In this episode of the ‘amtlich voran’ podcast, I speak to Anita Schönweiss, Head of the Central Division at the Bavarian School of Public Administration (BVS) – one of the most important educational institutions for initial and continuing training in the public sector in Bavaria. Her career path is anything but conventional: from the hospitality industry, through more than 20 years at the Federal Employment Agency, to a leadership role in which she is actively shaping the future of learning, administration and organisation. A quote from the conversation that particularly stuck with me: “At first glance, digitalisation projects are technology projects – in reality, they are people projects.” – Among other things, we discussed the following topics:
👥 Why digital transformation starts with people
New technologies and AI are fundamentally transforming public administration. Anita explains why successful transformation does not depend on technology, but on getting people on board, building new skills and creating a sense of security amidst change.
🚀 Future-proof leadership requires courage and clarity
Leadership today means far more than simply managing processes. You’ll learn why empathy, communication, a willingness to embrace change and clear direction are among the most important skills for modern leaders.
🎯 Rethinking employer branding in the public sector
From social media recruitment and short team videos to modern working conditions: the BVS shows how public sector employers can attract talent and retain it in the long term.
🔗 Further links
- LinkedIn: Anita Schönweiss
- ‘amtlich voran’ website with all the information, including details of the forum on 1 October in Berlin
- ‘amtlich voran’ Spotify playlist featuring all previous episodes
‘amtlich voran’ is a collaboration between EMBRACE and the ZEIT Publishing Group.
🎧 If you’d like to know how public administration can successfully combine digitalisation, modern leadership and meaningful work, you should definitely have a listen to this episode. You’ll gain fascinating insights into the future of the public sector – and plenty of inspiration for leadership and transformation.