Handelsblatt and Bain & Company present the award annually to select an ideal female board made up of five outstanding decision-makers who have made their mark on German business in different management positions. Dr. Sandra Wolf represents the Female Allstar Board in the category ‘Chief Executive Officer’ (CEO).

“I am really excited about this award. It represents personal recognition, but is above all an important beacon for the visibility of female leadership. Women are still too rarely represented in senior positions. Initiatives, such as the Female Allstar Board, which promotes dialogue amongst women in management roles and provides crucial impetus for diversity and empowerment, are therefore all the more important. At Riese & Müller too, we are actively committed to a corporate culture in which everyone experiences equal opportunities and respect, regardless of their gender, origin or background,” explains Dr. Sandra Wolf.

“Authenticity is her trademark”

Since 2013, Dr. Sandra Wolf, alongside the founder and CEO Heiko Müller, has been responsible for the strategic direction of the premium e-bike and cargo bike manufacturer. The CEO, who has a doctorate in Business Administration, has helped Riese & Müller to grow into an internationally successful brand with a clear stance, and has systematically made the manufacturer a pioneer and driving force for sustainability, innovation and future-centric mobility, both inside and outside of the industry. She has also further honed its corporate culture and underpinned Riese & Müller as a socially responsible employer with a value culture that is clearly enshrined within the company.

Ulrich Dietz, founder and Chair of the GFT Technologies Administrative Board, sums it up in his congratulatory speech at the award ceremony at the PULSE Women Economic Summit in Düsseldorf: “Sandra is an exceptional entrepreneur who knows how to combine innovation, quality, brand and people to create a total work of art. And when you talk to her, you immediately sense that authenticity is her trademark.”

The other award winners:

Heike Prinz, Member of the Board of Management, Chief Talent Officer, Labour Director, Bayer AG, in the 'Human Resources' category.

Elke Reichart, Chief Digital and Sustainability Officer, Infineon Technologies AG, in the 'Innovation' category.

Dr Tanja Rückert, Member of the Board of Management and Chief Digital Officer, Robert Bosch GmbH, in the 'Market & Customer' category.

Britta Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer, IONOS, in the 'Finance' category.

The Female Allstar Board Initiative was launched in 2021 by Handelsblatt and the international consultancy Bain & Company. A high-profile judging panel of business leaders selects award winners across five categories, celebrating outstanding achievements in German business and highlighting role models for the next generation of talented women. Their focus is on entrepreneurial performance, results relating to responsibility and special professional milestones. Accompanying the appointment of the Female Allstar Board, the Handelsblatt Research Institute publishes a report that includes interviews with the prize winners as well as current facts, figures and data on women in management positions.

TO THE REPORT