Careers do not grow by ticking boxes or chasing titles

Melanie Kreis, CFO, DHL Group, describes herself as ‘curious, collaborative and pragmatic’. She doesn’t use the word ‘powerful’; that she leaves to the others. Kreis was recognised on Fortune’s 2023 ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’ list as well as on Forbes’ 2025 ‘Power Women’ list, highlighting her influence as CFO of DHL Group and her role in steering the global logistics giant’s financial and strategic growth.

A physicist by training, Melanie brings a strong analytical and systems-led perspective to her role in finance and leadership. But even beyond the boardroom, she is an inspiration to young women. Recently, she shared her advice for women at the FEM. - Female Leadership at WHU - a student-led platform focused on advancing female leadership in business. In an interview with ET Panache, Kreis talks about power, position and about her special connection to India.

You have a special relationship with India, having first travelled here at the age of 16. How did that trip shape you, and what stays with you today?


That trip in 1987 really expanded my horizon. I was a teenager, and suddenly I was surrounded by a culture, an energy, and a history that was completely new to me. It was an experience no classroom could ever give you. India’s fight for independence also impressed me deeply. I had watched the movie Gandhi before my visit, and seeing the country in real life made that history feel very present. Those experiences stayed with me and nurtured my curiosity for exploring other cultures and parts of the world – I find it incredibly enriching to look beyond the environment in which you grow up.

How does your background in physics help you in business today?

Physics teaches you to break problems into manageable pieces. It gives you a very natural feeling for numbers, and it requires you to be precise. I use that every day. In a large organisation, complexity can slow you down. My physics training helps me explain complicated topics in a simple way.

What does success mean to you now, and how has that definition changed over time?

Early in my career, success was about mastering challenges and proving myself. Today, success is much more about impact and people. I feel successful when teams grow, when young colleagues gain confidence, and when your company moves forward as one team. Over time, you realize that leadership is not about you. It is about what you enable in others.

You were featured on ‘Most Powerful Women’ lists. When do you feel most powerful?

Power is not an individual feeling for me. It is the energy that comes from collaboration. When people trust each other and share the same goal, that is when I feel we can achieve almost anything.

What advice would you give young women on finding their power?

Stay curious, stay grounded, and know your strengths. Very often, power comes from the ability to leverage your strength in the right way. When you understand what you bring to the table, you stand differently, you speak differently, and you lead differently. Also, ask for help. Nobody grows alone.

If someone feels that they have lost their power in work, life, or relationships, do you have advice on how to regain it?

Start with one step. When you feel overwhelmed, the worst thing is to freeze. Break the situation into small elements, understand what you can control, and rebuild from there. Also, go back to the things that give you energy. For me, that is running outdoors, spending time with my family and old friends and reading fiction before I go to sleep.

What advice would you give someone stepping into their first executive role?

Listen first. Understand your team and where each team member has strengths and areas for improvement. Learn how the organisation really works. And remember that you do not need to know everything. Your job is to unlock the strengths of others.

What is a question you wish people asked you more often?

I wish people asked more often about what keeps me curious. Curiosity drives learning, innovation, and good leadership.

What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?

As a child, I wanted to become an astronaut. Later, that dream ended because I needed glasses, and I realised on a funfair ride that I did not have the stomach for space travel.

You shared ‘15 pieces of advice’ with female students recently. What are your top three?

Let me highlight three important ones. First, do what you do with passion. Careers do not grow by ticking boxes or chasing titles. They grow through curiosity and by choosing opportunities that challenge you. Second, growth happens outside your comfort zone. Things will go wrong, and when they do, action matters more than hope. Third, trust your team. Leadership means shifting from being a player to becoming a coach. Delegation is not a weakness; it is a fundamental “must” for a leader. My own path was not linear. It developed through curiosity, commitment, and being willing to step up. And yes, I also had the so often helpful bit of good luck.