Mechthild Schröder: Born networker

Mechthild Schröder began volunteering as a teenager. Today, she leads, among other things, the Hamm Working Group of Women Entrepreneurs in the Skilled Crafts.

This article is part of the special topic women in crafts

Mechthild Schröder captures her experiences on her cell phone. She has accumulated thousands of photos. Not only because photography is one of her hobbies, but because the entrepreneur from Hamm is constantly on the move. There are pictures from the last women entrepreneurs' conference, from the meeting with the Kolping family, selfies with the Women's Union, or as a vampire at the carnival. "I'm up for any nonsense," laughs Mechthild Schröder, who, among other things, heads the working group of Women Entrepreneurs in Crafts (UFH) Hamm leads.

She was recently confirmed in her position. The women entrepreneurs are a group of women who work in their husband's craft business or are self-employed as master craftsmen themselves. The association in Hamm has 40 members, and the number is growing. "We're just a good team," the entrepreneur laughs. 

Family is the most important thing

But first things first. The 52-year-old has been married to Berthold Schröder since 1990. The 57-year-old runs the family business Georg Schröder Carpentry and Timber Construction GmbH with 20 employees in Hamm, Westphalia, in the third generation and is President of the Dortmund Chamber of CraftsThe couple has three adult children together.

The fourth generation is already in place. The eldest son, Adrian Schröder, is already a journeyman carpenter, studying wood engineering, and preparing for his master craftsman's exam and business administration degree. The daughter is a pediatric nurse and is waiting for a place to study medicine, and the youngest son is 17 and still in school. "Family is the most important thing to me," emphasizes Mechthild Schröder.

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Since their wedding, the trained businesswoman has worked for the company, where she is responsible for marketing, accounting, and payroll, among other things. The Schröders have their house and large garden—a shared hobby—right next to the business.

Commitment is in Mechthild Schröder’s blood

Commitment is practically in Mechthild Schröder's blood. "I grew up on a small part-time farm, the third child of five siblings and many animals. We helped out from an early age, but we were also able to play for hours outdoors," she says, sounding like a childhood in Bullerbü. Together with her friends, she convinced the priest to allow them to become the parish's first female altar servers. She supervised youth groups and took special leave from her then-employer to attend the church's summer camp. 

She continues to serve as an altar server to this day, and has held many other honorary positions over the years. Mechthild Schröder is not only active in the Women's Entrepreneurs' Association, but also serves as an assessor for the Women's Union, an assessor for the German Red Cross, and, when time permits, helps out at Kolping Family events. Another family tradition is the shooting club. In 2004, Mechthild and Berthold Schröder were royal couple, followed in 2014 by their son Adrian, who is active on the board of the Hövel Citizens' Shooting Club.

"I'll do any crap"

 Even when her health isn't so good, the entrepreneur looks ahead with a smile. When the company participates in a vocational course for students, she dons carpenter's clothing; when she accompanies her husband to the International Crafts Fair in Munich, she wears a traditional dirndl; and at the carnival with the "Woodworms," ​​she's barely recognizable in her vampire makeup. "I'll do anything," she says with a grin. "Partly to see something other than the business."

Oh yes, the networker also served as the first chairwoman of her children's elementary school's support association for ten years. "Even after they had long since moved on to secondary school." Later, she became involved in the school board of her children's high school, serving as deputy chairwoman for three years. 

Passionately committed

She would recommend her involvement to anyone. And every single one of her photos shows the passion she puts into her various volunteer activities. "You're always learning new things, you meet new people, you can share your knowledge, and you can get advice yourself." Despite the entrepreneurial couple's busy schedule, they even find time for a new hobby together. Mechthild and Berthold Schröder have recently discovered their passion for hiking.