In this interview with Katie Rose, master electrician Yvonne Brunck shares her enthusiasm for the electrical installation trade and for getting more women involved.
KNXtoday: Tell us about your journey to becoming Head of Electrical Engineering at the Frankfurt Electrical Guild.
YB: I founded the company Brunck Elektrotechnik, based in Frankfurt am Main, on 1 March 2005.
After completing my master’s degree, I realised that I wanted to be self-employed. A year later, in May 2006, I joined the electrical trade guild and was quickly elected to the journeyman examination committee. I enjoy supporting candidates in working towards their journeyman examination.
In Autumn 2013, the board of the electrical guild asked whether I would consider joining as head of the electrical engineering department and I was elected in May 2014.
For me, it is also a matter of course to be involved in voluntary work.
KNXtoday: You describe yourself as a ‘master electrician with heart and soul.’ Tell us what you love about your work.
YB: Becoming an electrician was always my dream job – I wasn’t interested in learning anything else. The road to get there was very rocky, but I took the stones and paved the way with them.
What I like about this job is that I never know what will happen tomorrow – every day has an exciting and interesting component. Today I might be fitting lights or replacing a switch, tomorrow I might be troubleshooting and the day after tomorrow I might be working on a house installation and programming with KNX in the USA. I also work with a fascinating range of customers and projects.
KNXtoday: How, why and when did you get involved with Women in KNX?
YB: I qualified as a KNX systems integrator in 2024. When Katja Schuster, Founder of Women in KNX, asked me to speak at the opening event of Light + Building 2024, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to support women in the trades. Katja is a like-minded woman who has learned the same trade and is passionate about it, so supporting her is a matter close to my heart.
I would like to encourage more women to work in this industry and not to give up when things get tough. The profession is very diverse and offers a lot of variety and fun.
KNXtoday: As a pioneer in the technology industry, what do you think needs to change to better support the advancement and equal opportunities of female professionals?
YB: Sometimes the tone is very harsh in the trades. Women often have to work twice as hard to be recognised, which is a shame. Men are immediately trusted to do the job, whereas women are often put to the test and have to prove themselves first.
There is a lot of testosterone in the profession. There is also an acute shortage of skilled workers in Germany. Like men, women just want to do their job well. We are not taking anyone’s job or position. It makes sense to give women a chance – working together often works better and faster.
KNXtoday: In an interview with Women in KNX on LinkedIn, you describe yourself as an optimist. What are your hopes for the future of the industry?
YB: My hope is that more women will work in the trades and support each other and pull together.
KNXtoday: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
YB: Dear ladies – don’t be discouraged! Stay strong!
Yvonne Brunck is a master electrician, business economist of the craft industry, Head of Frankfurt Electrical Guild Electrical Engineering Department, and founder of Brunck-Elektro, specialising in electrical engineering – consulting, planning and execution.
Facebook: brunck_elektrotechnik
Instagram: brunck_elektrotechnik
Website: www.brunck-elektro.de – (currently still under construction)
