Prof. Heather Hofmeister, Ph.D.
“Charming, competent, compassionate, insightful, empathetic, evocative.
You had the audience in the palm of your hand.”
— Nadja Tschirner, Geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin, Cross Consult GbR
PROF. HEATHER HOFMEISTER, PH. D.
Who I am
I am a sociologist, professor, coach, speaker, writer, and leader based in Frankfurt. I conduct, review, and apply research on women in leadership, intergenerational working relations, work and family, academic careers, and international comparative perspectives.
I arrived in Germany in 2002 from the USA and by age 35 I was the first woman in the C-Suite leadership team of my university. I communicate with people of all ages, from thousands of young adult students at the university to top leaders in large corporations.
My strength is to see the big picture, the parts, and how they fit together. When we understand situations, we can use our creativity to change them. I have seen transformation in my own life, in the organizations I have worked with, and I would love to see it for you. When experiencing my talks, workshops, coaching, or consulting, people consistently tell me that they find new ways of looking at things and new pathways forward.
The tribe I serve
has a vision about how our society could be more respectful, healthier, more sustainable, more equitable and would like support getting that vision into reality.
I work especially with those who give their energy in areas where it’s unusual, and where they face resistance to their presence and their ideas. I am an active researcher in gender equality, academic communities, life course patterns, and work-family themes.
My tribe are women and men who are expanding their range and challenging assumptions, ready to live into their full potential as creative, caring, compassionate, strong beings and make a positive difference in their communities.
WHAT
I want to see
I want self-assured leaders and team members to help their organizations, society, and our planet move in healthy directions.
I want research findings to speak to real-world situations so we can realize our potential. I want to see your eyes light up with a new way of looking at and solving your situation.
Society is primed for division: nature or economy, men or women, paid work or private life, health or wealth. We tend to reinforce difference, scarcity, and transact win-lose. Conventional paths aren’t respectful of people, families, communities, and the environment. For things to get better, we have to apply learning, intuition, see the big picture, and connect with each other. We are together on this precious planet.
I believe in our capacity to change our circumstances and grow into our true creative potential. I invite you to deepen your learning, create connection, and take steps to transform your world. This is a process. It’s hard. It’s rewarding.
What I offer
Key Themes
Identifying the potential of gender equality
Our society says girls and women can do anything but paradoxically are less worthy of respect, voice, power, time, and money than men are, often expected to enter later and clean up the messes. The more outwardly ‘successful’ a woman is, the more the world may imply she’s not lovable.
Our society says boys and men should achieve, compete, and dominate. The more connected and nurturing a man may be, the more ridicule he may receive.
Neither of these conditions are healthy or sustainable. Nor do they have to remain like this.
Understanding the way past generations’ experiences shape our own lives.
Past generations’ coping strategies are passed on to us at many levels, some unconscious. Conflicts arise from going against tradition to create an organization, a family, or a life that looks much different from those of the past.
We can map a fulfilling future from the foundations we have inherited, with respect and determination to correct the injustices of the past. Let’s do this.
