Marie-Luise Schwarz-Schilling is the wife of ex-postmaster Christian Schwarz-Schilling (CDU) – and that is probably one of the less interesting facts about the 91-year-old economist. She is a pioneer, even if she would never say that about herself.
In a conversation with host Simone Menne, she talks about the moment when she had to take over the accumulator factory in 1957 after her father’s death at the age of just 25: “I was the only daughter, my father didn’t have a son, so he had to take me.” Her father was very liberal, she says in the podcast today. “Back then, many women were bosses. The men were at war or in captivity.” It wasn’t talked about much, but many women simply continued to run the businesses as bosses – craft businesses, trading companies, hospitals. “Women always believe they are not as good as men. Men constantly overestimate themselves.” For the 91-year-old, this is a problem that has not yet been solved to this day.
Schwarz-Schilling is not only an entrepreneur, she has written books on gender relations. Her most famous: “Marriage. A sidestep in history.” She has been married to her husband Christian Schwarz-Schilling for 69 years. In the podcast she explains why love is a barter transaction. And she explains why she still prefers to work late into the night, alone.
Retiring – that doesn’t really occur to Marie-Luise Schwarz-Schilling. “People need variety,” she says in the “Die Boss” podcast. At the age of 90 she founded the “Foundation Mitte Berlin”. She wants to breathe life back into the city center of her hometown. In general, she believes it is important for women to get involved in local politics.
Encouraging women – that is the essence for Schwarz-Schilling, something she wants to pass on to her daughters and grandchildren, she says in the current episode “Die Boss”. “Women should always be encouraged. Women in particular always need positive support. I would like to say that to everyone who has women around them.”
“The Boss” host Simone Menne and stern editor Laura Csapó alternately write to you on the topic of female leadership. Analysis, tips and tricks. 14 days, always between podcast episodes. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
At “The Boss – Power is Female” top women talk among themselves: host and multi-supervisory board member Simone Menne (including BMW, Deutsche Post DHL, Henkel) meets female bosses from all areas of society to talk to them about their lives and careers. “Die Boss” appears every fortnight on Wednesdays on stern.de and the stern YouTube channel as well as on RTL and all common podcast platforms.
Editor’s note: Stern belongs to RTL Deutschland.
