Interview With Ilka Noack

About Ilka 

Ilka Noack is the Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at ChemCon GmbH. She began her career with a solid foundation in Food Chemistry, earning her diploma from the Technical University of Dresden. Following her studies, she gained valuable experience as a Scientific Associate at the University of Dresden. Ilka then served as the Head of Operations at Micronisierungs-Kontor Oberrot GmbH, where she oversaw GMP-compliant production, production management, quality control, and quality assurance. 

In 2015, Ilka joined ChemCon GmbH as a QA Manager. Her expertise and leadership quickly propelled her to the role of Vice Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs in 2017. Since June 2024, she has been leading the department as its director, continuing to ensure the highest standards in quality assurance and regulatory compliance for the company.

Interview

What does your company do to support diversity in the workplace?

• Firstly, I believe it is very important that our company offers flexible working hours. At ChemCon, we have the opportunity to balance family life alongside our work responsibilities. We offer options such as home office, parental leave, reduced working hours, and a flexible time model with 80%, 50%, or 30% workloads. This flexibility is particularly crucial for women with children, as it allows them to initially reduce their working hours and then increase them again once their children are older. Personally, I started at ChemCon with a 100% workload, reduced it to 50% when my children were small, increased it to 80% later, and now I am back to working 100%. I also work partially from home.
• I believe that the ability to work from home is especially important for women with children. It provides the flexibility to respond to problems or difficulties at short notice, allowing for spontaneous days off or working from home as needed. The company supports this model, and I think it is a very good and important decision to foster a healthy work-life balance.

What industry organizations are you involved with and how has this enhanced your leadership skills and career development?

• I actively participate in industry-specific events organized by WVIB Schwarzwald AG (Trade Association Industrial Companies Baden) and VCI (Association of the Chemical Industry). As Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs I also attend events and meetings of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Medicines Agency, maintaining these relationships on behalf of our company. Although the number of men in these authorities is still significantly higher than that of women, I have noticed an increasing presence of women as inspectors and managers in recent years.
• Our goal as a company, and my personal goal through my current promotion to QA and QC management, is to improve communication with the Ministry of Economic and Social Affairs, Regional Council Tuebingen and industry associations, and to intensify our involvement in these processes. This engagement has significantly enhanced my leadership skills and contributed to my career development by providing valuable networking opportunities and insights into industry regulations and best practices.

What do you see as the future of women in the Pharma Industry?

• I am very optimistic about the future for women in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Increasing flexibility is enabling more women to move into leadership positions. Just 10 or 15 years ago, the German pharmaceutical industry largely followed the traditional model where men occupied management roles and women were expected to take care of their families. However, over the past five years, digitalization has provided women in Germany, including those in the pharmaceutical industry, with more opportunities to advance their careers.
• The hybrid working model, flexible working hours and digitalization are all extremely beneficial for women looking to build their careers. It is also crucial that women themselves are motivated to reach leadership positions, have confidence in their abilities and receive support and encouragement from their companies.

How do/did you network successfully within an international company?

• Successful networking within an international company involves both digital and faceto-face interactions. Digitally, it is important to engage through emails and social media platforms like LinkedIn to expand your network. Phone calls and online meetings have become increasingly popular, especially post-COVID-19, and help maintain regular contact with customers and partners, allowing for timely responses to day-to-day challenges.
• However, I also believe that face-to-face communication remains vital. I often travel to meet potential and existing customers, partners, organizations and authorities in person to discuss important issues. Personal relationships are essential for business development and shaping the future. While digital tools are convenient and necessary, personal contacts are, and will continue to be, the cornerstone of successful networking for me.

What is the one piece of advice that you would give to women in the Pharma Industry that will help them become better leaders?

• My advice to women aspiring to leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry is to have the courage and determination to pursue these roles. It is not enough to simply desire a leadership position; you must also possess the strength and knowledge to achieve it. Be active and proactive, and remain persistent in your efforts.
• Self-confidence is crucial, perhaps even more so than support from family or employers. I encourage all women to have faith in themselves, actively plan their future and strive to achieve their goals. Anything is possible with determination and hard work.