Carolin Nodewald has been involved in research her entire professional life. However, from a different perspective than her colleagues in the institutes. She has been Head of Finance at the Thünen Institute for 15 years. She has even been familiar with the figures and balance sheets of a sub-division since 2005, long before the Thünen Institute existed.

Immediately after graduating with a degree in administration, the then 21-year-old took over the management of the budget of the Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft (BFH) - the predecessor institute of today's four forestry and timber institutes. "Unusual, but a great opportunity that I seized. Fortunately, I was supported by my team. Even when I suddenly lost my job three years later."

In 2008, the BFH, the Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft (FAL) and the Bundesforschungsanstalt Fischerei (BFA-FI) merged to form the Thünen Institute with its headquarters in Braunschweig. The then 24-year-old reoriented herself, developed new structures for the finance department such as the travel expenses office in Hamburg-Bergedorf and networked for six months at the BMEL in Bonn.

When she was offered the position of Head of Budget Unit for the entire Thünen Institute in 2009, she became pregnant for the first time. Without hesitation, her partner follows her a second time and takes over her parental leave. "We thought it would work out somehow!" In her new dual role as a manager and mother, she struggles with prejudices and role models for the first time." As a part-time dad, my husband had a hard time and for many people around me, it was frowned upon not to be with the baby."

However, she kept her eye on the road ahead, got her team behind her and had two more children. Would she do anything differently today?" No, but I also have self-doubt. Women are always more worried than men."