ESMT Insight Hour with Eva Christiansen and Brigitte Lammers

Who gets to lead? Rethinking women, men, and power

October 5, 2026, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. CEST

ESMT Berlin, Schlossplatz 1, 10178 Berlin 
and via livestream

This event will take place on campus and online. To attend, please register using the form below.

Despite years of initiatives, quotas, and growing awareness, women remain underrepresented in corporate leadership. Many organizations still treat this as a pipeline problem—one of attracting, developing, or promoting more women. 

But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question? 

In this ESMT Insight Hour, Eva Christiansen, partner at FGS Global, and Brigitte Lammers, partner at Egon Zehnder, will discuss the findings of their joint study, “A question of culture: More women in leadership – a change in perspective.” Drawing on interviews with CEOs, board members, and senior executives from Germany’s largest companies, they argue that the real barrier is not a lack of qualified women, but the leadership cultures, governance, and organizational norms that determine who succeeds and who stays. 

You'll gain insight into: 

• Why culture, not capability, is the biggest barrier to more diverse leadership 

• How CEOs and boards shape inclusive leadership environments 

• What organizations can do to turn representation into lasting change 

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on why building better leadership starts with changing culture.  

Moderated by Qiao Zhang, Deputy Director of Executive Programs, and program director of Women in Power at ESMT Berlin 

About the speakers  

Eva Christiansen, Partner at FGS Global 

As a partner at FGS Global Berlin, Eva Christiansen is bringing her outstanding experience in strategic leadership positioning, reputation and crisis management to the table to advise clients on reputation management, stakeholder engagement strategies, and executive leadership communication. 

Since 1999, she has supported German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel in a wide range of functions: Her positions included spokesperson for the CDU Germany as well as spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. From 2006 onwards, Eva Christiansen worked in the Chancellery, as media advisor for Chancellor Merkel and most recently as head of the department "Political Planning, Innovation and Digital Policy, Strategic IT Steering". 

With a diploma in economics from the University of Bonn, Eva Christiansen started her career in auditing, before moving into politics in 1998. 
 

Brigitte Lammers, Partner at Egon Zehnder 

Brigitte Lammers is a trusted advisor to international companies across industries. She conducts C-level executive searches across top level functions. As coach and advisor Brigitte also provides support in board searches, board effectiveness consulting work, and talent management projects. 

In 2006, Brigitte founded with three other women “FidAR” (Frauen in die Aufsichtsräte), FidAR with the aim to significantly and sustainably increasing the proportion of women on German supervisory boards. The organization has today 1.500 members and belongs to the most influential organizations in Germany supporting women in leadership positions. 

Prior to joining Egon Zehnder, Brigitte was with Deutsche Telekom AG, based in Bonn, where she held various management positions in the Finance, Legal, and International Division. Brigitte studied at the Universities of Bonn in Germany and Berkeley in the U.S., earning law degrees and a PhD. 

About the moderator  

Qiao Zhang, Deputy Director of Executive Programs, Program Director of Women in Power, ESMT 

Qiao Zhang joined ESMT as a program director in the executive education team in April 2024. Prior to joining ESMT Berlin, Qiao worked in Unilever China for 5 years as brand manager, before she completed her MBA in IESE Business School, Barcelona. During her past 12 years in Germany, she worked for Bayer Business Consulting, Amazon and GROHE AG, as sales & marketing consultant, program management officer, and learning & development team lead. Her cross-culture, cross-industry and cross-functional experience enables her a fine balance of business acumen, project / program management, stakeholder management, cross-culture inclusiveness, and L&D solution delivery. 

She is also an ICF Professional Certified Coach and a Gallup certified CliftonStrength coach. She is passionate about strength-based leadership and transition, team dynamics & collaboration, and enabling psychological safety and high performing teams.