Elena Zerner-Käning - Discovering Courage and Immense Possibilities

"Mentorship allows all of us to discover courage and immense possibilities we were not aware of. It helps to build networks, to overcome fears and to dare dream big."

Elena Zerner-Käning is based in Munich, Germany (originally from St. Petersburg, Russia) and has recently started a new role as Head of IT Infrastructure at Aenova Holding. Having held several positions in IT management, she participated in the Women in Tech Global Mentorship Program as both mentor and mentee. Her experience highlights something that is at the heart of our mission at Women In Tech—that meaningful growth occurs when women support one another through authentic mentorship relationships.

From Wishing for Support to Providing It

Elena's motivation to mentor stems from her own early career experience:

"When I was a young professional in a foreign country, originally from science and research, I wished I had someone to help me understand how things work in the business world. Unfortunately there was no such programme back then…"

Her approach is deeply personal: "I made my way through a multitude of different situations and like to share my experience with other ladies working their way up the career ladder and balancing work and family life. I know that it makes the way much easier when you know that you are not alone."

"The most rewarding part of being a mentor is to see the confidence and growth of the mentees and to be able to build some long lasting friendships. The cherry on the top is my own growth - when helping my mentees to reach their goals I am challenged to find new ways to motivate, coach, engage, question… and it keeps me on my toes at all times helping me to become an even better leader."

Transforming Confidence into Success

Elena shared several powerful examples of mentorship breakthroughs. One mentee was struggling with career transition confidence:

"There was for example a mentee who switched between fields and was not confident talking about her past experience as well as about her achievements. Helping her recognize that the past experience gives an integral part to being successful in her new field and that her current experience is anything but dull has busted her confidence."

Another breakthrough involved salary negotiations:

"Another mentee always felt uncomfortable when negotiating the salary package with the employer. We worked on busting her self confidence and her sense of worth, after which she was able to successfully negotiate a package with the new employer and got all the perks she wished for."

Perhaps most significantly:

"Yet another mentee was interested in developing herself towards a new direction but didn't dare to ask her boss for a chance. We worked on her confidence and arguments to put in front of the boss, she asked him and got her chance in the new field. Not only was it a great experience for her, but we also became friends and continued meeting and exploring the world together long after official mentoring was finished."

The Power of Being Mentored

Elena also sought mentorship for her own career advancement: "I never had a mentor before, but reached a certain level in my career where I needed advice from someone who made this step before, in order to understand whether I am missing something for my next step."

The impact was profound:

"Both of my mentors confronted me with some very important points to be considered and worked on for the next step in my career. They challenged my views and supported me during the hard times and ultimately prepared me for my new position."

She describes the transformative effect:

"Best part of being mentored is being asked questions I haven't even thought about… Searching for these answers made me figure out a few things about myself and even brought me back to the university desk to update my knowledge."

Learning from Every Background

Elena's mentoring philosophy embraces diversity:

"Each mentee comes from a different cultural and professional background - understanding these backgrounds and providing the best possible help or advice for each person made me dive into new fields myself, which enriched my own experience immensely. I've learned so much from these incredible women!"

Recommended Resource

For navigating international relationships in tech, Elena recommends "The Culture Map" by Erin Meyer: "It helps a lot when navigating international relationships."

Her Message to Future Mentors and Mentees

To potential mentors, her advice is simple:

"Be authentic! Appreciate your own experience and share it freely with others - if you are open towards others, they will open towards you."

To potential mentees:

"Be curious and inquisitive, ask questions, try new things and let yourself be challenged. The thrill of achievement will follow!"

Thank you, Elena, for showing how mentorship creates a powerful cycle where supporting others ultimately accelerates our own growth and leadership development.

Ready to discover your own courage and immense possibilities?

Elena's story demonstrates that whether you're seeking guidance or sharing wisdom, Women In Tech mentorship creates lasting impact through authentic connection and mutual growth. Join our mentorship community and experience the transformative power of women supporting women in tech.

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