IGEL’s Augsburg office moved from Hermanstraße to Melli-Beese-Straße in February 2023. This is a good opportunity to take a closer look at the life of Melli Beese, an unwavering German aviation pioneer, who was born 137 years ago in Dresden.

Role Model for Women in the Technology Industry

The determination and resilience with which Melli Beese succeeded in becoming the first German woman to obtain a pilot’s license makes her a role model for all those who advocate for women in technology.

“Yes to flying women,” is what Amelie Hedwig Boutard-Beese, better known as Melli Beese, said to herself while studying sculpture at the Royal Academy of Liberal Arts in Stockholm from 1906-1909.  She read about the Wright brothers’ flying experiences in the newspaper. “Flying. I wanted to learn to fly. But that was also all I knew I wanted,” Melli Beese records in her autobiography. (Tatjana Dietl „Sie wollte fliegen, immer nur fliegen“)

Woman Hood in the Empire Days

Unthinkable for a woman in those days. For her, the role of housewife and mother was intended, admiring her husband and adorning him with her pretty appearance. Women were prevented from competing with men. Academic training was not desired, and certainly not in the technical field. Women on airplanes were not even to be thought of; that could only bring bad luck.

Melli as the first German Pilot

So how did Melli Beese manage, in this environment, to become the first German woman to obtain a pilot’s license on September 13, 1911? What made her so strong to defy the strict social conventions? Even more than 100 years later, female pilots are a rarity: in civil aviation, there are only 2-3% female captains and co-pilots. (Gisela Zimmer „Wer will kann, Teilzeit fliegen) What can women in technological professions learn from Melli Beese and apply in their daily lives and careers? To understand, I will start with a brief outline of her career.

Melli’s Path to Becoming a Pilot

After returning to Dresden from Stockholm as a sculptor, she attended lectures in mathematics, naval architecture, and aeronautical engineering at the Polytechnique in Dresden. At the same time, she was looking for a flight instructor with whom she could learn the practice of flying. After being rejected at three schools, with slogans such as “Women are no good for flying”, she found the flight instructor Robert Thelen in Switzerland, who reluctantly agreed to give her flying lessons.

Flying Lessons at Ad Astra airline and Rumpler Factories

Melli Beese went through a tough school here. Not only because she crashed and injured herself on one of her first flights, but above all because she had to deal with constant sabotage from her male colleagues. They manipulated her flying machines by replacing spark plugs with rusty ones or emptying the fuel tank and loosening wings. In addition, the male colleagues were preferred for flying lessons, often an entire day passed at the airfield without Melli being able to fly at all. In addition, there were verbal attacks, which were a psychological burden. Nevertheless, through a trick, she managed to pass the exam for her pilot’s license in the early hours of the morning on her 25th birthday with witnesses. The Berlin press wrote: “The young candidate, dressed in her flying outfit, boarded the school machine and flew off dashingly … She flew the prescribed test flights in very good style” (Martin Herzog „Melli Beese besteht die Flugprüfung“). She was the 115th person in Germany to obtain a pilot’s license and the first woman. A little later, she took part in a flying competition and set a new altitude and endurance flight world record for female pilots with a passenger. For this, she flew 825 m (about 2706.69 ft) high and stayed in the air for 2.5 hours.

Melli as an Entrepreneur

Melli Beese met her future husband Charles Boutard at the airfield in Berlin Johannisthal. Together with him, she fulfilled a dream. Together, they founded a flying school, based on their own new concepts, and later an aircraft factory. They built aircraft under license and developed new ones, including a flying boat. Between 1912 and 1914, they filed several patents. Their business was flourishing, and they seemed to have made it when the First World War broke out on July 28, 1914, and everything changed.

The war changes everything

Through her marriage to a Frenchman, Melli Beese had obtained French citizenship. With the outbreak of the war, both were considered undesirables in Germany and lost the flight school and the factory in 1915. They were also forbidden to enter the Johannisthal airfield and to do business at all. Their planes broke down and were given to the general population to heat their homes. Finally, the couple was exiled to Wittstock in Prignitz, where they lived in the poorest conditions and fell ill.

After the War

After the war, the two were faced with nothing. “However, we were faced with a shattered life, sick, deprived of all our own resources and possessions – we had literally been ruined” (Melli Beeses „Fliegerleben – Selbstporträt im Telegrammstil“, Berlin 1923). However, it should not be assumed they gave in to defeat. No, on the contrary. They recovered and made new plans. This was anything but easy since they had very few financial resources. They hoped for government compensation payments for the destroyed flight school and the flying machines, but it came only sparingly or not at all and cost a lot of energy. Charles Boutard and Melli Beese planned a flight around the world. This required a renewal of their flying license. During a test flight in Berlin-Staaken, Melli crashed. Although she was not injured, this event made the barrel of defeats overflow. Marital problems, depression, financial worries, and recognition as a woman after the war were even more difficult than before… all this led Melli Beese to commit suicide on December 21, 1925, at the age of only 39. She shot herself with a revolver and left behind the motto: „Volare necesse est, vivere non necesse!“ – „ Flying is necessary, life is not! “

What makes Melli Beese so special, what was her special power?

