You can only achieve goals if you have them

“I am pleased about every single woman who feels encouraged by me to step for-ward and to focus on what she wants to achieve”, says Ursula Deschka. The 40-year-old is CEO of ERGO Krankenversicherung AG and a member of various board committees at subsidiaries of ERGO Group AG. Since January 1st 2020, she is responsible for ERGO’s health insurance activities in Germany. In the health area, ERGO is, with around 6 million customers, one of the leading players in the market.

What motivates you?

My personal motivation was, and still is, to understand what customers want. It is a great help to have worked in sales myself at the beginning of my career and to have learned there what our customers and sales partners expect of us. Every day, I enjoy working to ensure that we continue to inspire them.

Do you have a life motto?

Well, in a professional context, my motto is “You can only achieve goals if you have them”. I believe you can only succeed if you have a clear idea of what it is you actually want to achieve.

In my private life, a quote from Ernst Ferstl echoes the way I feel: “Satisfaction is a peaceful garden in which you can relax”. I find satisfaction when I have time for myself, my friends and my family. And I also need those periods of rest to be able to bring the full commitment necessary when I come back to work.

Why do you do what you do?

I am deeply convinced that women have many qualities to offer in management – and yet women are still rarely found in the higher ranks of companies. Also in the financial sector.

In my opinion, there are two main reasons for that. First, many women do not fully exploit their potential and do not have (enough) confidence in their abilities. Second, management also has a duty to offer women sufficient opportunities to show what they can do and develop their qualities.

ERGO itself sets a great example, but on a personal level I also want to inspire and motivate my female colleagues to believe in themselves and have the confidence to take responsibility. As one of the few female board members in the insurance industry, I am very happy to serve as an example, encourage women and show them that they can function just as well as a manager as they can as a technician. I am doing that in many ways: through presentations, interviews and panel discussions, but even better through bilateral coaching and mentoring. I want to show them that it’s possible – you can do it!

What has been your happiest moment in this context?

There have been several. I am most pleased about every single woman who feels encouraged by me to step forward and focus on what she wants to achieve.

Thank you for talking to us.