profile.
Krug herself first encountered Mynds during the student organization fair in her first semester. “I was impressed by how many master’s students my age were actively involved,” she recalls. She quickly developed a desire to take on greater responsibility. Looking ahead to 2026, she hopes to bring fresh energy to the organization. “Building networks, hosting talks, and organizing community events are essential for advancing women’s empowerment,” she says.
Among these activities are the Mynds Monday Sessions, weekly internal events designed to strengthen both soft skills and group cohesion. Students meet for activities ranging from laser tag and self-defense courses to group painting sessions. In addition, the MyndSet series invites external experts to give short introductory talks. The focus is on issues that women frequently encounter in professional contexts, such as being the only woman in a leadership role, conducting negotiations effectively, or navigating the broad challenges associated with care work. The idea is to connect academic perspectives with real-world experience — and to help women handle these challenges more confidently.
Engaging directly with employers
Facilitating employer connections is also a core component of Mynds. Past partnerships have ranged from keynote events to corporate visits. “We have organized particularly rewarding events with SAP, including a visit to its headquarters, as well as with consulting firms such as Oliver Wyman and Horváth & Partners,” Krug notes.
Looking ahead to 2026, the student organization plans to expand its reach further. In addition to existing collaborations with consulting firms, Mynds aims to strengthen ties with a broader range of industries and companies. “Having access to a wide professional network is especially valuable when entering the job market,” Krug explains. Events with companies including SAP, McKinsey, and Coca-Cola are already in preparation. For now, however, her immediate priority is to build the new executive team and finalize this year’s program. “We are always happy to welcome new members,” she adds. Interested students can get in touch via Instagram (@mynds_mannheim) or simply attend one of the organization’s events.
Text: Pascale Tamburini / April 2026
