”WILLINGNESS TO CHANCE IS ONE OF MY GREATEST STRENGTHS”
KUNST MEETS HENRIETTA SIX
September 2025 marked a momentous anniversary: Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf has been supporting people and businesses in the region for 200 years. Board member Henrietta Six spoke with VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about her role and its responsibilities, current challenges, the promotion of women, and New Work at Stadtsparkasse.
You played handball competitively for many years in your youth – a really tough and physical sport. How does this experience benefit you in your professional life today?
Handball is a great team sport that I really enjoyed. I believe that the values I learned from it still shape me today at Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf. I experience the same things here as a board member: being part of a successful team, supporting and cheering each other on, and being accepted as a team leader. Also, because I often played with boys in the past, I get on well with male colleagues and am accepted by them.
You have worked at various savings banks over the past 27 years. Why did you never switch to a private commercial bank?
I grew up in Hungary and initially wanted to study hotel management. However, when I first walked into a savings bank branch in Siegerland and saw the smartly dressed employees, I realised that this was what I wanted to do. I then started my training at Stadtsparkasse Köln. I embody the values of savings banks: unlike private banks, we prioritise maximising gains for the region and its people over maximising profits. Our culture, dynamism, agility and the fun and implementation power of our employees fit my personality perfectly. Even though I have received offers from other banks in the past, I know that a change is out of the question.
You are now a member of the Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf board, responsible for corporate customers. What are the main focal points of your work, and how do you utilise your strengths?
I am committed to securing the future and transforming the world into a more sustainable place. By that, I mean not only the transformation of Stadtsparkasse, but also supporting our customers on this journey. The personal and professional development of all employees is also very important to me because a strong bank relies on satisfied, healthy and resilient employees who keep up with the times. My willingness to change is certainly one of my greatest strengths. Only then can long-term growth be achieved, and the prosperity of the Düsseldorf region is a strategic goal of Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf.
„being part of a successful team, supporting and cheering each other on, and being accepted as a team leader“
Banks may be more conservative than other industries, but remote working has also arrived at your company since the pandemic. How has this changed the way you work?
The pandemic has acted as an accelerator for us, as it has for all other companies, and has demonstrated the success of the mobile office model. It is very important to us that the teams continue to function well, so we still have days when everyone is required to be present. However, there is no blanket rule for the entire company because different units have different needs. This is why it is important that we have good managers who can lead by example and manage this situation with tact and sensitivity. This combination of remote and in-person work better fits today's lifestyles. It's also more sustainable, as employees spend less time travelling, and it's more appealing to specialists and managers, as distance plays a smaller role.
The focus of this VIVID issue is on international business. What role does this topic play for you?
We are the third-largest savings bank in North Rhine-Westphalia, and our unique selling point is that we manage our international business in-house. I am responsible for this department. As well as handling all currency and forward transactions, it also manages letters of credit abroad. For other transactions, we collaborate with our partner Deutsche Leasing. If there are any special circumstances, such as American subsidies at the time, we analyse how these affect our clients and how we can support them.
What are your biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge is sustainable transformation, which also represents the greatest growth potential for the economy. Climate change and the necessary reduction of greenhouse gases present us all with enormous challenges. This requires us to examine our daily actions and consider how we live and work. At Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf, we aim to combine economic goals with social and environmental responsibility. For me, however, transformation also means recognising and exploiting opportunities. It is important to me that we adopt an optimistic approach to this task. After all, sustainable transformation is an ongoing process, not a short-term project. Another important aspect of our future is digitalisation and AI. At Stadtsparkasse, we use a system called SKI Pilot: This is an internal artificial intelligence system that is continuously being developed to make it particularly well suited to our customers and us. With the SKI Pilot, we are combining tradition and practicality with the future, developing a pilot project for modern banking.
ABOUT HENRIETTA SIX
• Since 05/2023: Member of the Board of Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf:
Responsible for corporate customers, real estate, institutional customers, sales management, corporate customers and treasury
• 10/2022 to 04/2023:
Deputy member of the Board of Management of Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf
• 10/2019 to 09/2022:
Head of Corporate and Municipal/Corporate Customer Centre at Sparkasse Krefeld
• 06/2005 to 09/2019:
Various management positions at Sparkasse KölnBonn
• 01/1998 to 08/2004:
Various positions at Stadtsparkasse Köln
• Personal background:
Lives in Düsseldorf and Cologne
What do you think needs to change for Germany to get back on track for growth?
We need more flexible framework conditions to start making the current billion-pound investments. This is where local authorities, municipalities and politicians come in. Although the figures do not yet reflect this, we are seeing a positive trend. The Ifo Institute for Economic Research has just published a report stating that the business climate brightened in August for the sixth consecutive month. In the real estate sector, after a prolonged period of restraint, the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks reports that 17 per cent more people applied for residential property loans this year than last year.
When you joined the board in mid-2023, Karin-Brigitte Göbel was still chairwoman. How do you intend to address the issue of promoting women at Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf?
With women currently making up 44 per cent of our workforce, we are one of the organisations that takes diversity seriously. However, this figure alone is not enough for us. More and more women are also taking on responsibility at management level, and we want to build on that. In September 2024, for example, we launched the 'Finally Visible' programme. This three-month programme is aimed at female colleagues at all stages of life and career who wish to enhance their visibility and influence. It is often the small steps that bring about big changes. The programme aims to promote greater self-confidence, joy, motivation and the ability to contribute good ideas and take on responsibility in everyday life. Our female customers also deserve more attention, as well as tailor-made offers. That is why we launched the ‘Female Finance’ programme, which we successfully expanded last year. Financial independence is a key issue for many women, and we want to ensure that every woman has the necessary tools and knowledge to shape her own financial future. However, I don't want to give the impression that we are neglecting men. As I mentioned earlier, even as a girl, I preferred playing with boys. Mixed teams are best – I firmly believe that.
What do you particularly like about Düsseldorf?
Düsseldorf is liveable, lovable and compact. We have a strong sense of community here, and a mentality of working together. This enables us to create added value time and again because we are stronger together. I also like the huge range of cultural activities on offer. That's why I love living and working in Düsseldorf.•
„We are the third-largest savings bank in North Rhine-Westphalia, and our unique selling point is that we manage our international business in-house“
Interview: Rainer Kunst
Words: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Celine Al-Mosawi