Since 2016, Irene Bader has been a member of the supervisory board of a subsidiary of the machine tool manufacturer DMG MORI, and since 2023, a member of the executive board. “I may be the first woman on the executive board at DMG MORI, but I won’t be the last,” Irene says with confidence.

Not only does Irene like to think about the future, but the company culture is also strongly forward-looking. The company sees itself not as a first mover but as a perfectionist. The motto is fewer premieres, more true innovation.

Irene is fascinated by innovative technologies and has a talent for making them accessible. She is skilled at explaining machines and technology in a way that is easy to understand and adept at bridging cultural differences within the workforce.

Around one-third of DMG MORI’s 13,000 employees are based in Japan, with another third in Germany. Cultural differences can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. “In Europe, we take two steps forward, three steps back, then two steps forward again. In Japan, they prefer to take one step at a time. But we all get to the goal,” Irene explains. Japanese colleagues tend to be more reserved, while in Europe, discussions are louder and more direct. Irene serves as an important bridge—not only between the executive board and employees but also between European and Japanese staff.

Irene travels to Japan up to eight times a year. She particularly values exchanges with her Japanese female colleagues. Many women in Japan leave the workforce after getting married, as being a non-working wife is often seen as a status symbol. Irene hopes that Japanese women can learn about other models and make free choices. “I think we, as a company, need to provide opportunities,” says the Austrian. DMG MORI has done just that, becoming one of the first companies in Japan to introduce company childcare facilities and part-time work models.

After years of focusing on B2B communication, Irene is now concentrating on H2H—Human to Human. Here, she combines her knowledge of effective communication, her talent for making connections, and her passion for multicultural environments.

A post by herCAREER,
published on LinkedIn on 11.11.2024

 

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