100% this. In order to become a company leader in Germany you have to do things in a conservative way how 'it's always been done'. Be male, older and have a Ph.

100% this. In order to become a company leader in Germany you have to do things in a conservative way how 'it's always been done'. Be male, older and have a Ph.D. Just look at an average board of directors and you'll see 90% PhDs. No, they aren't any more intelligent or better educated nor trained. They just sucked up for more and more years to a professor at uni to get their PhD in something business. Doesn't help at all in actually RUNNING a business, but that's just how it's been done to get ahead.