Tanja Tauschek, a visiting PhD student at CUBS, talks about her research at the UCC, her passion for gender equality and why her PhD became a shared family adventure.
In my previous life, I was the only woman under 30 at the decision-making table and the youngest person in senior management in a savings bank. I led diverse teams and was exposed to heavily male-dominated leadership structures. So I was an exception in two ways: young and female. This experience has left its mark on me - and it makes me angry that I meet so many fewer women than men at leadership events and that patriarchy still exists at the decision-making table. That's exactly why I became passionate about creating space for more women at the top. I knew I wanted to make a difference - not only in practice but also through research. That's why I decided to do a PhD. Today, I am spending four months as a visiting researcher at Cork University Business School (CUBS) at University College Cork in Ireland.
Choosing Ireland was an easy decision - not only because of the stunning scenery, but especially because I am lucky enough to be working with Prof Olive McCarthy. But let's start at the beginning. During my part-time undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Germany, one thing was clear to me: I wanted to go abroad for my PhD. I was specifically looking for a university in Europe that matched my research focus. My very first Google search – thanks to some fortunate SEO results! – came up with the Centre for Co-operative Studies. When I looked at the research profiles, it immediately became clear that Prof Olive McCarthy could be a perfect fit. She had conducted ground-breaking research on gender diversity in Irish credit unions – exactly my area of interest. I took the plunge and reached out to her, sending my CV and an abstract of my dissertation. A few days later, we had our first virtual meeting. I know from our first call that I wanted to learn from her and work with her. I was deeply impressed by her expertise and her appreciative, supportive approach. That’s when I knew: I was going to Ireland!
Six months later, the ferry docked in Cork and I set off with my husband and daughter. The fact that my family was able to come with me was an important prerequisite for me to be able to do this research in the first place. In many ways, it became a joint family project. As it was almost impossible to find temporary accommodation for the three of us, we travelled by camper van and stayed at a beautiful campsite near Cork. Best of all, the motorhome is not only our new home base, but also the starting point for exploring Ireland's countryside.
Supported by the academic environment and working with Prof Olive McCarthy, I am deepening my research on gender equality in leadership. I am convinced that a world in which companies are equally run by women and men would be a better one. However, the fact is that the top management positions are still almost exclusively held by men. Irish credit unions provide an interesting counter-example: according to the Irish League of Credit Unions, 46% of CEOs are women. Over the coming weeks, I will be interviewing female CEOs to understand their experiences, challenges and strategies for success. I look forward to the insights they will share with me.
My research stay at UCC has already exceeded my expectations. It has given me not only access to an academic network, but also the space and encouragement to challenge my thinking, sharpen my research and grow both personally and professionally. The collaboration with Prof McCarthy is invaluable and the exchange with other researchers has opened up exciting perspectives for future projects. If you are considering a research stay abroad, I can only encourage you: go where your research takes you – and where people inspire you.