Initiative Chef:innensache

What Initiative Chef:innensache does

Initiative Chef:innensache is a Berlin-based, German-registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein, Initiative Chef:innensache e.V.) founded in 2015 to advance gender equality and increase the representation of women in leadership positions in Germany. Operating with a small core team of about seven people under former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's patronage, the initiative functions as an executive-led peer network of roughly 20–30 large German corporations and public institutions — including Allianz, BASF, Bayer, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, McKinsey, RWE, EnBW, IBM Deutschland, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, and ZEIT — together with government bodies such as the Bundesministerium der Verteidigung and the Bundesnachrichtendienst.

Its portfolio of offerings is delivered free of charge and centers on advocacy, training, research, and peer exchange. Core 'products' include an interactive Unconscious Bias online test and accompanying online training (originally developed by McKinsey), the annual Chef:innensache-Award presented at the ZEIT Wirtschaftsforum, the Female Founders Mentoring Program for the startup ecosystem, a quarterly 'Wandel im Kopf' newsletter, the Inclusion Pulse Check assessment, and the Flex-Report produced with the McKinsey Global Institute. The flagship Chef:innensache Jahreskonferenz is held annually in Berlin, with past themes including 'Neue Führung für Chancengerechtigkeit' (2017), 'Neue Karrieren, vielfältige Führung' (2022), 'Future Leaders' (2025), and 'Mut zur Macht. Frauen an die Spitze' (2026); the 2017 inaugural conference drew approximately 250 senior decision-makers from business, politics, science, culture, and media.

The business model is non-commercial: there is no product pricing, no subscription revenue, and no disclosed funding rounds. The association is sustained through member-organization participation, in-kind contributions (notably from McKinsey as website data processor and from ZEIT as media partner), and event/program sponsorships. In December 2024, the initiative reorganized into an independent registered association to entrench its long-term institutional mandate.

Name

Initiative Chef:innensache

Legal name

Initiative Chef:innensache e.V.

Website

https://chefinnensache.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Initiative Chef:innensache is a Berlin-based non-profit association founded in 2015 that unites roughly 20–30 leading German corporations and public institutions in a network advancing gender equality and women's representation in leadership. It delivers free unconscious-bias training, annual conferences, research, and mentoring programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advocacy

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

DEI, Inclusive Leadership & Cultural Intelligence Coaching (EDABANAJ)

Keywords

• Gender equality advocacy
• Women leadership programs
• Diversity inclusion network
• Unconscious bias training
• Corporate diversity network

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Initiative Chef:innensache is a non-profit association that operates an executive-led network of major German corporations and public institutions to advance gender equality in leadership positions. It delivers this mission through free advocacy programs, including an Unconscious Bias online test and training, the Female Founders Mentoring Program, the annual Chef:innensache Award, an annual flagship conference, a quarterly newsletter, and research publications such as the Inclusion Pulse Check and Flex-Report.

Product overview

Initiative Chef:innensache is a non-profit association (e.V.) focused on promoting gender equality and diversity in leadership positions in Germany. The initiative offers a portfolio of advocacy tools and resources including the Unconscious Bias Test (interactive online assessment), Unconscious Bias Training (educational program), the annual Chef:innensache Award (recognition program), the Female Founders Mentoring Program (mentorship), the annual conference (networking event), the quarterly 'Wandel im Kopf' newsletter, research publications like the Inclusion Pulse Check and Flex-Report, and a Best Practice toolkit. The offerings work together to advance the initiative's mission of achieving equal opportunities for women and men in leadership positions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Unconscious Bias Test (Chef:innensache-Test)