What is the secret of Melli’s success? Where did she get the strength to achieve the impossible?

She knew what she wanted

She had one goal: “I wanted to learn to fly! – that was also all I knew I wanted…” (Melli Beeses „Fliegerleben – Selbstporträt im Telegrammstil“, Berlin 1923) and she relentlessly followed this goal, despite all obstacles. She was determined.

She was ready to leave her comfort zone

At 20, she left her home country to study sculpture in Stockholm, which she was denied in Dresden. Later, in search of a flight instructor, she moved to Switzerland. She was independent, self-reliant, and strong. To achieve her goals, she was ready to enter unknown terrterritory and break away from family security.

She was extremely interested and talented

To be recognized as a woman, she had to be better than the men. Any small weakness would have been immediately used against her. She could only achieve her position in the male domain because she was incredibly talented in what drove her: curiosity about technology and flying.

She was tough

She has had to put up with a lot of physical and psychological injuries over the years. Plane crashes, bullying, injustice, financial hardship, illness… Time and again she got up and kept going. She was not afraid of death: “For the first time, life and death in her own hands – in immediacy unlike any other sport!” (Tatjana Dietl „Sie wollte fliegen, immer nur fliegen“).

She was smart

Not letting blockades stop you also means finding loopholes, thinking strategically, recognizing opportunities, and taking advantage of them. This was the only way she could get her pilot’s license against the resistance of her fellow pilots. This was the only way she could learn to fly.

She had supporters

On the one hand, there were her parents, who supported Melli’s career ideally and financially.

She had her husband, with whom she built up her company and made future plans, who provided her with emotional support.

When she founded her aviation company, she was financially supported by Karl August Lingner, the inventor of the mouthwash Odol.

Conclusion

Melli had good prerequisites. She was very talented, curious, thirsty for knowledge, and willing to go beyond boundaries and she had important supporters in her close environment. But all that is not enough in a society that excludes certain groups because of their gender, their origin, or for other reasons. It is precisely diversity, versatility, and different perspectives that are important to bring forth innovations and make the world a better place. Let us not give up our talents just because they belong to the wrong group. A society can only reach its full potential if everyone can participate on an equal footing.

The post Yes, to Flying Women appeared first on IGEL.

IGEL has transitioned over the past 6 years from a mid-sized hardware manufacturer to a global leading innovator of software for secure access to any digital workspace. At the core of IGEL is an experienced and skilled workforce, who are hired for their skills and not gender.

To mark International Women’s Day, the IGEL4Women in Tech Employee Resource Group met with three of our female leaders, Helen Carroll, Anja Schulz, and Christiane Ohlgart.

Let’s begin with Helen Carroll, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at IGEL.

Helen is a strategic marketing leader with twenty plus years of experience in the technology sector. Having worked for companies such as, Ivanti, Heat Software, BMS Software and Sun Microsystems [now Oracle]. A worldwide team builder focused on developing individuals to grow and achieve in a result driven environment and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Today Helen gives us insight into some of the lessons she has learnt during her career.

Q1: What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career? 

Having worked for many different leaders, I’ve witnessed varying styles. From the Dictatorial style, great if you want to increase your company attrition rates, not so great if you want a productive team. Through to All-Inclusive Leaders who are great communicators, build teams based on skills and not gender, and empower their team to drive the right outcomes.

Leadership for me is about being authentic, teamwork and trust. Treating people, the way you’d like to be treated. Be humble, accept advice, input and knowledge.

Q2: How important is it for women to support each other in the workplace and what does that mean to you?

This topic is especially important to me. My early career was in the Financial Services sector, at the time it was a very male dominated industry. I remember vividly on my second day, the assistant branch manager telling me that “girls” should be in the home producing families and not in the Bank. He said that I’d never have a career. I was shocked but annoyed, I remember thinking “how dare he tell me what to do”. I had no one to turn to and ask for advice. The Banking industry then was very male dominated, there was no support network. From that day on, I’ve never let anyone get in my way of doing what I want with my career I’m glad the world is changing and becoming more inclusive, I wish it had been like that for my younger self!

Q3: As a woman in a senior position in the technology sector what do you think are the most important characteristics to get you to that level?

Teamwork. Without a team, I wouldn’t have my role today [or any of my previous leadership roles]. Empathy, Transparency, Clear communicator, Inclusivity and Trust. Be confident. If you have a dip in your confidence, there’s no shame in seeking reassurance from others. Having a mentor as you grow your career is a great way to receive constructive input.

Q4: Based on your own experience working in technology, what advice would you give to women looking to progress in the tech industry?

Be determined and ask for help when you need it. If you know where you want to go to but are not sure how to get there, just ask. With IGEL, we have many great female leaders that would be delighted to provide advice and share their personal experiences. There will always be someone that can help you.

Q5: Can you name one woman who has inspired you?

