Interview with EXIST-Women scholarship holder Mariana

Mariana is in her third semester studying social pedagogy and management at Dresden University of Applied Sciences. Born in Moscow, she has lived in Dresden for many years and previously studied communication sciences and Slavic studies. She became aware of the EXIST-Women programme during her first semester at Dies Academicus. With her start-up idea, Mariana, herself a mother of three, wants to support and relieve other mothers in their everyday lives.

With EXIST-Women, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection supports women at universities and research institutions who are interested in starting their own business in the phase prior to founding a company, particularly in developing their entrepreneurial personality and further developing their start-up idea.

You can find out more about Mariana's journey as a founder in the interview.

Why did you decide to participate in the EXIST-Women programme?

"The idea of a start-up programme specifically tailored to women appealed to me immediately, as I have been working intensively on my own start-up idea since the beginning of my studies. I was able to officially start EXIST-Women in my third semester. However, I was already in contact with my start-up advisor before that, so I was able to continuously develop and reflect on my idea."

What stage were you at when you started the programme?

"At the start of the programme, I was in an early but very intensive discovery phase. I had the basic idea, but a lot was still open and needed structure, refinement and, above all, time to grow. EXIST-Women enabled me to refine my idea step by step, formulate my position more clearly and assess my project more realistically."

What was the greatest added value for you?

"The greatest added value for me was the combination of individual advice, professional input and exchange on an equal footing. This changed my view of self-employment: away from quick results and towards a conscious, sustainable development that suits me and my life."

What was your initial idea – and where are you today?

"I started with a rough idea of supporting families. Today, I have a clear concept: 'Mama Queen – mobile support for mothers', with a strong focus on personal on-site support, guidance and links to local services in Dresden. Without EXIST-Women, this clarity would not have emerged in this form."

What role did the exchange with other participants play?

"The exchange with other participants played a major role. Seeing that other women had similar questions, doubts and visions was very encouraging. The mutual exchange gave me courage, inspired me and showed me that I am not alone with my thoughts."

Who would you particularly recommend EXIST-Women to?

"I would particularly recommend EXIST-Women to women who want to take their time with their start-up idea, who don't just want to start a business but want to find their own way, regardless of age, stage of life or previous experience."

Would you like to express your interest in an EXIST-Women scholarship? Then send an email to forschung@fh-dresden.eu

 

More information about the programme