Unleashing the power of biopharmaceuticals and people: Insights from our COO Christiane Bardroff

When Christiane Bardroff, our COO, talks about technology and people, it all adds up to a whole lot of empowerment. In an interview with SHE works!, Christiane Bardroff shared her thoughts on team, collaboration, her personal motivation and the power of biopharmaceuticals.??

Christiane Bardroff has been part of our Rentschler Biopharma family for more than a year and a half – initially as SVP Client Program Management. In November 2022, she took over her current role as Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for our global operations. This makes her one of only 8 % of women in the senior management of family-owned companies in Germany. ? ?

If she had been told in the past, that one day, she would become the COO of Rentschler Biopharma SE, she probably would not have believed it. After studying biotechnology and chemical engineering, she became more and more enthusiastic about these topics and increasingly successful on the professional front. “The passion for biopharmaceuticals inspired me, drove me and offered new perspectives, such as taking on personnel responsibility, taking over site management and setting up production sites abroad. My courage to take on (personnel) responsibility has grown during my career. I love my current job and the people I work with – as well as biotechnology with its many fascinating possibilities. All of this allows me to grow beyond myself,” she reveals.?

After working in large companies for many years, Christiane Bardroff names several aspects that motivated her to join a medium-sized family business. For instance, the expertise of Rentschler Biopharma in the field of biopharmaceutical development and the variety of active pharmaceutical substances that can help many people. “However, what impressed me the most was the respectful, collaborative, and humane attitude towards each other. What I thought was: I want to work with these people!”, she continues. In her opinion, another decisive advantage in smaller companies is the speed of the decision-making process. The close personal connections with many colleagues translate to higher efficiently and faster implementation. ? ?

During her studies, men already had the majority. This trend continued in her subsequent positions. Nevertheless, she felt at ease because she had always enjoyed collaborating with men. “Over the years, I’ve noticed that women in male-dominated professions often have to do a little more, always have to be a little better, in order to gain acceptance. For women, it is especially challenging to establish themselves in their respective fields. At the same time, it’s so important to avoid aggressive behavior, but to promote cooperation – so that both women and men can work in a fair and equitable way. As a manager, I strive to support women and encourage them to pursue leadership roles. Having diverse teams that work together equitably provides the kind of multifaceted input that enriches our work,” she shares insights into her daily way of working. ?

In addition to diversity, Christiane Bardroff believes that a balanced combination of professional expertise and trusting cooperation is key to a strong team where individuals can discuss and work together as equals, trust each other and therefore have the courage to bring divergent ideas to the table. Her very optimistic attitude to life is also crucial to her success: “I like laughing, having a positive mindset and I really enjoy my job. This fun, the team spirit, my team and a job that empowers us to create value sustainably – that is what motivates me every day.”? ?

Please find the full SHE works! interview, a German business and career magazine for women, here (German content).