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New impulses for women in leadership: Karen Fanto leads ZFAC!
Karen Fanto takes over as chair of the Zukunft.Frauen Alumnae Club to strengthen women in leadership and promote networks.
New impulses for women in leadership: Karen Fanto leads ZFAC!
On September 22, 2025, Karen Fanto took over the chairmanship of the Zukunft.Frauen Alumnae Club (ZFAC). Leadersnet reports that Fanto succeeds Jutta Perfahl-Strilka, who will continue to act as deputy on the board. Fanto, who has served as deputy chairwoman since 2023, wants to strengthen the connection between companies and female future talent in her new role. “We cannot afford to lose experts just because they hit glass ceilings,” she said.
The ZFAC, which was founded in 2013, specializes in promoting networking, visibility and support for women in leadership positions in Austria. Currently, fewer than one in five management positions are held by a woman, a fact that many members view as critical. Sheconomy highlights that the club now has over 340 members and is constantly growing.
New initiatives and board expansion
In her role, the ZFAC under Fanto is planning new network formats, including speed dating with female supervisory board members and collaborations with the industrial association to increase the visibility of women in business. The board remains unchanged, but is supplemented by Gerlinde Tröstl-Katinger. The current members of the board include:
| name | position |
|---|---|
| Beatrix Czipetits | Co-pilot, entrepreneur, diversity expert |
| Karen Fanto | Head of International Markets Division, Berndorf Bäderbau |
| Petra Grell-Kunzinger | Federal Managing Director Johanniter Austria |
| Eva Mandl | Founder & Managing Director of the PR agency Himmelhoch |
| Susanne Müller-Taborsky | Managing Director & Owner SMaRT Equity Solution FlexCo |
| Jutta Perfahl-Strilka | CEO hokify |
| Sylvia Vana | Head of department in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism |
| Stefanie Winkler-Schloffer | Director Marketing Communications A1 Telekom Austria |
Challenges for women in leadership positions
However, the challenges for women in leadership positions remain. In Germany, a DIW report shows that the proportion of female managers in the top 200 companies outside the financial sector was around 18 percent in late autumn 2023, which has doubled since 2018. Nevertheless, the proportion of women remains underrepresented on executive boards and supervisory boards. DIW explains that despite legal requirements, many companies only meet the minimum requirements.
In summary, with the takeover of Karen Fanto, the Zukunft.Frauen Alumnae Club is entering a new phase in which visibility and support for women in leadership positions will continue to be a priority. A critical mass of women at the top management level is needed to have a positive impact on the gender pay gap and pave the way for future generations of leaders.