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Success Stories: An Interview with Britta Lang
Meet our colleague Britta Lang, Head of Global IP at Neoperl in Müllheim (Germany), and find out how she has shaped her career and what role flexible working opportunities at our Müllheim site and the support of the company have played in her success.
3 min
Can you tell us about your career path and how you became Head of Global IP?
Britta Lang: After completing my chemistry degree in Freiburg (Germany) with a doctorate (specializing in inorganic chemistry) at the end of 2013, I moved on to the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials. In addition to my work as a research assistant, I first came into contact with IP rights there through my own invention in the field of glass forming. I also took on the role of IP representative, the link between inventors and patent engineers. After the birth of my daughter in 2017, I felt ready for a new professional challenge and could also imagine concentrating exclusively on patents. Fittingly, I discovered a job advertisement from Neoperl in Müllheim (Germany) for a female patent engineer and it was a good fit from both sides. Four years later, I gladly accepted the opportunity to take over as Head of IP.
How have the support and flexible working arrangements of our company contributed to your success, and what specific measures or guidelines do you find particularly helpful?
Britta Lang: As I didn't yet have a place in a daycare center for my daughter when I started at Neoperl, the flexible working hours without fixed core hours and with flexitime, as they exist at the Müllheim site, suited me very well. I only worked in the afternoons until she started nursery and was then able to increase my hours without any problems. Being able to work from home after the birth of my son in 2020 and thus the possibility of adapting the location, duration and working hours to our needs ensured that I was able to return to work immediately after maternity leave, initially with fewer hours.
How do you ensure that you stay connected and committed to your team even when working part-time?
Britta Lang: We are a small, well-established team of four employees and have been working together for years. As a result, many work processes have become established. To ensure that personal interaction is not neglected, we maintain a list in which each of us enters her office and home office days for the coming period. We make sure that we are all on site at least one day a week to hold our team meeting and also find time for personal interaction. A joint team chat ensures that we can exchange ideas on the other days.
What advice would you give to colleagues who would like to take advantage of the flexible working options at the Müllheim site?
Britta Lang: As long as the work allows it and you have a suitable working environment at home, working from home and spreading your working hours throughout the day is an excellent way to complete tasks accordingly. We like to use the home office for concentrated work or team meetings lasting several hours, and some of us also use the early morning or late afternoon hours to get an overview of the day or to finalize something. Some people may prefer the routine of a continuous working day on site, but depending on your life situation, it's a great enrichment.
What challenges do you see specifically for women in leadership positions, including prejudices and stereotypes, and how have you overcome them?
Britta Lang: I have been confronted with prejudices and devaluations in my professional career and the common image is still the part-time mother who comes in later, leaves earlier or drops out completely, while it has little impact on men's careers if they have children. At the same time, I think this image of the manager who works full-time and is always on site is also outdated. It's a question of organization, structure, effectiveness and prioritization and, thanks to digital networking and flexibility, it's obviously also possible on a part-time basis.
What tips would you give to other women who also aspire to a management position but may be hesitant to take the plunge?
Britta Lang: I would advise other women to be aware of their own abilities and strengths, to trust them and not to let doubts hold them back. Every challenge is also an opportunity to grow. The backing and support of my team helped me a lot when I decided to take on this position, as did the support of my predecessor Christoph Weis. I have also found that I have always received support from various sources and have the right environment for my development.