Source: Energy & Management Powernews, September 16, 2022
Pioneering spirit, sense of responsibility, empathy: The Chairwoman of the Management Board of DEW21 stands for everything that makes good management. Now she was awarded for it.
Men are silent. For suits, dominant in the management floors of the energy industry, a rather unusual exercise. But the direction of the energy managers conference in Dortmund proved a fine sense with the decision to entrust a woman with the eulogy about a woman. Top functionary Kerstin Andreae was it reserved to honor top manager Heike Heim for her honor to the "energy manager of the year".
The chief executive of the Federal association of the German energy and water economy (BDEW) made in the beginning however no large fuss around the unequal sex relationship in the guidance circles. She focused on Heike Heim's performance as chairwoman of the management board of Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21).
Andreae, in the tower of the Dortmunder U - a striking former brewery site - highlighted Heim's pioneering spirit, her commitment to a modern organizational culture and her willingness to "take on responsibility beyond the company." Andreae experiences the head of the Dortmund utility as a pioneer because, since taking office in July 2017, she has taken DEW21 beyond its traditional tasks to advance in the areas of sustainability and climate neutrality, customer centricity and digital sovereignty.
According to Andreae, Heim's ideas are exemplary, particularly in the "supreme discipline" of heat supply, which is crucial for climate neutrality. Dortmund is developing various projects. In cooperation with the locally based Deutsche Gasrußwerke, for example, DEW21 uses their industrial waste heat. A heat app now collects relevant data in such a way that a building-specific heat demand map is available. This facilitates network planning, sales campaigns and new customer acquisition for the utility.
"With empathy and heart"
In view of the energy crisis, it is particularly important, says Andreae, to accompany the existential fears of private individuals and tradesmen, fueled by high gas and electricity prices, "with empathy and heart." "We need personalities in the industry who are publicly visible and committed, who can explain and who are trusted." Heike Heim is such a personality, he said, because she also volunteers to give the Dortmunder Tafel, an aid organization for food donations, a prominent face as a patron.
A twelve-member jury had published its choice decision for the "Energy Manager of the Year" in June (we reported). Among 24 prize winners since 2001, Heim is only the second woman after Marie-Luise Wolff, who received the award in 2019 for her work as CEO of Entega AG. Incidentally, two dozen awards in 21 years result from the fact that in 2010, four men shared the title among themselves. For the prize, energy & management, the law firm Becker Büttner Held (BBH) and the management consultancy m3 management consulting work together.
That it is not a matter of course to lead an energy supplier as a woman, Andreae was then still worth a few important syllables. "You have been sensationally successful in asserting yourself as a woman in the industry." Heim accompanied and initiated women's networks, sending signals to young women to get involved in the "exciting industry."
Concerted action needed by politicians, suppliers and utilities
Him remained modest in her replica. She highlighted the team effort for which she ultimately takes credit. "This is a huge recognition for the way we are going together as DEW21." She let it be known through a whimsical anecdote that it makes her personally extraordinarily happy. When Helmut Sendner, publisher of Energy & Management and inventor of the award, informed her about the jury's decision, "the phone fell out of my hand."
In conversation with Christian Held (BBH) and Christof Spangenberg (m3), Heike Heim expressed her hope to "get a grip" on the effects of the price shock on the energy markets in the interests of customers and for the good of society. For this, however, a concerted action of politics, suppliers and utilities is necessary.
Finally, deep gratitude still spoke out of Heike Heim. When asked by E&M editor-in-chief Stefan Sagmeister how she was actually shouldering the burden, she also said, "My dear husband has my back." A sentence, which resonates, because one hears it in the energy industry in this form just not too often.
More information to the price "The energy manager of the year - competition for high-level personnel of the energy industry" is in the Internet.
Author: Volker Stephan
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