In the heart of Munich, where innovation meets tradition, Jasmin Oestreich is making waves as a dynamic startup founder and advocate for female empowerment. With an MBA in her arsenal, Jasmin has transformed her passion for entrepreneurship into a powerful platform that uplifts and inspires women to chase their dreams.
As a sought-after speaker and moderator, she shares her insights on navigating the startup landscape, fostering resilience, and breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry.
1. What inspired you to become a founder, and how has your journey as an expat shaped that experience?
As a consultant, I worked closely with founders and found it exciting to bring an idea to life, build it up, raise funds, and eventually exit. During my MBA, we spent several weeks in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley, where we felt the vibe and got to know local founders. I knew this was something I definitely wanted to pursue.
2. Can you share a moment when you faced a significant challenge in your entrepreneurial journey, and how you overcame it?
When founding a company, you face challenges almost daily that you’ve never encountered before. What helps me is to “get into action” and tackle things head-on. When I don’t know what to do, I rely on my network of friends, entrepreneurs, and experts, whom I can consult. This is a huge help and indispensable for any founder.
3. How do you prioritize mental well-being in your life and business, and what practices do you recommend for other female entrepreneurs?
Mental health plays a significant role for me, and from the beginning, it was important to make it a priority. As a CEO, my daily life is full of ups and downs, making it essential to stay mentally healthy and focused, to avoid burnout, and to take care of myself. I’ve implemented breaks, weekends where I don’t work or check emails, and short vacations when stress levels get high. During stressful times, we often tend to work even more, but it’s actually more important to take a step back so you can make sound decisions. I’ve also picked up hobbies that challenge me and keep me from thinking about work, allowing me to recharge and return refreshed.
4. In what ways do you believe innovation can drive social change, particularly for women in business?
Innovation plays a key role in driving social change, especially for women in business. It allows for the questioning of existing structures, the development of new technologies and business models, and the overcoming of traditional barriers. Key ways innovation can support women in business include access to resources and networks, flexibility in work models, promoting women in the tech industry, and cultural and structural changes such as fostering inclusive and diverse teams.
Innovations have also made it easier for women entrepreneurs to access capital and markets. Crowdfunding, FinTech solutions, and digital marketplaces offer new ways to start and grow businesses without relying on traditional, often male-dominated financing sources. By engaging more women in the innovation process, they can become stronger drivers of social change.
5. What role does inclusivity and diversity play in your organization, and how can other female entrepreneurs cultivate these values in their own businesses?
Inclusivity and diversity are central to my company, as they foster creativity and lead to better decision-making through diverse perspectives. Women entrepreneurs can cultivate these values by creating an open company culture, implementing targeted diversity programs, and establishing mentorship initiatives. Conscious recruitment and promotion of talent from diverse backgrounds also help develop innovative solutions and create competitive advantages.
6. Can you share a specific example of how collaboration with other women has impacted your career or business?
After graduating, I deliberately sought out strong women in leadership positions to learn from them. Many of my closest business advisors are women who have already reached the point in life where I aspire to be. There have been negative experiences as well, which I attribute to individual failures rather than gender. I believe in empowering other women, following the motto “When we uplift each other, we all win.”
7. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs who are just starting out, especially in a new cultural environment?
Find friends, experts, and advisors who are already where you want to be, and ask them for advice. Support and give unconditionally to the people around you. I firmly believe that such actions will come back to you one day.
8. How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work, especially during challenging times?
I keep the big picture in mind and break it down into smaller steps that I accomplish daily, weekly, or monthly. When I feel demotivated or uninterested, I take an immediate break, go for a walk, exercise, or meet friends. Usually, I feel better the next day, recharged, and ready to go again.
9. What are some common misconceptions about female entrepreneurs that you think need to be addressed?
- “Women entrepreneurs are less risk-tolerant”: A common misconception is that women are less bold in business. In reality, many women entrepreneurs take calculated risks and are often just as willing to pursue innovative paths.
- “Women only start businesses in certain industries”: It’s often assumed that women mainly operate in “soft” fields like fashion or cosmetics. However, women are successful in a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, and engineering.
- “Women start less ambitious companies”: It is believed that women tend to found smaller or less growth-oriented businesses. In fact, many women focus on scalable business models and aim for international expansion, driving long-term success and significant impact.
10. Looking ahead, what changes do you hope to see in the entrepreneurial landscape for women over the next few years?
In the coming years, I hope to see a much stronger representation of women in leadership roles and in traditionally male-dominated industries like technology and finance. Additionally, access to financing for women entrepreneurs should be improved to ensure equal starting conditions. Furthermore, I believe it’s essential to foster networks that specifically support women and drive their professional development. At the same time, I hope to see more flexible work models and family-friendly structures, enabling women to successfully balance career and family. In the long term, diversity should be recognized as a strategic advantage in companies and actively promoted.