WOMENTORING@CO

WOMENTORING@CO is a mentoring initiative within the Women@CO community at Porsche Consulting. It connects women across locations, business units, industries, and career stages, creating space for personal exchange, new perspectives, and shared learning.

Initiated by Dr. Anna Bukowski and Caroline Reimann, the program is built around individual mentoring partnerships. Participants share experiences, discuss professional challenges, and offer each other new perspectives and ideas. This creates connections beyond their day-to-day work and opportunities to learn from one another and grow professionally.

Laura Johanna Broja, Associate Consultant in Construction, and Corinna Gabardi, Senior Manager in Automotive, show what this looks like in practice. Their professional paths, experiences, and perspectives differ, and that is precisely what makes the exchange within their mentoring partnership so valuable.

Laura specializes in real estate and infrastructure projects and brings experience in research, construction, and international consulting. Corinna draws on more than 13 years of international experience across consulting, private equity, and industry. She advises automotive and industrial companies on transformation, value creation, and performance improvement.

What connects them is their openness to sharing experiences, considering different perspectives, and learning from one another.

What motivated you to join the mentoring program?

Corinna: I joined the mentoring program because I believe careers develop faster when people learn from each other. Starting a new role or career stage can be challenging, and having someone to exchange ideas with can make a real difference. I also wanted to contribute to a stronger network among women in our firm and support younger colleagues on their journey. At the same time, I was curious to learn from their perspectives and experiences.

Laura: In industries like automotive and construction, where women are still underrepresented, strong networks and visible female role models are particularly important. I joined the mentoring program to learn from someone who had already navigated similar challenges, gain new perspectives, and build meaningful connections beyond day-to-day project work.

What was the most valuable thing you learned from each other?

Corinna: One of the most valuable aspects was gaining a perspective that differed from my own. Laura works in a different industry and is at a different stage of her career, which led to many interesting conversations. While I shared experiences from my own path, she challenged my thinking with fresh ideas and questions. It reminded me that mentoring is a two-way exchange.

Laura: Looking back, it wasn't one specific piece of advice that made the biggest difference, it was the ongoing conversations. Having someone who challenged my thinking, asked thoughtful questions, and shared honest experiences helped me grow with every exchange.

What would you say to a colleague who is considering joining the next cohort?

Corinna: Do it! Mentoring is a great opportunity to learn from someone with a different perspective, expand your network, and build connections across the firm. Whether you join as a mentor or mentee, you will take away valuable insights that go beyond day-to-day project work.

Laura: Whether you're looking for guidance, inspiration, or simply a different perspective, this program offers all three. It's a unique opportunity to grow professionally, expand your network, and become part of a community that genuinely supports one another.