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Episode 31 - Dr. Constanze Trautwein, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at ImpactNexus
42 Plays9 months ago
This week, Sade is joined by the amazing Constanze, and they discuss her journey to becoming a founder. As we all know, in the tech scene, no journey is particularly straightforward, so they look back on her career and what she has achieved.
They dive into her main motivations and what about entrepreneurship that inspired her to get where she is today.
Constanze also shares her valuable advice for those looking to embark on a similar journey.
We hope this will inspire more women to chase their dreams and break the tech world's boundaries.
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Transcript
Introduction to Constance and Impact Nexus
00:00:13
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Women Talk Tech. Today, I'm joined by Constance, co-founder and chief product officer at Impact Nexus, where we discuss her journey to becoming a founder. Now, no journey is particularly linear, so we discuss her main motivations and what about entrepreneurship that inspired her. Constance also shares her advice for those looking to embark on a similar journey. I hope you enjoyed this conversation. So, tell me a little bit more about yourself.
Combining Tech and Sustainability
00:00:40
Speaker
Yeah, well, where to start? Maybe I think what accompanies me since here is that I'm really passionate about sustainability, about driving positive social environmental change, especially through sustainable business practices. I have always been very interested in all kinds of approaches and initiatives that try to tackle sustainability challenges with entrepreneurial solutions.
00:01:07
Speaker
And yeah, that's also what we do at ImpactNexus. So yeah, we combine technology and sustainability and we build easy to use software solutions that empower companies and their financiers to maximize their sustainability value. So for example, in assessing and improving their ESG and impact performance,
00:01:33
Speaker
in identifying material sustainability topics that suit their business model and advise them in how to take action and also to collect sustainability data, for example, for reporting and optimization. Nice,
Diversity and Inclusion at Impact Nexus
00:01:49
Speaker
nice. And I'm sure we'll kind of dive into the topic during the episode, but what does DNI mean to you and why would you say it's particularly important?
00:01:58
Speaker
Well, I think it's a matter of fact that diversity and inclusion bring a lot of advantages to companies. And so I think we don't have to ask the question if it really adds value because I think yes, it does.
00:02:13
Speaker
For me, it's kind of working in a diverse and inclusive team. It's really constantly working in an enriching environment. That's also why I really love to be in Berlin, because Berlin already is very diverse and very inclusive. We have a lot of people with different backgrounds, with different ways of approaching things, with different knowledge.
00:02:37
Speaker
I really love that they come together in working for Impact Nexus and that they are seen and heard. At Impact Nexus, we already have team members from nine different countries. The cultural backgrounds, I think they might create tensions in the first place or at some point, but
00:03:00
Speaker
It also really forces us to communicate a lot and I think it really brings us forward and makes with the working environment really like a really nice place to be. Yeah, I love what you said there because I couldn't agree more. I think we're past the stage of understanding why it's important and why it's needed. I think we've seen over the past many years how valuable it can be and I think that's why it's so important to kind of keep speaking about it and keep driving such topics forward. Yeah, definitely.
Founding Impact Nexus
00:03:30
Speaker
Yeah. And you know, take us back to the beginning. You know, what were your main motivations for founding Impact Nexus? I love hearing about everyone's story before becoming a founder and what it was like and the motivations behind it. So yeah, take us back to the beginning of your career. Yeah, I mean, I think for me, it was a really unique opportunity to gain experience as an entrepreneur. And at the same time, it was also the perfect
00:03:56
Speaker
possibility to put my research into practice because I also have a research background in sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability impact assessment. I did a lot of field research and also interviewing startups or founders and also their supporters. And yeah, it was really cool to like step into that position and to also found my own startup or co-founded at least.
