Breaking down barriers: Silke’s journey with Women2Lead

A journey of growth and discovery.

Silke Ehmann-Cotichini has been part of Konica Minolta since 2012, starting as a Corporate Communications Specialist and working her way up to Team Leader in Branding, Content & Communications within International Marketing. Her role involves working closely with various internal and global teams, supporting European and international initiatives, and connecting with colleagues worldwide. 

Last year, she was offered an exciting opportunity - she was nominated for the Women2Lead (W2L) program, which is designed to empower female leaders. “I had no idea what to expect,” admits Silke. “But my curiosity and the chance to grow made it an easy yes!” 

What made the program special?

Over nine months, Silke embarked on an intense learning journey, tackling online courses and self-reflection exercises, as well as business assessments, such as a simulation in which she had to provide the CEO of a fictitious company with advice on business strategy.  

The W2L learning journey is designed to achieve a balance between psychological safety and exploration. It covers three forms of leadership: leading self, leading people and leading business. Candidates are selected from different regions, career phases and age groups to ensure there are plenty of opportunities to learn from each other, coach each other, and connect and co-shape a mutual learning journey. 

An eye-opener for Silke were the self- and external assessments. “I underestimated myself compared to how my colleagues saw me. Realizing that others had more confidence in me than I did was a huge boost,” she says. The program, led by IMD Business School, introduces the concept of ambidexterity—balancing so-called perform and transform behaviors, both of which are equally important for leaders who must navigate the demands of today’s environment and deliver high performance, both today and tomorrow. “I learned that I’m a strong developer of talent with an emphasis on participative decision-making and holistic work analysis," says Silke. "I also learned there’s room for improvement when it comes to strengthening my networking knowledge and change management skills, to make me even more effective at driving complex change and strategic influence across the organization.” Not all of this was new to Silke, but her own impressions were supported by facts and other people's perceptions. 

A key highlight was working with international colleagues. During a four-week project, Silke collaborated with participants from the USA, Brazil and Singapore on a business case for a Swiss bank. “The diversity of ideas was inspiring. Seeing different approaches broadened my perspective,” she shares. 

Pushing boundaries.

The program pushed Silke out of her comfort zone. Whether it was financial accounting (a topic she admits wasn’t a key strength) or high-pressure group exercises, each challenge helped drive growth. “In one exercise, we weren’t allowed to share certain resources even though other teams needed them. It forced us to think creatively and negotiate differently,” she explains. The experience made her realize there are times when she needs to voice her opinions more strongly.  

At the end of the whole program, all participants got to present their learnings and commitments towards future growth to Konica Minolta Inc.’s global President & CEO, Tom Taiko – a unique opportunity for the Women2Lead participants. “We all really appreciated the attention Mr. Taiko gave us and the level of detail he dedicated to our sessions,” Silke shares. “He engaged with us and asked each one of us individual questions – another sign of how committed the company is towards the program and us as individuals. This, I believe, is exceptional and by no means a matter of course for such a large company. And of course, another way to grow and push boundaries.”

Why women-only leadership programs are still needed.

Initially, Silke wasn’t sure how she felt about a leadership program exclusively for women. “I questioned whether we still needed gender-specific programs. Wouldn’t true equality mean mixed leadership development initiatives, which Konica Minolta has been running for years?” she wondered. But her perspective changed as she progressed through the program. 

“The reality is that women still don’t always have the same opportunities or visibility as men in leadership,” she explains. “The program gave us a safe space to talk openly about the unique challenges we face as women. Although we strive for equality, we’re simply not there yet. Programs like Women2Lead are crucial to bridging the gap and giving women the tools and confidence to step up.” 

By the end of the program, Silke’s skepticism had turned into strong advocacy. “I now see the value of having a space where women can uplift and empower each other. It’s not about exclusion - it’s about equipping women with the skills, mindset, and support to drive real change.” 

Looking ahead: what’s next?

As part of the program, Silke created an Individual Development Plan (IDP), setting both short- and long-term goals. “In the short term, I want to be more strategic about networking and get better at delegating operational tasks. Long term, I’d love to take on a more global or functional role.” 

Her greatest ambition? Creating a workplace where people feel valued. “My vision is to establish a wider environment of mentoring and positivity - not just within our team - and to create a more human, open, and agile company.” she says. Beyond being a team leader, Silke sees herself as a mentor and supporter. “Sometimes we think purpose has to be something grand, but I realize now it’s also in the small things we do every day,” she reflects. “For me, purpose means creating a work environment where everyone in our team feels valued, supported, and empowered to act and grow.” 

And while Silke's leadership style hasn’t changed, her confidence in it has. “I feel even more certain about my approach. I’ll be focusing on expanding my network and finding new ways to contribute,” she explains. Supporting others, especially women in their careers, is something she considers second nature. “Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. Period.” 

Summing up her Women2Lead experience, Silke says: “It validated my skills, my values, and my belief in Konica Minolta’s commitment to diversity and the future.” What she loved most? “The people. There are so many incredible, passionate individuals at Konica Minolta. That’s what makes all the difference.” 

Impressions from the Women2Lead programme