Claudia Kneifel: “Why don’t you write a book!”

Claudia Kneifel writes as a journalist for the regional and national sections of the Main-Post and is also the author of the book “Verliebt, vertraut, verrechnet.” Since its publication, her visibility has increased significantly and she has been networking much more. She is now a sought-after speaker and is invited to book readings across Germany.

Claudia, do you think women and men are equally visible in a professional context?

I am a journalist, and in journalism, men dominate editor-in-chief positions. Men are simply more visible in our industry and do more networking. Of course, there are some well-known female TV journalists such as Maybrit Illner or Sandra Maischberger. I believe something is currently changing, and women’s visibility is increasing. For example, Theresa Bücker writes a lot about equality, and many other female journalists have recently published books on finance and equality. On the other hand, there are authors like Alexandra Zykunov, who provide facts and figures in their books “Wir sind doch alle längst gleichberechtigt!” and “Was wollt ihr denn noch alles?”

There are various industries. Is unequal opportunity between women and men only an issue in journalism?

No, I think it exists in almost every sector, apart from maybe the social or health sector. In finance, there are the Fondsfrauen. I find it great that you work on equality in the financial industry and encourage women to support each other and to network. Through your work, women become more visible and more connected.

Why do you think visibility is important in professional life?

I only thought about it when you sent me these questions. Women draw less attention to themselves than men. But visibility at work is extremely important because it is the only way to receive recognition and therefore achieve success.

How did your visibility change through your book?

Through the book I wrote, I was perceived differently among my colleagues and became much more visible. Many said, “What, Claudia has written a book now?” Then I went to the book fair and reported on it. I definitely became more visible.

What can people do to increase their visibility and build a better network?

Thanks to social media, it is much easier today to become visible than it was in the past. It is relatively low-threshold. You take a few photos of yourself and write something, simply presenting yourself. This helps you expand your network.

Are you active there? And how much work is it?

Yes, I am on Instagram and LinkedIn. But of course, good posts require work. If you want to write more than just “I am excited to attend this or that event,” you need to think of interesting topics and create fitting content. I am lucky that my daughter helps me. She is 19 and truly a social media pro. She has already shown me several little tricks.

What else can women do to become more visible and better connected?

Aside from social media, conferences are a great platform because each relevant industry gathers there. At conferences, I notice that women are not given nearly the same amount of speaking time as men, whether as speakers or on panels. Women should insist much more on being allowed to contribute as well. However, women also participate far less in Q&A sessions, even though they could.

On that note, do you always find the questions men ask after presentations impressive?

No, sometimes yes, sometimes no. But often not really.

Why do you think women are given less speaking time than men?

Women like working from home. But if you are always at home, visibility becomes difficult. Women should go out more, attend events, speak up, and engage with people. Being visible and networking is real work.

Some women do not dare to speak up. What advice would you give them?

Prepare a few topics well, then make sure you bring them up during conferences. When well prepared, less extroverted women have more confidence than if they were to speak spontaneously.

Are there typical “women’s” and “men’s” topics in journalism?

Topics like social issues, family, care work, and education are considered women's issues, while politics, business, and finance are seen as classic men's topics. Politics and business are considered “hard,” “relevant,” and “career-promoting.” Social issues, caregiving, education, and care work are seen as “soft,” “nice but not system-relevant,” even though our entire system depends on them. I am glad that I found a good niche with the topic of pensions, which I really enjoy.
Soziales, Pflege, Bildung, Care-Arbeit gelten als „weich“, „nett, aber nicht systemrelevant“ – obwohl unser gesamtes System darauf basiert. Ich bin froh, dass ich mit dem Thema Rente eine gute Nische gefunden habe, die mir noch dazu richtig viel Spaß macht.

Your book “Verliebt, vertraut, verrechnet” was recently published. Does this book increase your visibility?

Absolutely. I encourage every woman who enjoys writing to write a book. It is also a lot of fun. Since my book was published, I have been booked more often for readings and events. The book has not only increased my visibility, but it also allows me to meet new people in different cities.

Was visibility one of your considerations when you started this book project?

No, I did not see that connection beforehand. I did not think much about what might change once the book was published. Actually, I had never thought very much about the topic of visibility at all.

Do people approach you, or do you actively do something for it?

The book is a good starting point, but people do not automatically come to me just because it exists. I actively do press work, and the word “work” is key. I contact the press and explain how important the topic of women and finance is. I also hold readings in various cities, and I invest a lot of time in it.

Are there any do’s and don’ts that women should keep in mind when trying to increase their visibility?

I advise all women to think about visibility and not underestimate the topic. Look at where you are already visible and where you could do more. It is helpful to ask yourself every few months, “How visible am I? Where can I present myself better so that my strengths are more clearly seen?”

Thank you very much for these great visibility tips, Claudia.

Book Review: Verliebt, vertraut, verrechnet. Erfolgreiche Altersvorsorge für Frauen ab 50

 

Photo: ©Benito Borschel

 

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