Alumni portrait: Daniela Hein
"For me, it was a course of study that opened up so many opportunities afterwards."
Mechanical engineering is one of the most popular subjects in Germany. According to Statista, around 80 thousand students have enrolled for this popular subject in the winter semester 2024/2025. Dr.-Ing. Daniela Hein was already ahead of her time. She decided to study mechanical engineering at the then Gesamthochschule Siegen back in 1995. She has been Managing Director of the VDI Society for Product and Process Design since 2009.
What does a normal working day as Managing Director at the VDI look like? This question is not so easy to answer. Because there is no such thing as a routine working day. "The work is totally varied," says Hein. There are twelve specialist societies at the VDI. These include specialist areas ranging from A for architecture to Z for reliability. This is unique as an association, as associations usually only have one focus, for example on the construction or chemical industry. Things are a little different here.
Daniela Hein is responsible for the specialist association "Product and Process Design". There are specialist areas ranging from technical sales and product management to classic product development, value analysis/value management, safety and vibration technology. "A pretty colorful bouquet of flowers," she adds with a smile. Hein works in the non-profit part of the VDI, the VDI e.V., which represents 130,000 members. Engineers, scientists and IT specialists can be part of this community. She has been a full-time member of the association since 2005.
