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Mrs. Maron, reading your résumé, I suspect your day has either more than 24 hours or you have three times as much energy as the average citizen. How do you do that?

Maron: The second is almost right. I have a lot of energy. I inherited it from my mother. On top of that, I'm interested in many things. But I also delegate or share many tasks to win free space, e.g. I share my household with my husband. I find this very charming.

Roots in Austria, at home in Franconian, often visiting the children in Ireland, trekking in areas around the world where it’s difficult to write the name of the place, teaching at the International Business School, private work for refugees in Germany – a cosmopolitan gene?

Maron: Exciting question, maybe my son as a human geneticist will discover this in the future... I'm afraid it's much more trivial. It has just developed in my life. It does not happen all at the same time. Family is very important to me. Experiencing nature, immersing yourself in strange cultures and bringing yourself into society as well. Life is colorful and it is nice to be part of it.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Seufert, Head of the "BI / Big Data and Controlling" expert work group recently launched the ICV digitalization offensive. At your employer, the DATEV eG in Nürnberg, you currently work on the digital economy. Do you already have some initial findings and considerations?

Maron: We need exactly such initiatives to meet future challenges. Until recently, I had thought "Controlling is slowly becoming routine for me". Digitization with all the new technical possibilities has fundamentally changed this. In the meantime, I cannot go fast enough with the change. My vision: a "Digi.CoB", a data driven controlling robot that supports us in all commercial processes. At DATEV, we recently presented a feasibility study for an accounting machine, which already reaches a hit rate of 90 percent today. So there are already promising approaches in this direction.

What do you take from a decade of cooperation in the ICV expert work groups - both professionally and personally?

Maron: It has enriched my work incredibly. The combination of science, consulting and practice is the ideal replenishment. Modern and future-oriented topics, which are relevant for controlling, are thus taken on the journey. Personally, I am inspired by the dedicated people I meet. I hope they feel the same.

Since 2012, you have been the Head of the regional ICV work group Franconia. What are the main differences, what are the connecting points with your professional work?

Maron: Connecting points? The people and the fun of the networks. Central differences? In my WG, regional strengths play a very important role. The topics are based on the current requirements of our members and the guest companies, to whom I would like to express a very big thank you. They are the first who make regional work of our Association what it is. My conclusion: The mixture of regional and professional work makes it. And it is great that there are both of them at the ICV.

What suggestions and tips do you have for the Association in general, but also for your colleagues in the expert, sector and regional work groups?

Maron: In 1991 I visited my first seminar with Dr. Dr. Deyhle. He infected me with his enthusiasm for the Association and personally shaped me very much: over all my moves I have kept a signed picture of him by today. Just as he awakened my enthusiasm, so should the Association with its members altogether. Because we need dedicated members who are willing to contribute voluntarily and with pleasure - and thus infect others.

Since this year, you are also ICV Delegate Germany South. In this way you will experience the ICV work from another perspective. What are your goals and how do you want to achieve them?

Maron: I look forward to the new perspective. The ICV is “the” competence center for controlling, and information is the only asset that increases when one shares it. Going along this path, getting to know the strengths of the work groups and participating in the best practices of the regional work of the Association, promoting the networking, exchanging information and transfer of know-how between the various work groups, are at the top of my list.

You have ten work groups under your wings - more than any other regional delegate in the ICV. Do you think someone with your energy is needed at this point, or it does not really matter if you look after five or ten work groups?

Maron: The number is, of course, a criterion. Since I like to engage personally, ten are more than five. Precisely at the beginning the communication and the time required for this are therefore challenging. The real challenge, however, is shouldered by the work group leaders, who do this very well. It is nice to start a new task with this backbone and their support.

All regional work groups, which are assigned to you as a Delegate Deutschland South, are managed by men. How do you experience dealing with them - does the old role-cliché fade away in favor of the understanding that team performance and not gender roles are important? Or do you as a woman still feel reservations?

Maron: On the contrary. I am pleased that my WG leaders colleagues have expressed their confidence in me. This is something special. In addition, I find it great that already four women are active in deputy functions. And maybe this will change faster than we think. In my WG Franconia the choice of the management and deputy is in front of us. The chances are good ... An open and appreciative relationship with each other is a very good prerequisite for a constructive cooperation. If this is the case, the often cited role-cliché plays no role.

10 years of work in the ICV expert work groups, five years – leading a work group, now regional delegate - what else do you shoulder in five years in and for the ICV?

Maron: First of all, it is important to me to start well at my new task. I have a lot of ideas, and if some of them enrich and advance ICV, then a lot is achieved already. What do I do in five years? Quite honestly - I cannot say that today. It is important, it has to make sense and make fun. From today's point of view, I cannot imagine that the ICV can’t find any more ideas and challenges.

Your voluntary commitment in the ICV, but also in your place of residence, is enormous. Why do you do that?

Maron: That's easy to answer. It enriches my life and I get much more back than I expect. I believe that social commitment will become even more important in the future.

What do you think, how can people - especially young ones - get committed to volunteering - and why should they do it in the ICV?

Maron: People get involved when they are motivated and also can motivate. This also applies to the younger generations. However, do it in a different way and pay attention to the compatibility with your life goals. The "classical" Association structures fit therefore no longer into all the manifestations of voluntary commitment. We should openly discuss further forms of participation and action in the Association.