00:04:24
Speaker
Yeah, so founding Impact Nexus in 2021 really feels like the next right step in my career. Yeah. Yeah, so before that, you were doing research on this topic. Yeah, so sustainability and entrepreneurship have been consistent themes in my academic research. So before I co-founded Impact Nexus, I worked at the Borders Step Institute for Innovation and Sustainability in Berlin, and I also already tackled a lot of questions
00:04:55
Speaker
about the assessment of sustainability impact of businesses, especially startups and figuring out how these assessments can work out and what approaches already exist and are suitable. And then in addition, there was this increasing technological developments going on with AI and everything connected to this. And yes, me and my co-founders really got
00:05:22
Speaker
got fascinated about the idea to use technology to assess sustainability and to enhance the sustainability transition, for example, by suggesting tailor-made sustainability measures for companies and so on.
00:05:38
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, interesting. And that's, yeah, I think we've seen the tech and tech for you so widely across the last few years, it kind of naturally feels like a progression to kind of take it to the next step tech
Inspiration and Entrepreneurial Drive
00:05:49
Speaker
wise. But I guess from your side, was there a moment in your career that you thought, hey, yeah, I could definitely, you know, take this further and become a founder? Like, when did you think being a founder was for you? Because sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. And yeah, when was that kind of like, if you had a light bulb moment, when was that?
00:06:06
Speaker
I think the idea of being an entrepreneur or building a startup, especially with the sustainability focus, has fascinated me for a long time because I always felt very inspired by people with an impact-driven entrepreneurial mindset and the startup world in Berlin itself.
00:06:29
Speaker
I also gained a lot of experience or valuable knowledge in big corporations, but I always felt limited in my ability to make a real impact and to drive innovative ideas and positive change. I think it was really being inspired by impact entrepreneurs. Yeah.
00:06:53
Speaker
But it maybe wasn't the idea of being your own boss as such, but it was a factor driving impact through that. Yeah, through entrepreneurial solutions, but also to have ownership, like real ownership for how to do that. Yeah. I wasn't having this kind of ownership level.
00:07:18
Speaker
when I worked for big corporations. I really felt limited in how to approach topics and how to drive them because of political reasons and so on.
00:07:29
Speaker
Yeah, and actually, that's a good point. What about that ownership inspired you? And what about that was different to say the kind of way of working before? Because I'm sure many other, not even just women, but many other people can really relate to just wanting to take ownership. What about that was interesting for you? I mean, I think the ownership aspect. Yeah, well, I think it's something that is in my DNA. So I always, like whatever I start, I really start to do like,
00:07:58
Speaker
100% and like really put all my effort into it, you know, so being at my PhD thesis, being at founding Impact Nexus. Yeah, so I think ownership is something that is in, it's very hard to say where it comes from. Yeah, I really
00:08:22
Speaker
Yeah. I really love to put energy into a topic and then also to be responsible for it. And yeah, but yeah, for sure. Um, together with others.
Embracing Sustainable Entrepreneurship
00:08:31
Speaker
Um, but yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And what about entrepreneurship particularly inspired you? Because of course, once you got into it, you then saw that, Hey, you could take ownership and I'm sure much, much more than that. Just ownership. What continually and what, what continuously inspired you through this journey?
00:08:47
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think I was really from the beginning on inspired by sustainable entrepreneurship in particular. We're really like building something new, tackling sustainability challenges with entrepreneurial approaches.
00:09:01
Speaker
And I really love the unknown, you know, so that I, for example, start my day and I don't really know how it is going and also don't know how the next months are going. I really like to deal with that level of uncertainty as well. So I see it as a really big learning journey and
00:09:25
Speaker
And a big opportunity for personal growth and also professional growth. And maybe about sustainable entrepreneurship. So taking back to the time when I started studying, I wasn't really convinced about the idea that entrepreneurship is only about growth and financial success. And so for me, that seemed too one-sided.
00:09:54
Speaker
And yeah, the consequences for people in the planet were already like slowly becoming apparent. So yeah, I really also loved, or I was interested in discussions about social responsibility, business approaches that aim at the creation of like social and environmental and financial value. So as I said, it's really more about sustainable entrepreneurship than just entrepreneurship.
00:10:20
Speaker
Yeah yeah and taking it back to what you said previously the uncertainty aspect that's quite interesting because I must admit many people I speak to they hate that aspect of being a founder or not hate maybe they dislike that aspect of like not knowing what's going to come tomorrow or where this journey is going to take you so that's quite interesting that that's the part of it that you quite like.
