New lioness Tijen Onaran reveals what makes her the new “lion’s den” investor and how she combines job and private life.
The 14th “Die Höhle der Löwen” season starts on August 28 (8:15 p.m. on VOX, also on RTL +). In the program, founders present their products and ideas again. In the new season, in addition to the well-known investors Ralf Dümmel (56), Carsten Maschmeyer (64), Nils Glagau (47), Dagmar Wöhrl (69), Janna Ensthaler (39) and Tillman Schulz (33), this time new lioness Tijen Onaran (38) place.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the entrepreneur, investor and author reveals what she particularly appreciates about the start-up show, what her relationship with the experienced lions is like and how she balances her private and professional life.
You are the new investor in the “Lion’s Den”: What do viewers who don’t know you need to know about you?
Tijen Onaran: Being direct, honest and to the point. That I worked everything out for myself, so I didn’t inherit anything, married into it, or won the lottery. And that I am convinced that innovative products only come about through diversity.
Your “DHDL” assignment is a dream come true for you. What do you appreciate so much about the show?
Onaran: There’s a lot of hard work behind making dreams come true. What I appreciate about the show is that it’s real – real emotions, real founders and real lionesses. This creates friction, discourse and also exciting business – I like that.
Which lion/lioness has always impressed you the most while watching in front of the TV and what was it like to get to know the lions then?
Onaran: Some of the lionesses and lions I knew before. Since I give a lot of keynotes and work with different CEOs, I have come across the business models of the lionesses and lions themselves before. We are all connected by real entrepreneurship and the desire for innovation – I was looking forward to that on the show and also experienced it.
Judith Williams is not there this time. Have you felt pressure to be a due replacement?
Onaran: Judith Williams is a successful and inspiring entrepreneur and she was one of the most popular lionesses. So being compared to her is a nice compliment. We knew each other before and respect each other.
How did you approach your new task, did you learn something from your colleagues when negotiating deals?
Onaran: In recent years I have founded several companies, invested in start-ups, launched my own products and built up a lot of visibility. Anyone who experiences me before the show, during the show and after the show will find out: I can negotiate inside out. Copying is not in my DNA.
Who do you think is the biggest competition among the lions?
Onaran: Competition isn’t a category I think in. For me it is crucial that the business models of the founders are so exciting that I even want to invest and see the added value of the business.
Can you imagine staying loyal to the show as an investor in the long term?
Onaran: I don’t do things by halves.
In the VOX interview, you describe yourself as a climber who had nothing and built everything yourself. How did your professional beginnings look like?
Onaran: As an ascender, I’ve always been a lioness. Because as a woman with a migration background and this social background, you have to work three times as much. You have to build networks yourself, earn your own finances and be your own biggest role model. My professional beginnings were therefore characterized by many ups and downs – whether it was financing my studies with several jobs, my first steps in politics and later my jobs in business as a communications manager. The higher I got, the fewer women there were. That’s why I’m so committed to more diversity in business today.
What problems did you struggle with at the beginning of your career and how did you overcome them?
Onaran: The biggest problem is certainly that people who, like me, have built everything themselves take longer to scale their companies than those who have a financial cushion from home. I overcame this shortcoming of a lack of speed by making it my subject to break down taboos on social origins in Germany and thus also to be a role model for others. In turn, I get motivated when people write to me that I inspire them!
With your company, you advise ACI companies on all issues relating to diversity, inclusion and equality. Where are the biggest construction sites in companies when it comes to these issues?
Onaran: The realization is there that diversity is important – but as is so often the case, it fails when it comes to implementation. Serious business will invest in diversity: whether it’s internal programs or external recruiting strategies. However, it is often said: “We have more important things to do than taking care of diversity” – that is a fatal perspective. Because: without diversity there is no innovation!
You are committed to increasing the number of female founders and support women as investors. What else is important to you when making an investment?
Onaran: That the founders and I are a perfect match. It’s like a relationship: at first the euphoria is enormous, but the decisive factor is that in a few years’ time we’ll still be so passionate about each other and work towards a common goal. This also means that I can contribute my expertise in brand building, PR and marketing to the products that the founders develop and open up my network.
“Manager Magazin” ranks you among the top 100 most influential women in German business. In 2022 you were honored as one of 12 role models with your own Barbie. What do such lists, titles or honors mean to you?
Onaran: It’s a beautiful form of appreciation for my work. A ranking caresses one’s own ego – but only selectively. The real impact of my work is more important to me. When startups I invest in are successful. If, after our consultation with ACI, companies increase the proportion of women in management positions and are therefore more successful and counter the shortage of skilled workers more resiliently.
Your everyday life as an entrepreneur, investor, author etc. sounds very busy. You are married, how do you keep your relationship from suffering?
Onaran: Freedom and independence are the cornerstones of a healthy relationship – knowing: the other is there, you support each other and let each other grow – all of this also allows you to get through stressful phases together.
How do you regain energy in stressful times?
Onaran: I have rituals that I don’t let go of – no appointments before 10 p.m. and every now and then just evenings with family and friends or merging with your own couch. All this gives me incredible energy!
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
