Naomi Ryland

Co-Founder
tbd* / The Changer GmbH

Applied in the category: Purpose Communications

With which digital project do you want to apply in this category?

tbd* is the go-to platform for purpose-driven professionals. It's a digital community to support people to find a job, get coached, locate funding, hire the right team, share best practices, or learn from others who are using their careers to make an impact. We have reached several million people since founding in 2014 and also pioneered New Work ourselves. We have shifted from hierarchical to self-organised, and have documented our journey and our learnings. We have regularly published a salary report for the impact sector to create transparency and highlight inequalities such as the gender pay gap. One of our main focusses has been on building racial Diversity and Belonging in the impact sector. This year I am stepping down as Managing Director in order to make space for a Black woman from our team to take on the role and take the company to the next level.

How does digitization shape your career?

I founded Germany's leading digital hub for purpose-driven careers. We have reached several million people digitally since founding and helped to connect them to purpose-driven organisations. We run coaching programmes digitally, I published a book by crowdfunding it digitally. My entire business and career has been built on digital.

What makes you a digital female leader?

I founded tbd*, a purpose-tech company, in 2014 which has grown to become Germany's leading careers platform and community for purpose-driven professionals. I have pioneered feminist leadership, moving tbd* from hierarchical to self-organised and building a brand around purposeful work. I wrote a book called "Starting a Revolution: what we can learn from female entrepreneurs about the future of business" in which we also give other female leaders more visibility, published by Ullstein.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is learning to lead yourself before you lead others.