Dr. Nancy Hecker-Denschlag is a passionate Scientist, a mother of two, and currently works in Research and Development at ZEISS Medical Technology.

At 50, she had lost her job and many in her community told her: You won’t find a job at this stage in your life and career. Well, spoiler: she found more than a job, she found place to thrive as a scientist, as a leader. She has become a passionate advocate for STEM as a career path beyond academia.

Nancy is also one of the protagonists of ZEISS RealTalk – a digital format that offers authentic insights into how the company works. ZEISS RealTalk offers authentic insights into how the company works. Employees share their personal job experiences and first-hand stories – honest and unfiltered. For herCAREER, Inkeri Klomsorf, Head of Portfolio Management at ZEISS Medical Technology, invited Nancy to share her story once more, this time with a live audience. Hear Nancy talk about her work, her part-time leadership position, and the attributes of a working environment that fosters safety and innovation.

- Work 50+: Nancy openly discusses the challenges and prejudices she faced when she lost her job at 50 – and how she found a new professional home at Zeiss, proving that it's never too late to start a new role in an environment, where age and experience are valuable assets.

- Innovation through Diversity: As a physicist in R&D, Nancy applies her scientific expertise in an industrial setting. She has learned the importance of teamwork and knowledge sharing to develop innovative solutions: "We work together to develop the best product. It only works when everyone shares their knowledge and is good at what they do."

- Leadership and Role Models: Nancy believes in the power of role models, especially for women in science and technology. There still aren’t enough! As a leader, she believes in supporting others to help them reach their full potential.

Topics: #womeninscience #MINT #WomeninSTEM #Karriere50+ ‚ #HR

** Links mentioned || Weiterführende Links **

Real Talk mit Dr. Nancy Hecker-Denschlag

About herCAREER Podcast:

The herCAREER podcast provides valuable insights into business, science, politics and society, always linked to personal experiences and above all from a female perspective. The podcast features a variety of presenters and guests from different companies, editorial teams and working environments, offering listeners a wide range of practical experiences. https://www.her-career.com/en/podcast

Projektleitung: Natascha Hoffner