00:10:43
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, I like it to venture to a certain extent. Have it pivot like each week. I'm also kind of frustrated when I try to avoid that. But so when I worked in, so my first job was in a big corporation and
00:11:03
Speaker
with a very established business model with really like limited possibilities to change something, you know. And it was, I was already able to like kind of, yeah, see my career going on in that context for years and already knowing what kind of topics I would work in. And this felt really, yeah, like,
00:11:34
Speaker
Yeah, frustrating or also a little bit boring to me was really like I'm more into exploring new paths. I'm more like to explore new contexts and yeah, create new knowledge and yeah, so.
Non-linear Career Path
00:11:49
Speaker
Yeah, no, I mean, it's fair enough, because, you know, when I speak with engineers, you know, I would probably say engineers are motivated by a variety of reasons. But I think that kind of boring, boringness, if that's the word or mundaneness of the job, when you've been doing it for so long, that's why most people move on. And to kind of move on and then build your own company feels like the natural next step, right, to build something of your own that you're really proud and passionate about.
00:12:15
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And you know, when we spoke previously, you mentioned that your journey is not particularly linear. Why is this and kind of how do you think that's benefited you in kind of your stance now? Well, I think what I meant was that I never oriented my professional life towards a specific career goal. So my motto was more kind of the journey is the destination.
00:12:43
Speaker
Yeah, so really, I've constantly aimed to remain open and flexible and to new opportunities. And when in doubt, I prefer to kind of leave a certain path to explore a new context rather than simply continue. And yeah, so and I think I already mentioned that I really love positions where I can connect different contexts.
00:13:08
Speaker
are creating new knowledge and solutions. So for example, combining research and practice, that's what I did during my academic career, but also now connecting themes like sustainability, technology, entrepreneurship, and creating something new out of this.
00:13:25
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Wow. And I'm sure you have had some challenges in your journey, like many founders. I mean, what are some of the challenges that you've had and how have you possibly overcome these? I mean, I think one of the biggest challenges is really that I have to deal with all kinds of general management issues. So, I mean, as a co-founder, you are involved in all decisions and I really liked that, but I also come across
00:13:53
Speaker
about many topics for the first time. So I really do make decisions to the best of my knowledge, but I don't know exactly where these decisions then ultimately lead and up to this responsibility. I still find it's very enriching, but it's also a really big learning curve and sometimes it's really a big challenge.
00:14:16
Speaker
like managing the uncertainty. And you're right. I guess like, you know, making a decision and not knowing if that's the right or wrong decision. I mean, I'm like the world's most indecisive person. And I think that comes from just always wanting to make the right decision. And I guess being a founder, you have a lot of decisions that you make not knowing if it's the right or wrong decision to make at that time. Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, we have we really have scarce resources. So we really have to make up our minds about where
00:14:46
Speaker
where to go next, you know, and I mean, there are so many opportunities out there, especially in the sustainability context, because it's such a cross-sectoral topic, but we really have to focus and we really have to, yeah, stick to our path at least as much as we can. And yeah, I think that's, yeah, as I said, it's an enriching journey, but also a challenge and
00:15:14
Speaker
And another challenge, I think is like the blurring boundaries between my professional and my personal life. Because I mean, yeah, so work-life blending, I would say, remains a challenge I face every day. For example, like, I really appreciate the flexibility of working from home at any time, but I also see
00:15:33
Speaker
like the importing of switching off mentally from work at some point. And with more and more interaction of both like being at home and also working from home, I think this is really challenging still.
Balancing Work and Life
00:15:48
Speaker
Yeah. And how have you overcome that? Because I think that's...
00:15:51
Speaker
It's fair to say that's a fairly new challenge for many, because prior to the pandemic, I don't know about yourself, but I'd never worked from home or known what that looks like. So you're right, the kind of blend of work and personal life just happened quite unnaturally, not because we ever wanted that to happen. So how have you overcome that, especially now moving into the way of working now, whereby most people are still working in a hybrid way, still working flexibly,
00:16:17
Speaker
How have you managed to do that? Because I love what you said, you said blend, not balance, because most people say work-life balance and I must admit I'm with you. There's no balance. You have to find a way to make it fit or like you said blend. So how have you kind of overcome that challenge?
