Dialogue

From the humanities to the automotive industry – actively shaping your career

The industry is changing rapidly due to digitalization, global networking, and changing customer expectations. These developments are leading to new job profiles and requirements for employees. At the same time, they open up exciting opportunities for doctoral researchers who can imagine a career in industry.

Discuss this with Dr Anja Voss, alumna of Ruhr University Bochum and executive in the retail division of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. In her position, she is responsible for human resources development for Porsche's global retail network, particularly with regard to the future orientation of job profiles at dealerships. In addition to her role at Porsche, she is also active as a business mentor and systemic consultant.

Dr Anja Voss will not only give you an insight into her work in retail human resources development and the associated requirements, she is also keen to discuss with you which strategies can be helpful in shaping your own career.

The exchange will focus on the following topics:

•     Initiative: What role do self-reflection, information gathering, networking, and continuing education play?
•     Profile building: How can candidates make their profiles attractive and apply successfully?
•     Importance of skills: What skills and qualifications are particularly valued by companies in young professionals?
•     Diversity of knowledge areas: How do companies and teams benefit from employees with different professional backgrounds?
•     International work: What requirements and opportunities arise from global job profiles for employees?
•     Changing requirements: What effects do digitalization, new technologies, and market shifts have on job profiles, for example?
•     Limits of predictability: What role do personal dreams, private interests, and actively pursued opportunities play in one's professional career? 

The moderated, informal exchange during a joint lunch from 12 to 14 hrs also offers space for individual questions. 

You can register until 20 April 2026 via the following link: https://eveeno.com/dialogue2026.

(To provide you with a comfortable registration process, we work with our service partner, eveeno. eveeno works in accordance with the basic EU data protection regulation (DSGVO). Your data will not be passed on to third parties and will only be processed by Research Academy/RUB Research School).

Topics and Guests:

2025: "Employees of the future"2024 (Guest: Katja van Doren, Chief Human Resources Officer, RWE AG) // Read also the report on Linkedin
2024: "Personalentwicklung im Fokus" (Guest: Dr. Simone Kunz, Vorständin der VIACTIV Krankenkasse) // Read also the report on Linkedin
2022: "Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten in politisch relevanten Handlungsfeldern" (Guest: Dr. Dirk Günnewig, State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia)
2020: "Arbeitswelt 4.0 – Wie verändert die Digitalisierung die Arbeitswelt?" (Guest: Michael Guggemos, Managing Director Hans Böckler Foundation)
2019: "Fach- oder Führungskarriere?" (Guest: Dr. Uli Paetzel, Chairman of the Executive Board at Emscher­genossenschaft/Lippeverband)
2017: "Von der Universität ins Wirtschaftsleben" (Guest: Dr. Ulrich Küsthardt, Chief Innovation Officer at Evonik Industries AG)
2016: "Karriereentwicklung in Unternehmen" (Guest: Rick Johnson, Director ROG Finance and Member of the Management Board at BP Gelsenkirchen)
2013: "Führungsqualifikation erwirbt man nicht am Schreibtisch" (Guest: Thomas Sattelberger, former Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director at Deutsche Telekom AG)
2012: "Geld ist für die Menschen da!" (Guest: Thomas Jorberg, Spokesman of the Board of GLS Bank)
2010: "Industriefeindlichkeit in Deutschland" (Guest: Dr. Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board at EVONIK Industries AG and President of the German Chemical Industry Association [VCI])
2009: "Corporate Responsibility of Companies" (Guest: Dr. Uwe Frank, Chairman of the Executive Board at BP Deutschland AG)