News:Our women at STRABAG Real Estate

Our focus is on meeting the needs of the people who work, live, stay or shop in our buildings. In the design and development of our projects, our colleagues are an important source of creative ideas and innovative approaches. We have 49% women in the STRABAG Real Estate team, who contribute their expertise on a daily basis in various areas and positions.

It is especially important for us as a company to recognize their efforts and share their stories not only today but every day of the year.

5 Questions for Katrin Schula

Katrin, when did you join STRABAG Real Estate?

I joined STRABAG Real Estate in November 2022, so I'm one of the newest faces here at the company.

What are your tasks in the company?

As a People & Culture Partner, I accompany my colleagues as a strategic and operational partner in recruiting, development and change processes.

What was your personal highlight in the last weeks?

My personal highlight is the people I have been privileged to work with since I started a few months ago. Another highlight was the international People & Culture Meeting at the end of last year, where I was able to get to know the entire People & Culture community beyond our corporate division.

What do you wish for International Women's Day?

Unfortunately, women are still underrepresented in the construction and real estate industry. In my role as People & Culture Partner, I hope to accompany many female colleagues in their careers at STRABAG Real Estate in the coming years.

How do you recharge your batteries in your free time?

Good food with family and friends, a walk in the nature and sports in the fitness center are part of every relaxing weekend for me.

5 Questions for Simone Walser

Simone, when did you join STRABAG Real Estate?

I joined the company in 2008. After having been responsible for the overall project management of a major project in a renowned architectural firm for several years, the change of job was the next logical career step for me.

What are your tasks in the company?

As Head of Innovation Management, I am responsible for the areas of sustainability and digitalization. This involves the strategic transformation of our company and the further development of our projects. Particularly in our buildings, digitization and sustainability must be harmonized. I'm driven by the question of the balance between high-tech and supposedly low-tech, and the contribution that digitization can make to sustainability.

It is important to note that not every additional sensor automatically leads to more sustainability. Careful consideration and consideration of sufficiency is needed. A good example of this is a digital parking management system that not only increases user satisfaction, but also optimizes the utilization of underground parking and as a result reduces the need for additional parking spaces.

When planning projects, digital solutions like generative design can help achieve more sustainable development. Not only parameters for sustainability over the entire life cycle, but also user comfort criteria should be taken into account in order to find an optimal balance between sustainability and user satisfaction.

What was your personal highlight in the last weeks?

It is just as important to stay operationally current as it is to develop strategic policies. For this reason, I recently acquired certification as a DGNB consultant. This way, I can ensure that I am informed about the latest developments in the field of sustainable building certification and can advise my clients in the best possible way.

What do you wish for International Women's Day?

On this day, we should especially focus on the women of the world, whose road to an equal life and equal rights is still long. The manifold crises that exist around the world particularly affect women and have a significant impact on their lives. Although there are still people who sneer at the idea of a “feminist foreign policy”, it is high time to advocate more strongly for women's concerns and put their needs first.

How do you recharge your batteries in your free time?

I always try to cycle to and from work. I also like to go for walks, which helps me sort out my thoughts. In addition, I have been practicing yoga for almost 20 years. Last but not least, I have a very great man by my side.

5 Questions for Tanja Gahr

Tanja, when did you join STRABAG Real Estate?

I started my career in Sales at STRABAG Real Estate in January 2021. The job posting left the first lasting impression on me. After my pleasant interview and fun coffee date with the Sales team, I was sure I had found the right place for me.

What are your tasks in the company?

My business card says "Residential Sales Consultant." This means that I get to make apartment hunters happy and accompany them on their way to their dream apartment. I see my main task at least in this, but my scope of duties is very versatile, which is what I particularly like about my job. From office work to handing over the keys, it covers a very broad spectrum.

What was your personal highlight in the last weeks?

My personal highlight in the last weeks and months was to be able to watch our residential project Taborama at the Nordbahnhof from the office window and to see it "grow".

What do you wish for International Women's Day?

I would like to see more women in leadership positions in the near future. Unfortunately, we are still heavily underrepresented in this area, even though we have some great female personalities in the Group. The construction industry is still dominated by men, something definitely needs to change.

How do you recharge your batteries in your free time?

I enjoy my free time with family and friends with a glass of wine and good food. I'm also a big fan of going to the movies.

5 Questions for Katharina S. Horsthemke

Katharina, when did you join STRABAG Real Estate?

I joined STRABAG Real Estate in April 2018. As an architect, I wanted to contribute my services to project development and under the umbrella of an innovative as well as experienced brand. In my position I can combine responsibility, working with a great team and creating exciting projects.

From the idea to the new property or even to the complete neighborhood development - our claim and drive is to fully utilize the entire added value of each project development and to find the optimal solutions for the users' needs.

What are your tasks in the company?

I am a project developer with a technical focus in the Rhine metropolis of Cologne. Currently, I am responsible for the project management of the construction project "Mattes und Düxx" in Cologne-Deutz on behalf of STRABAG Real Estate as the developer. Together with our general contractor Züblin, my interdisciplinary team and I are coordinating an office ensemble consisting of two building structures. Sustainability is a living principle in our project: Examples include the use of geothermal energy, low-carbon concrete, and the pursuit of the DGNB gold certification.

What was your personal highlight in the last weeks?

This week, the first windows were delivered in the shell of "Mattes". The property thus acquires an increasingly distinct face and becomes more and more a part of its surroundings.

What do you wish for International Women's Day?

To move closer to the goal of International Women's Day and that this will bring about international equality for all people - not just women.

How do you recharge your batteries in your free time?

To balance my mentally very demanding job, I like to learn new things in my spare time: from archery to quantum physics. And whenever I can, I like to spend my free time on the water.

5 Questions for Theodora-Ruxandra Gheorghe

Thea, when did you join STRABAG Real Estate?

I joined the company in January 2020. I was looking for my first full-time job after graduating from college. Some of my friends have already had careers with various construction companies and have told me about their tasks and activities. That appealed to me and my job vision became more concrete. I thought it would be exciting to be part of a corporate group and to be able to communicate with many different departments over a short period of time.

What are your tasks in the company?

I am responsible for acquisition at STRABAG Real Estate. This ranges from reviewing broker offers, property evaluations, budget preparation to land acquisition. In my position, I interface with different areas in the company.

What was your personal highlight in the last weeks?

My biggest personal highlight was passing the property developer exam last October.

What do you wish for International Women's Day?

That in the future, issues such as the gender pay gap, parental leave and an artificially induced women's quota should no longer play a role.

How do you recharge your batteries in your free time?

Sport, friendship and family are very important to me.