Quantifiable outcome

• A McKinsey study cited by the initiative found that greater gender equality could add 12 percent to Germany's GDP by 2025.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rheingans Digital Enabler (Friends of Chef:innensache)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Rheingans Digital Enabler, a consulting firm for digital transformation, is a 'Friend of Chef:innensache'. It implements a 5-hour workday for all employees as a model for equal opportunity, and actively advocates for the initiative's mission.
• MeetNow! GmbH (Friends of Chef:innensache)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019MeetNow!, a software and digital transformation company founded in 2009, is a 'Friend of Chef:innensache'. It provides flat hierarchies and equal development opportunities as part of its commitment to gender equality.
• Notfallmamas (Friends of Chef:innensache)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Notfallmamas provides emergency childcare services and is a 'Friend of Chef:innensache', advocating for the breaking of traditional gender roles and equal opportunities in the workplace.
• Tandemploy GmbH (Award Winner 2017)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Tandemploy won the Chef:innensache-Award in 2017. It is an online platform enabling job-sharing and joint job applications, with approximately 5,000 applicants and 70 companies using its software. It was awarded for its innovative approach to making work more flexible and family-friendly.
• Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018dpa is a 'Friend of Chef:innensache'. Four of nine dpa management positions (executive board, editor-in-chief, HR, and sales) are held by women. dpa enables flexible part-time arrangements and trust-based working hours (Vertrauensarbeitszeit) to support work-life integration.
• Female Resources (Award Winner 2018)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Female Resources is a Cologne-based alliance of 14 companies (including Dumont Mediengruppe, Rewe, Ströer, WDR) that won the 2018 Chef:innensache-Award. The alliance uses 'Cross Mentoring' to connect mentors across companies and has published a manual with 300 measures and best practices for gender equality.
• Pro Exzellenzia 4.0 (Award Winner)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Pro Exzellenzia 4.0 won the Chef:innensache-Award. This Hamburg-based scholarship and qualification program supports female graduates, PhD candidates, and postdocs in their career development. It has awarded 90 scholarships and reached over 950 women through qualification programs, with funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
• Civey (Survey Partner)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Civey is the independent polling institute that conducts the initiative's semi-annual representative surveys on career ambitions, gender bias, and flexible work in Germany, providing data-driven insights that are published as press releases and reports.
• Allianz Deutschland AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Allianz is a member organization of Initiative Chef:innensache, contributing to the network's mission of advancing gender equality and women's representation in leadership positions. Allianz participates in the initiative's conferences, surveys, and best-practice exchange. The organization's HR leadership has publicly endorsed the initiative's goals.
• BASF SEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015BASF is a member organization committed to increasing the share of women in leadership. The company has set a target of 30% women in leadership by 2030 and has raised its share from under 20% in 2015 to 27.2% – sharing its progress and practices as a best-practice case within the initiative.
• Bayer AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Bayer participates as a member and has established a global Steering Committee chaired by the CEO to advance gender balance in management. The company's top-down approach to the topic is cited as a best practice within the initiative.
• Deutsche Bahn AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Deutsche Bahn is a member and one of the initiative's most active participants. The DB has published a Diversity Report ('Einziganders'), raised its share of women in leadership from 20.1% (2018) to 27% (2022), set a 30% women-in-leadership target for 2024, and celebrates an annual Women's Month. DB's HR and Diversity leadership actively contributes to the initiative's conferences and programs.
• Deutsche Telekom AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Deutsche Telekom is a member and was the host of the initiative's first annual conference in 2017 at its Berlin representative office. Telekom has a self-imposed 30% women-in-leadership quota and runs a 'Supervisory Board Readiness' program for women. CEO and HR leadership are active advocates within the initiative.
• Siemens AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Siemens has been a member for 11 years and has established the Chief Diversity Officer role directly reporting to the business. With over 80 active global diversity networks, a global diversity scorecard with KPIs, and more than 100 diversity awards since 2004, Siemens is a flagship member of the initiative.
• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015McKinsey is the responsible entity for data processing on the initiative's website and serves as a founding driving force of the initiative. McKinsey provides research, studies (e.g., 'Diversity Wins', 'Women Matter'), unconscious bias training tools, and consulting support to the initiative and its members.
