TOP TALENTS IN INDUSTRY
They are among the top talents in the German economy and are the first women to hold senior management positions in the automotive and chemical industries in Düsseldorf. We spoke to Claudia Malkus (Mercedes-Benz) and Helya Masoud (BASF) about leadership, responsibility, transformation, role models, and courage.
The BASF site in Düsseldorf-Holthausen is the world's largest for cosmetic ingredients.
Claudia Malkus and Helya Masoud, how did you start your careers?
Claudia Malkus is at the helm of the world's largest production site for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
MalkusI have been extremely tech-savvy since childhood, tinkering with things myself and dreaming early on of one day working at Mercedes-Benz. This enthusiasm has shaped my career path. Since joining Mercedes-Benz, my passion for bringing technology and people together has grown. From an early stage, I had the goal of taking on a Site Manager role one day, because I want to take on holistic responsibility and design.
Masoud In my youth, I was interested in professions such as judge, doctor or physicist. Ultimately, however, my fascination with technology and my enthusiasm for designing processes and creating tangible products won out. I therefore decided to study mechanical engineering with a focus on process engineering. I was attracted by the combination of analytical thinking, technical solutions and empathy. I am a hands-on person and I now do what I truly enjoy: connecting technical processes with people.
What distinguishes you as a manager?
Masoud In this economically challenging environment, great leadership skills are required. We must take action, lead the way, and maintain our optimism throughout. My team and I believe that we are growing competitively here, where we serve many brands in the personal care sector. The prerequisite for this is constant progress. For me, this means providing guidance and clarity on decisions above all, enabling development, and bringing together different perspectives, because only together can we be successful. Leadership also means setting clear priorities for me. I want to secure the future of this plant and offer it a perspective.
Malkus One of my strengths is my passion for actively shaping the future. I am proud of how we are modernising our Düsseldorf plant and preparing for the vans of the future. We are already producing CO₂-neutral here and implementing a wide range of construction projects to make manufacturing more efficient, flexible and digital. For instance, we are currently developing a new top coat for painting our vehicles and a new logistics centre. However, achieving economic viability and sustainability at this location can only be done with the help of people. It is important to me to communicate the positive aspects of change, involve employees, provide guidance and make expectations transparent.
Mechanical engineer Helya Masoud is managing director and plant manager of the BASF site in Düsseldorf.
What is female leadership like?
Malkus For me, performance and commitment come first. I want to convince people through clear communication and respectful cooperation, and to achieve good results. Mercedes-Benz actively supports this approach, with promoting women being an important area of action. I see being a role model through my actions as a huge opportunity, and I want to show that diversity in the management team is an asset.
Masoud As a site manager, I am aware that I have special visibility. I use this visibility specifically to inspire others and encourage them to apply for jobs. I am delighted when talented women apply for jobs because they have seen me in this position. Throughout my career, I have always been one of very few women in my position. I learned early on that being underestimated initially is not necessarily a setback. Convincing others through performance and commitment leaves a lasting impression. You have to believe in yourself. Supporters who believe in you can help you along the way. That's why I enjoy mentoring and passing on my knowledge and experience to support my mentees in their careers, especially women.
„Achieving economic viability and sustainability at this location can only be done with the help of people“
What skills do you need as a manager?
Malkus When working with people and leading teams, a combination of strong communication skills, empathy, and strategic thinking is crucial. At a location with such a long tradition as our plant in Düsseldorf, it's especially important to involve people in the transformation. Modern leadership means setting goals, responding agilely to change, being innovative, and creating an environment in which employees can fulfil their potential.
Masoud I agree. I enjoy giving my employees feedback and often ask for feedback myself. This is the only way to grow and develop professionally and personally. Overall, our BASF leadership values sum this up well: creativity, openness, responsibility and entrepreneurial action. In other words, recognising opportunities, offering the team psychological security, and actively shaping the future.
What needs to change to enable more talented women to gain a foothold in the industry?
Malkus At Mercedes-Benz, we set ourselves the goal of continuously increasing the proportion of women in senior management positions in Germany back in 2006. We need visible role models and targeted support. It is important to get girls and young women excited about technical careers at an early age (think Girls' and Boys' Day). Together with the 'Komm auf Tour' initiative, we offer the chance to experience everyday working life at a car manufacturer first-hand. Additionally, structural changes and an open corporate culture that embraces diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities for all employees are essential.
Masoud Our global BASF goal is to have 30 per cent women in management positions worldwide by 2030. To this end, we have STEM initiatives that start in early childhood and extend to the design of our workplaces. Ultimately, what matters is contribution to success, not gender. That is why we are fundamentally committed to diversity: true innovative strength comes from a variety of perspectives.
ABOUT CLAUDIA MALKUS
For the first time in its 64-year history, the world's largest production site for the Sprinter panel van, located in Düsseldorf, is being managed by a woman. Claudia Malkus, an engineer, took over the Mercedes plant in Derendorf in October 2025. The 40-year-old began her career in 2012 at Mercedes-Benz in Hamburg as a planning engineer for lightweight construction technologies. After working in Mexico, she took charge of the battery production network in Europe in 2023.
Where do you recharge your batteries? Do you play sports?
Masoud I recharge my batteries in two ways. In my free time, I spend time with my family, friends, and other people close to me. I play tennis, but I'm still looking for 'my' club in Düsseldorf. Professionally, I draw energy from achieving results together as a team. For example, when a plan has worked out or we've made a decision as a team that moves us forward.
Malkus I enjoy helping people develop. Seeing them grow fulfils me. The same applies to sport, especially horse riding. As a dressage rider, I am fascinated by how you can work in harmony with a partner — in this case, the horse — without words, and achieve success together. The interplay of trust, clarity and passion drives me.
Are you courageous?
MasoudYes, and curious. To me, courage means taking responsibility when it matters and seizing opportunities, not taking risks. I took on a prominent role in my work in Düsseldorf with confidence, but also with prudence and respect.
Malkus Courage plays a big role in my life. I speak my mind and stand by what I say. I would like to tell young women to be brave! Technical professions in particular offer enormous opportunities to get involved and forge your own path. •
ABOUT HELYA MASOUD
Born in Tehran in 1984 and raised in Düsseldorf and Duisburg, Helya Masoud began her career at Linde Engineering in 2009 as an automation engineer for air separation plants, having studied mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University. This was followed by management positions in Qatar. In 2015, she moved to BASF SE, where she has been Vice President of Energy Supply in Ludwigshafen since 2021. Since September 2025, she has been Managing Director and Site Manager at BASF's Holthausen site, which is the company's largest worldwide for cosmetic ingredients and employs 1,300 people.
Words: Dagmar Haas-Pilwat
Pictures: BASF, Mercedes-Benz AG, Falco Peters