3 minute read
One Needs To Accept Support
Angelika Schindler-Obenhaus worked at Horten, SinnLeffers, Boecker, and CBR before joining Bielefeld-based KATAG in 2005. She has been a board member of the system services provider for the fashion industry since 2010.
As a member of the board of KATAG, Angelika Schindler-Obenhaus is one of the few women in German fashion who manages more than a billion in turnover. She has had a decisive impact on the restructuring process of the ancillary textile services provider. Text: Martina Müllner-Seybold. Photo: KATAG AG
“My career would no longer be possible today,” says Angelika Schindler-Obenhaus. Instead of a master’s degree, the businesswoman brings a classic education within the textile industry to the table. She worked as a retail saleswoman, retail assistant, and department manager. She also went from being a branch assistant to working as a buyer. “More often than not, I was the first woman in the respective positions,” Schindler-Obenhaus adds. “All my mentors were men; some of them gave me more credit than I gave myself.” She seized every single opportunity with courage, worked hard, and displayed what she calls female perfectionism. “Slowly but surely, I’m learning to let go of the latter and to delegate from time to time. I’m still far too involved in operational aspects,” laughs the woman who has been on the board of Europe’s leading provider of system services to the fashion industry since 2010. She is in charge of vertical systems, purchasing, IT, sales, and marketing, as well as sourcing and procurement. She is thus responsible for key positions that have contributed to KATAG’s transformation from a somewhat dusty purchasing organisation into a modern service provider. Schindler-Obenhaus poured her heart and soul into the 14 own brands and their trading-up. “Many of our retail partners, such as Konen and L&T, traded up, which had to be taken into account by our own brands. There were initial plans to buy a brand, but I asked for the permission to prove that we can operate in the premium sector ourselves.”
Breaking with Old Structures Not least because of her work for CBR Group, Schindler-Obenhaus has a lot of experience in setting up and operating vertically integrated systems. With a healthy dose of gut feeling and courage in terms of both branding and sourcing, she managed to convince KATAG. “(THE MERCER) N.Y. is clearly one of our figureheads; I’m particularly proud of that.” In terms of marketing, she has established close ties with Glam-o-Meter’s Annette Weber and Victoria Rader. (THE MERCER) N.Y. also produces their small fashion collection. “Annette is one of those women whose career inspires me and with whom I can practice real networking. We help each other to be more successful.” According to the board member, this is probably the biggest drawback for women with career ambitions. “We simply don’t have the same network as men in similar positions.” Networks are, however, indispensable once one reaches a certain level in one’s profession. “KATAG is downright exemplary in this respect. Dr Daniel Terberger offered me a lot of support and allowed me to do my thing, even though my job didn’t necessarily make me the most popular employee at the beginning.” Schindler-Obenhaus saw it as her task to break with old structures. What is seen as a success story today, required many tough decisions. “However, I believe women are often better at making tough calls, because they remain empathetic as leaders.” She is also more than happy to pass on her experience. “67 percent of our employees are female and we train many women. Unfortunately, many women decide against accepting encouragement and support. At the end of the day, one needs to be willing to accept support.”
