“No matter what your dream is—go make it happen”

“Especially as a woman—and particularly as a young woman—you have to create your own visibility,” says Nour Idelbi (BSc 2026), a successful serial entrepreneur recognized, among other honors, on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Speaking at the second WHU Girls’ Day, the WHU student takes the stage in a lecture hall on the Düsseldorf campus of WHU–Otto Beisheim School of Management to share her entrepreneurial journey. Her goal is clear: to inspire confidence. For 26 female students between the ages of 14 and 17, the day centers on exploring perspectives, finding inspiration—and reflecting on how to shape their future and achieve their goals.

The participants have traveled not only from Düsseldorf and the surrounding region, but also from cities such as Mainz, Essen, Dortmund, Kassel, and the Sauerland. Many are still undecided about their future career paths. That is precisely why the concept behind WHU’s Girls’ Day is intentionally broad: rather than focusing on specific career decisions, it aims to provide orientation—and to highlight opportunities. “What we want to convey today is that women and girls can become anything they want,” says Klaudia Wilde, organizer of WHU Girls’ Day and Director of Development & Relationship Management at WHU, in her opening remarks. The goal is for each participant to take away something personally meaningful. Accordingly, topics such as self-confidence, leadership, and navigating new technologies take center stage, complemented by personal insights into diverse career paths.

Emily Waltermann (Henkel Center for Consumer Goods) and Sophia Kohlenberg (Chair of Organizational Behavior), both doctoral candidates and research associates at WHU, share insights into their academic journeys, research, and work at the university. This is followed by a session titled “AI and Future Skills,” in which WHU Junior Professor of Organizational Behavior Roman Briker highlights both the potential and the challenges associated with artificial intelligence (AI). In an interactive workshop, Professor Pisitta Vongswasdi, Chair of Leadership and Society, explores with the participants what defines effective leadership. She also offers practical advice on handling challenging situations. “I see such moments as opportunities to learn and improve,” she says, encouraging the students to actively engage with people who are different from themselves: “Looking back, it was especially those encounters that helped me grow.”

An openness to different paths, topics, and perspectives runs throughout the day’s program and resonates strongly with participants. “For me, this is a great opportunity to explore exciting and important fields,” says tenth-grader Greta Völkel, whose brother studies at WHU. “Seeing all these different career paths is incredibly inspiring.” Helena Schilcher, also in tenth grade and from Düsseldorf, finds it particularly exciting “to meet such inspiring female role models.” She has considered starting her own business but is still unsure which path to pursue after graduating. Tessa Ulrich (ninth grade, St. Ursula Gymnasium), on the other hand, already has clear plans for her future: “I want to study business administration and go into investment banking.” WHU Girls’ Day has shown her that this path is realistic—and that there are many ways to achieve it. Other participants particularly value the new connections they have made and the realization that there is no single “right” path in life.

The event concludes with a highlight: entrepreneur and WHU student Nour Idelbi—known for her safety app SafeSpace and her beverage start-up Pop’it—shares her story. She speaks candidly about both her successes and setbacks, encouraging the students to stay committed to their ambitions. “No matter what your dream is—it’s not too big. Go make it happen,” she tells them in closing.