Begoña, the founder and director of Frauenalia, joined us to share her personal journey from Spain to Germany, and how becoming a mother led her to reimagine her professional life. Through Frauenalia, she helps other migrant women navigate the German labor market and build fulfilling careers.

Sigrid
This is the part of the show I love the most—I get to talk to incredible people. Today’s guest is one of those power Frauen in Germany. She’s not only a powerhouse professionally, but someone I’ve known in a completely different context. And now, I get to interview her as the founder and director of Frauenalia. Begoña, thank you so much for being with us today.

Begoña
Thank you so much, Sigrid, for the invitation. It’s truly a pleasure to be here—and yes, after knowing each other for so long in other contexts, meeting today on the podcast is a real joy.

They begin with the personal journey that shaped Begoña and eventually led to Frauenalia.

Sigrid
Let’s start with the basics. Who is Begoña—and what is Frauenalia?

Begoña
Maybe it makes sense to start with me, because the story of Frauenalia is closely connected to my own. I’m a Spaniard from Andalusia and I’ve been living in Germany for the past 25 years. At this point, I often say I’m half-German—half my heart is in Berlin, and the other half remains in Spain.

The first time I came to Berlin was in 1996, during my university years. I did an internship and immediately fell in love with the city. It was summer, and I had only brought autumn clothes from Andalusia—it was so warm that I had to go shopping for t-shirts and shorts.
Three years later, I returned—this time in October. And that was a shock. The city I fell in love with during a warm, vibrant summer suddenly felt cold and grey. My first winter in Berlin wasn’t easy. But spring came, then summer again, and I remembered why I loved it here. I’ve been in Berlin ever since.

Professionally, I’m a lawyer. I practiced law here for 15 years and became a partner in a law firm. But when I became a mother, everything changed. I realized I couldn’t keep up the rhythm of my legal career while also being present for my son. So I took a break.
That break was life-changing. Until then, I saw myself as an “international lawyer in Berlin.” But becoming a mother made me confront a deeper truth: I was a migrant here. I went through a second migration process—one that many women experience, but rarely talk about—even after already living here for 15 years.

Begoña describes the turning point where motherhood and career identity collided—and eventually gave birth to a new mission.

Sigrid
So after more than a decade in Germany, you suddenly began to feel the migrant experience in a new way?

Begoña
Exactly. I realized I couldn’t continue working in law and still be the mother I wanted to be. I wanted to pick up my child every day from daycare. I wanted time with him. And everyone around me kept asking, “You’re a lawyer—what else could you possibly do?”
At that moment, I started meeting other expat women in Berlin—highly qualified women with degrees, professional experience, and great potential—who had given up their careers because of the migration process.

They didn’t speak German well, they didn’t know the system, and they had no network. And I thought: if it’s this hard for me—with a legal career, strong German skills, and 15 years of experience—how hard must it be for them?

That’s what gave me the idea for Frauenalia. We help expat women in Germany continue their professional careers, either as employees or as entrepreneurs. It’s not just about getting “a job”—it’s about growing professionally and building a meaningful future in this country.

Sigrid reflects on the emotional side of migration: identity, grief, and reinvention.

Sigrid
Something we don’t talk enough about is the grief that comes with migration. It’s not just starting from zero—you also have to let go of the version of yourself you expected to become back home.

Begoña
Absolutely. Part of the migration journey is releasing who you thought you were going to be, so that a new identity can emerge. And that takes bravery.
We’ve seen so many women go through that transformation with us—many of them now work in German companies or have founded their own businesses. Some never imagined themselves as entrepreneurs, but migration sparked entirely new paths of development.

The conversation shifts to the specific challenges women face in adapting professionally to Germany.

Sigrid
In your experience, what are the most difficult aspects of adapting as a woman in Germany—especially in the workplace?

Begoña
There isn’t a single answer, but there are recurring challenges we see again and again. One is language. Many people think that reaching B2 in German is enough—but it’s not. I once attended a conference where a speaker called it “the B2 illusion.” At that level, you can say “yes” or “no”—but not participate fully in the professional world. And accents can add another layer of insecurity.

Another big issue is understanding the system. We’ve had women tell us, “I sent 80 CVs and heard nothing.” Meanwhile, employers say they receive applications that don’t match the job requirements at all. The application process in Germany is very specific, and many don’t know how it works.

Then there’s intercultural awareness. Every culture has its own way of communicating and working. Accepting and embracing German culture is part of building your new identity here. Without that, it’s hard to feel at peace with your life and career.

Sigrid
So you’re basically saying—it’s a lifelong task.

Begoña
Yes. You never stop learning German. And yes, many of us go through what I call the “accent trauma”—that feeling of still sounding foreign after so many years. But now I say: this is who I am.
Begoña speaks with an accent in German, in English—in whatever language. It’s part of my identity. And once you accept that, it’s very freeing.

Sigrid
That’s such a beautiful way to put it—embrace your accent, embrace who you’ve become.

They turn to cultural stereotypes—and how they shape our expectations of Germans, often in unhelpful ways.

Sigrid
As a Mexican, I get stereotyped all the time—cartels, Speedy Gonzales, or “Arriba arriba!” It’s absurd.
When people come to Germany, they often have a romanticized or rigid view of “how Germans are.” But reality is much more complex.

Begoña
Exactly. At Frauenalia, we always encourage women to let go of stereotypes. Every culture has common traits, but not every individual reflects them. Just because you had one bad interaction at a bakery doesn’t mean all Germans are unfriendly.
Or just because some Germans book appointments two months in advance doesn’t mean everyone does. These kinds of assumptions can block real connection. If you shift your perspective, it becomes easier to interact and integrate.

Sigrid
Intercultural communication is still new for many people—and often misunderstood. What are the tools that Frauenaliaoffers?

Begoña
We work across two areas: professional reintegration into the labor market and entrepreneurship. We offer government-subsidized programs that include workshops, group coaching, and individual coaching sessions. Our goal is to provide each woman with a full journey—from self-awareness to action.
Some women come to us with business ideas that need refining. Others are looking to re-enter the job market. Either way, we help them build realistic, achievable pathways that align with their current lives in Germany.

The conversation closes with a reflection on identity, mindset shifts, and cultural integration.

Sigrid
You’re so well integrated—your answers already show it! So what are the “German traits” you’ve consciously adopted?

Begoña
Migration allows us to rebuild our identity in a conscious way. You get to decide which elements of the new culture you want to make your own. For me, I’ve adopted punctuality. In Spain, arriving late can be polite. Here, it’s not. I’ve also embraced a word we don’t even have in Spanish—Sachlichkeit—which means objectivity. In business, this ability to stay neutral and emotionally clear has been incredibly valuable.

Another shift for me is not taking things personally. That’s something I’ve really learned from German culture. In many cultures, we internalize criticism or jokes. But learning not to take things personally makes life so much easier.

Sigrid
Where can people find Frauenalia if they’d like to connect?

Begoña
People can find us on our website. We’re also on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Sigrid
Begoña, thank you so much for being with us today.

Begoña
Thank you, Sigrid. It was a pleasure talking with you.