00:16:36
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think I'm lucky because I have like two kids now. So it's for me, it's no longer possible to keep focusing on work whenever I like to. So I really have to mentally switch and I really have to work very like efficiently and effectively as long as my kids are in daycare. But then this also means for me that I really
00:16:58
Speaker
put my full awareness and energy on work issues as long as I can. When I pick up my children, for example, I really try to switch off from work mentally and to be with them 100%. Because what I learned is that trying to multitask leads to a high level of dissatisfaction and stress for all parties. So I really try to avoid these situations where I have to handle both
00:17:27
Speaker
And yeah, the same applies, for example, when I go to my sports class or when I meet friends, then I really try to fully be there and to not think about impact nexus or my family, but yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and wellness where I am.
00:17:42
Speaker
Yeah, I love what you said there, because I don't think it should matter if you have a family or not. I don't think it should take you to have children to think I need to separate the two. Yeah, definitely. I mean, this was the like, yeah, change, you know, I had to do mentally because in the beginning, I sometimes tried to do to handle children and work flexibly at the same time. But yeah, this is so frustrating. So I stopped that.
00:18:11
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. And like I said, when you go to a workout class, when you're with friends, you know, you can switch off and you can separate the two, it doesn't need to be a, like you said, a mixture of the two all at once. Because like you said, right, it leads to dissatisfaction of everyone. You know, I'm sure your children are not happy if you're like, you know, doing another thing or like not even listening or something like that. And vice versa, right, I'm sure you don't feel happy doing that as well.
00:18:36
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And it's also really good exercise for the mind, I think, because when you get back, you have a fresh mind, because you really switched off for some time. So I really like that.
00:18:51
Speaker
And I know that you mentioned the ownership aspect of being a founder inspired you.
Empowerment in Entrepreneurship
00:18:56
Speaker
Now you've been a founder for the past three years, right? What do you enjoy most about being a founder? Well, I think what I appreciate most is that I'm involved in important decisions. That's the ownership aspect as well. So I don't have to live with decisions made by, for example, higher management levels like it is happening in big corporations and
00:19:18
Speaker
As a co-founder, I can set the directions and shape the organization. To me, this feels incredibly empowering and fulfilling. What I also really liked is that at Impact Nexus, we can react flexibly to opportunities and we are open to change and new developments.
00:19:41
Speaker
Although this is also sometimes stressful, as we just discussed, when things rarely go as planned, I cannot longer imagine working in a context where I know what to expect every day.
00:19:57
Speaker
Yeah, and I really love the current team we have and I enjoy our agile and self-organized way of working. I'm really happy to be part of this. I mean, this also helps me to overcome the challenge of what I mentioned of the general management issues and the taking decision in uncertain contexts because
00:20:20
Speaker
I mean, with some of the co-founders of Impact Nexus, I already worked together for around seven years now. So we have an established basis of trust and I really love to discuss decisions together with them and also with our advisors. We have a big advisor network and yeah, I think this really helps to manage uncertainty.
00:20:45
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
00:20:47
Speaker
And based on what you enjoy the most and your own experience, why would you encourage other people to embark on the journey of being a founder? Because it does seem amazing, but we still see so many women kind of shy away from doing it. So why would you encourage more people to do the same? Yeah, I mean, I really encourage everybody, but I think also everybody needs to kind of reflect if it's something they feel
00:21:14
Speaker
like confident with, you know, I mean, I think not not everybody can cope with this level of uncertainty. But I really like I mean, if you think about that entrepreneurship could be something I really encourage, encourage everybody to to embark on the journey. Because I think if you can start a business, for example, in the field of personal interest or expertise, this really leads to fulfilling and purpose driven
00:21:42
Speaker
career and work environment and it's very very fulfilling and yeah and I mean yeah you will learn a lot and I mean you will have an incredible curve of personal and professional growth. I really encourage everybody but I can also understand if people say that it's not what they are looking for.