It’s not just women that have inspired me as leaders but men too. I’ve been lucky to work with and for inspirational male leaders. If you look back at historical figures, there have been many inspiring female and male leaders that have broken the mould and gone beyond what was previously possible.

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Anja Schulz, Managing Director & General Counsel Legal Compliance

Anja offers extensive experience in legal advice and consultation to management boards in digital environments and in building and leading legal teams focused on adding value to the company. Experienced in contract negotiation as well as employment law topics.

Anja shares her experiences in her career in the technology sector.

Q1: What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career?
“Walk the talk” – build trust by being reliable and transparent in your decision making and share the information your team needs to do the best job they can.
Listen and foster the personal growth of your team members, give them the opportunity to grow, develop new skills and encourage them to learn new things.

Q2: How important is it for women to support each other in the workplace and what does that mean to you?
I think it is key to equality. Men have been supporting each other for the past hundred years, it is time for women to stop being afraid or envious of other females and start supporting each other. Look out for other talented females and encourage them to take on new projects. Present and open opportunities to female colleagues for which they would not ask by themselves.

Q3: As a woman in a senior position in the technology sector what do you think are the characteristics most important to get you to that level?
Stamina and resilience, work hard and make yourself visible to the management. Take credit for your achievements and ask for opportunities to develop your skills and take on new projects. Be self-confident even if you don´t know it all (yet). Also, be patient your time will come.

Q4: Based on your own experience working in technology, what advice would you give to women looking to progress in the tech industry?
Build a network and look for mentors, female but also male mentors who support and inspire you on your way. Don´t give up after setbacks. Don´t take things personal, which are often institutional discrimination rather than personal attacks. Stay curious and ahead of new technologies to become of source of knowledge for others.

Q5: This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #Embrace Equity” and aims to get employers talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough”, what does that mean to you?
There is no “one size fits all” equity is picking up someone where they are coming from to help them getting to where they aspire to be. Look at the individuals needs and don´t let bias rule your decision. Don´t assume what people/women want, find out by listening and adapt the workplace environment to the needs. Equal is not always just or fair, as an employer we have to be conscious about that.

Q6: Can you name one woman who has inspired you?
Unfortunately not, not a lot of female role models in my childhood or in the early days of my career. What inspired me at one point was this quote by Shirley Chisholm: “If they don´t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”. Become part of the conversation, don´t shy back from having and articulating your opinion, it matters as much as anyone else’s opinion.

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Christiane Ohlgart, Chief Financial Office at IGEL Technology

Christiane is an experienced finance leader and business professional with excellent leadership qualities and a broad range of skills and experience gained within the Software, SaaS and Cybersecurity Industry.

Christiane shares her experiences gained throughout her career in the technology sector.

Q1: What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career?
We can be our worst enemy. We question and doubt ourselves much more than men do. This reduces our self-confidence and belief in ourselves.

Q2: How important is it for women to support each other in the workplace and what does that mean to you?
It is important to share each our thoughts and observations, because we typically have a different meeting and communication style then men. For example when men can start a meeting talking about all kinds of sports leagues, women often think, can we come to the point, I have more things to do today

Q3: As a woman in a senior position in the technology sector what do you think are the characteristics most important to get you to that level?
I think it depends on the role you have in a technology company. I don’t think that there are specific characteristics that make us more or less successful in different industries, I think it is more a question of how many women “select” a specific type of job, and what is important to them.

Q4: Based on your own experience working in technology, what advice would you give to women looking to progress in the tech industry?
Independent of the industry or role, you need people that back you up and that support you. You need that support in the job, in your network as well as at home. We need to also learn to ask for help. Believing we need to do everything ourselves will not necessarily make us successful.

Q5: This year’s International Women’s Day aims to get employers talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough”?
Equal opportunity has a lot of different characteristics. On the one hand, we live in a world that is more and more global providing more opportunities for women, on the other hand we see and hear about more and more traditional thinking and traditional role models surfacing in some cultures impacting women’s rights. Even if there is progress for women’s rights and opportunities in the western world, male dominance, and traditional views may result in the reduction of women’s rights.

We also should not forget that equal opportunity is very closely related to education. Education is expensive and not everyone can afford to get educated. In addition, education often correlates with fewer children, as women want to gain work experience or pay off their student debt before they have children. In my view, it is important that education and careers do not negatively impact the ability to have a family. I am a firm believer that equal opportunity means there is choice and opportunity for both genders.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to answer this question with a simple short answer.

Q6: Can you name one woman who has inspired you?
I have been inspired by many people, but I don’t think I could point to one woman or man specifically.

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If you would like to influence the future of technology, be part of IGEL’s journey as a software-only vendor and lead the end-user computing market with the innovations that enable the digital workplace. Be confident, find an area that interests you and go after it!

If you’re looking for a role in the tech industry that embraces equality and offers equal opportunities then have a look at IGEL Careers.

The post International Women’s Day: An interview with members of IGEL Technology’s Executive Leadership Team appeared first on IGEL.