For nearly 70 years, the VdU’s tradition has been centered on business succession. Our founder, Käte Ahlmann, recognized the potential of female executives early on. In 1931, she took over the management of the company following the unexpected death of her husband, and when she founded the Association of German Women Entrepreneurs in 1954, she brought together exclusively female business leaders who, like her, were successors.
The founding of our network struck a chord with the spirit of the times and quickly gained popularity: Within a very short time, the association tripled its membership. Prominent female successors from the postwar era, such as Grete Schickedanz (Quelle mail-order company) and Liz Mohn (Bertelsmann), joined the VdU over the years.
To this day, many prominent company names—such as Oetker, Sixt, and Bauknecht—remain closely associated with the Association of German Women Entrepreneurs. Today, our association represents over 1,800 women-led companies—primarily small and medium-sized enterprises—in the sectors of industry, skilled trades, retail, and services. Together, our members generate annual revenue of 85 billion euros and employ 500,000 people. As a business association, we advocate for a free market economy in which women and men participate on an equal footing. Today, women entrepreneurs are natural and self-assured participants in the marketplace and should also be appropriately represented in leadership positions in the business world.
With our succession project “she succeeds – More Female Succession!”, which is part of the nationwide initiative “Business Succession—From Practice for Practice” by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, we aim to contribute to a successful generational transition and encourage future female leaders to consider business succession as an option. Above all, this requires strong role models. By presenting our “she succeeds” awards, we are building on this vision and honoring both internal and external female successors whose stories are intended to encourage other women to pursue this career path.
Succession offers a fantastic opportunity to hit the ground running with a proven business model and an established network, while at the same time leaving a personal mark and bringing your own ideas to life. This potential is also confirmed by a survey conducted by the German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DDGV): 93 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported profits despite the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating just how resilient the German SME sector is in times of crisis.
The potential that comes with taking over a business should be seized in this case:
► Established business model
As a business successor, you build upon an existing business model that already has key resources in place and gives you the opportunity to bring your own ideas and visions into the company.
► Existing customer base and business partners
You can draw on a solid network and benefit from long-standing, trusting relationships with existing partners and suppliers. This foundation allows you to focus your energy on new projects.
► Easy financing
Your primary bank is familiar with the transferring company and its financials. The available balance sheets and income statements provide a reliable foundation for further planning and negotiations with the bank.
► Trained Employees
You can rely on experienced and competent employees who work well together as a team. In addition, they possess many years of valuable knowledge and expertise.
Once the decision to acquire a company has been made, the first step is to conduct a thorough market and competitive analysis. Questions such as “Which customers will buy my products or services? What are the market trends, or are there perhaps market niches that haven’t been filled yet and offer potential?” can help you search even more specifically for the right company, which you can find, among other places, on the local business exchange. At the same time, it’s worth reaching out to existing business networks. From our many years of association work, we know how important it is to exchange ideas with like-minded people.
A network provides a space for sharing ideas and experiences on an equal footing. Through our state associations and numerous regional groups, we offer our members and interested female entrepreneurs various opportunities to support one another and build connections.
