In our series "Member Introduction" we introduce active bwomen members to the community. Mareike Fuisz answered our questions below and is looking forward to meeting you!
Working Mother of 2 with a girl with Down Syndrome she learned to be flexible in life, thinks out of the box and is open to many different aspects, specialized in the field of diversity and Artificial Intelligence. Thank you, Mareike!  

Who is Mareike Fuisz?
I am a human being passionate about life in all its forms. Having grown up on the countryside in Northern Germany, I now live in Bonn with my wonderful family; my husband and our two children, 7 and 5 years old.

Like for all of us, our diamond of life shines in many facets. My mission is to make this world a better place for my daughter with Down Syndrome, and thus for all of us. I am a keynote speaker on Diversity, Mindset and Artificial Intelligence. I also work with companies and universities around these topics. I organize virtual summits on Down Syndrome. I am also a dedicated yoga teacher (and student) and have a corporate background as top manager in telecommunications.

I’m all in for stepping up for topics that need to be addressed to shape our future in a human way. The further I get in personal development (maybe also: the older I get ;-)), the less I care about people putting me in “drawers” – because, hey – there is no one like me, and the same applies to you! This includes promoting diversity on all levels - we are, by nature, diverse, that is a fact! We need all people on the boat to find solutions for current and future tasks; always the same people only repeat always the same answers. And to me it also means taking ownership of present and future technologies for causes beyond short-term financial interests. 

Who or what shaped you the most for your professional career?
Starting with mindset: I was always the “odd one out”. Being a punkrock teenager bringing home the best grades. Being a top manager and a yoga teacher. Being the happiest mother – of a daughter with Down Syndrome. I always wondered: in which of all these places am I right? It always appeared very contradictory to everybody around me, and often I was the only one at all these places with these combinations. Being one of a few female managers deepened that impression further. It took me very, very long, to finally find the place where I am right. And the answer is painfully simple: I am right exactly where I am. To me being in all of these places is not contradictory, it’s simply me, it’s simply my basket full of talents and interest. That really was a revelation to me, and it was relieving and liberating. On top of that, my wonderful daughter is a great teacher on how normal the “special” is. Having learned that, I strongly believe that the lack of diversity -many different people living many different lives- hurts all of us deeply and makes us feel alone. But we are not. - Apart from stages being my zone of genius, I also go out as a showcase, a role model to cut through limiting beliefs on how (in my case) women should be, work or act. Lesson 1: We need more, and more diverse, role models.

Coming to people: I was very lucky to always have people around me who believed in me. Starting with my loving parents: “Whatever you pick to do – it’s good as long as it makes you happy!”. Later on in my professional career I always had bosses -also female ones- who supported me to the next level. Who entrusted me with tasks I could have never imagined to be capable of. Not easy. Not at all. Thus, I grew. And I always looked for and had great teachers to support my development on all levels. I always invest in myself by investing in mentors. Sidenote: I always look for teachers who are good at heart. Lesson 2: We need people who believe in us.

Coming to spirituality: this term means many different things to many different people, and some very much refrain from it. Not only through Yoga in all its aspects, but Yoga being a steady practise of all there is between heaven and earth, my connection to something higher very much guides me. I am convinced that I stepped into this life with all of my talents to use them, as fully as possible, to positively impact the world while I am here. “The world” always starts with me as an individual and from there on radiates to my family, friends, our community, our society… well, the world. Looking at that from another angle, I think it’s a waste of life hiding with what I can contribute, cutting my light – only because other people might think it is strange. Looking at my history and all the gifts, including our daughter and her “normal” younger brother, I feel that promoting diversity -and humanity- is a big part of my purpose. Since speaking, thinking and innovating comes very easy to me, I use that. Spiritual or not: many people ask themselves, very often in transition times like teen-age or menopause, what they are here for, what their purpose in life is. Lesson 3: Dare to ask what you are here for, find your answer for it and move toward that light.

Why are you a bwomen member?
Because there are great female role models in many different aspects! And because I want to connect across boarders. Thank you for creating this platform!

On which topics can other members contact you and where?
On any topic they feel attracted to by what I wrote, whether it’s Down Syndrome, diversity or AI. Whether it’s mindset, visibility or spirituality. You find me on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook and on my websites https://www.mareikefuisz.com and https://www.downsyndromkongress.de