Women's quota and co.

Oberbank CEO: “We men need clear messages”

"Our words have been followed by deeds, but it was a Herculean task," says Oberbank CEO Franz Gasselsberger. Isabella Lehner has been a member of the bank's Management Board since May 2023.(Bild: Krone KREATIV, Oberbank/Sabine Kneidinger, Harald Dostal)

"Are we talking about what measures we still want to take, or is something happening?" Oberbank CEO Franz Gasselsberger ahead of the upcoming International Women's Day on the "yes" to women's quotas, a change in thinking and the domino effect at the bank based in Linz.

"Women's Day must no longer be misused for bold announcements, but must encourage us to rethink old patterns," says Franz Gasselsberger, who is hosting an event at the Donau-Forum on March 7 to mark International Women's Day with the "Krone" newspaper. Before that, the Oberbank CEO spoke about...

• The effect of a women's quota: "We men simply need clear announcements. A mandatory women's management quota is such an announcement. Even though I was ridiculed at first, I am now proud that we introduced this quota almost five years ago, that we want to have 40% women in management positions by 2030. That alone won't help. It also needs credible measures."

• Necessary persuasion: "Women are particularly critical and question much more. You won't get anywhere with insubstantial announcements. It has to be noticeable that a change in thinking is actually happening. This is happening with us."

• The domino effect of the appointment of Isabella Lehner to the Management Board: "This has triggered an incredible wave among the women in the bank, who see that they can become anything here. This encourages us to continue on this course."

• Challenges: "The sticking points in women's careers are still the children and the associated part-time phase, which many of them never finish. We need to address this and relieve women of the burden of family work."