Interview with Mandy Lenze
- Could you tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to Luxembourg?
I’m 36, originally from Germany, and have been calling Luxembourg home for the past 11 years. I first came here for a relationship, but Luxembourg gradually grew on me and became a place I truly feel at home. My background is actually in Tourism & Event Management, but after moving to Luxembourg, I took a new direction professionally and transitioned into the world of tax. Today, I work as a Tax Manager — a career path I probably wouldn’t have imagined when I first arrived!
2. What made you decide to join the network, and what has kept you involved?
I initially joined the network because I was encouraged to work on my networking skills and meet people outside of my usual circle.
Then, last year, I saw that the network was looking for volunteers to join the Events Team, and I thought: this could be perfect for me!
I originally studied Tourism & Event Management, and organising events and bringing people together was something I genuinely enjoyed. Although my career took me in a completely different direction after moving to Luxembourg, this felt like a great opportunity to reconnect with something I had studied and loved — while at the same time practising my networking skills and meeting new people.
3. What has surprised you most about being part of the Network?
I think it’s a bit of a mixed answer. What has surprised me most, in a very positive way, is seeing how many different women bring their time, energy and ideas to the Network — especially considering that everyone is volunteering alongside their jobs and personal lives. The dedication and commitment of some of the volunteers is genuinely impressive.
I’ve also been surprised by how much you can actually achieve with a relatively small budget and limited resources. With the right people, some creativity and a lot of enthusiasm, you can create really great events and meaningful experiences for the community.
At the same time, being part of the Network has given me a much better understanding of the challenges that come with running a volunteer-driven organisation. There are definitely things that can be improved, and I’ve realised that building a strong organisation takes time, structure and continuous work behind the scenes.
But I think that’s also what makes it interesting. I’ve seen both the potential and the challenges from the inside, and it has made me appreciate even more what the volunteers are able to achieve — while also making me curious to see how the Network continues to develop and grow.
4. Is there a person, conversation or experience through the network that you particularly remember?
There are actually two things that come to mind. One of them was the event in January, “Networking with Purpose: Building Meaningful Connections.” I really enjoyed the presentation and found it genuinely helpful. Since networking was one of the reasons I joined the Network in the first place, it was especially relevant for me and gave me some new perspectives on how to build more meaningful connections, rather than simply collecting contacts.
It also made me realise that this is an area I personally want to continue working on. I think networking is something you can always get better at — especially when it comes to being more intentional about the relationships you build and maintaining them beyond a first conversation.
More generally, one thing I particularly enjoy about the Network is the opportunity to meet women with very different backgrounds and experiences. You never quite know which conversation will stay with you or give you a new perspective, and I think that’s one of the most valuable parts of being involved.
5. What would you like to see more of for women in Luxembourg?
I think Luxembourg is, in many ways, a great place for women. There are many successful women in business, and the country offers a good environment for women to be independent, build a career and follow their own path.
At the same time, especially in the financial industry and when it comes to the most senior positions, I sometimes still feel that there is a bit of a “boys’ club” — people who have known each other for years, have strong networks and continue to open doors for one another.
What I would love to see more of is women supporting and opening doors for other women but also feeling confident enough to define success and leadership in their own way. I don’t think women need to copy traditionally male management styles or feel that they have to become “one of the guys” to succeed.
There are so many ways to lead — being collaborative, empathetic, authentic and inclusive can be strengths, not weaknesses. I’d love to see more women embrace their own leadership style, rather than adapting themselves to fit an existing idea of what a successful leader should look like.