• ZEIT Verlag (DIE ZEIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015ZEIT is both a member and a key media partner, co-organizing the annual ZEIT Wirtschaftsforum where the Chef:innensache-Award is presented. ZEIT has achieved 50% women in leadership, the highest in the German media industry, and has covered the initiative extensively through reporting and the 'Chef:innensache' editorial series.
• Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (BMVg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The German Federal Ministry of Defence is a member organization. As of 2018, former Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen was a vocal advocate within the initiative. The Bundeswehr, under the ministry, has worked to increase the share of women in leadership (at approximately 11% at the time of joining) through diverse team approaches.
• IBM Deutschland GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IBM is a member and was a co-founder of the initiative. IBM Germany's leadership (including Martina Koederitz as founding co-chair and Norbert Janzen as current HR lead) has been actively involved in driving the initiative's agenda, including organizing panels at the 'Zukunft Personal' trade fair.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Fraunhofer is a member and has placed gender equality at the top of its organizational agenda. The society runs a Diversity Audit 'Vielfalt gestalten' (since 2013) that has certified 76 universities, with 11 more in the audit process.
• RWE AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015RWE is a member and is undergoing a major corporate transformation. With approximately 15,500 employees worldwide, RWE is committed to maximum diversity to drive the energy transition and has set targets for increasing the share of women in leadership.
• Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015EnBW is a member, with its HR leadership actively participating in the initiative's conferences and panels. The company faces particular challenges as a technology-oriented enterprise but has committed to increasing the share of women in leadership.
• DHL Group (Deutsche Post DHL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015DHL Group/Deutsche Post is a member with HR leadership (Thomas Ogilvie, Personalvorstand) actively engaged in the initiative. DHL promotes equal participation in society, politics, and business as part of its diversity and inclusion agenda.
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) joined as a member, with Cornelia Folz (VP Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability) additionally serving on the initiative's board as a Vorständin. CCEP raised its share of women in management from 25.1% (2016) to 32.6% (2022).
• Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015LBBW is a member. Stefanie Münz, member of the LBBW board, is quoted on the initiative's website as a vocal advocate for diversity and gender equality in leadership.
• Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The German Federal Intelligence Service is a member of the initiative, participating in its programs to advance gender equality and diversity within the intelligence service.
• RheinEnergie AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015RheinEnergie is a member energy company. Susanne Fabry, Netzvorständin and Arbeitsdirektorin, serves as the chair (Vorsitzende) of the initiative's registered association (e.V.) board.
• Deutsche Börse AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Deutsche Börse is a member organization of the initiative, contributing to its mission of advancing gender equality in German corporate leadership.
• HENSOLDT AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015HENSOLDT is a member and has implemented 'Unconscious Bias Learning Journeys' as part of its diversity strategy, which has been featured as a best practice on the initiative's website.
• KION GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015KION Group is a member organization participating in the initiative's programs and events for gender equality in leadership.
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Stifterverband is a member and operates the 'Diversity Audit Vielfalt gestalten' certification program for universities and research institutions. It has certified 76 universities and has partnered with the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen on a 'Diversity Tool Box' for smaller non-profit organizations.
• Johnson & JohnsoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Johnson & Johnson is a member organization of the initiative, contributing to its diversity and gender equality agenda.
• Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co. KG (DIE ZEIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015ZEIT Verlag has achieved 50% women in leadership – a top position in the German media industry. The company was awarded the Helga-Stödter-Preis by Handelskammer Hamburg in 2017 for its family-friendly policies. Dr. Rainer Esser, Geschäftsführer, serves on the initiative's award jury and is a member of the Stiftungsrat of the AllBright Stiftung.
• Aktion MenschcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Aktion Mensch is a social organization member. Armin von Buttlar, its board member, co-presented the initiative at its first conference and participates in the award jury. Aktion Mensch published the 'Inklusionsbarometer' and has partnered with Stifterverband on the 'Diversity Tool Box'.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/initiativechefinnensache

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Initiative Chef:innensache