“I see myself as a “Pippi Longstocking entrepreneur” because I have built the world to suit my needs.”

More and more women are deciding to start their own business – in was 2024, almost every second company in Austria founded by a woman. One of them is Jana Sabel, 28, founder and Managing Director of Vizzard Studios. Even before she completed her B.Sc. in business administration at WU, she became a mother and founded her company – an achievement that earned her a place in our Hall of Femmes!

WU Blog: Who is your female role model and why?

Jana Sabel: My great aunt. Despite the circumstances of an early pregnancy, she successfully led her parents’ business into a new era, had a total of four children, unfortunately lost two tragically many years ago and yet never gave up. I deeply admire this strength of character and the ability to deal with all of life’s adversities, even when it demands everything of you.

WU Blog: How do you promote female colleagues in your environment?

Jana Sabel: Always with open words or an open door. If someone asks me for advice or help, I’m happy to give it. I’m also always happy when I can connect people with each other. But I generally do that for everyone, not just female colleagues.

WU Blog: What tips do you have for female managers and those who want to become one?

Jana Sabel: Do it. Nothing is more effective than tackling things. It often takes courage. You have to train it like a muscle and dare to go out and “do” every day anew. We women are said to take longer to think things through, to be more passive and therefore less capable of taking action. We have to disprove this every day, because I don’t believe this cliché. That’s why I encourage my female colleagues to do everything they can to disprove it together.

WU Blog: You founded your company Vizzard while you were still studying and pregnant: Looking back, would you do it exactly the same way again or what would you like to do differently?

Jana Sabel: The Covid situation was the right time for to be born, so I don’t know if I would start the exact same business again. But I’m pretty sure that even today, three years later, the opportunities for young mothers who are about to finish their studies and are worried about having small children, the career opportunities on the job market are limited and starting a business can be something like “an escape to the future”.Vizzard

If you believe in the cause and in yourself, anything is possible.

I like to call myself a “Pippi Longstocking entrepreneur” because I have built the world in a way that suits me, my professional ambitions and my role as a mother. At the same time, I don’t want to sugarcoat it. Being an entrepreneur simply brings with it other worries and challenges, and in some situations the obligations towards your own child inhibit your agility. However, I have never regretted taking the step into entrepreneurship and would definitely start up again. Vizzard Studios is just the beginning 😉

More about the WU Hall of Femmes

The “Hall project of Femmes” aims to increase the visibility of women at WU and related to WU and to empower other women by creating role models. In short interviews, the women interviewed describe their career paths, report on decisive success factors for their professional development and give personal career recommendations. The interviews will be published in a series over several weeks on the WU blog.