People behind Sustainability: Anja Kozlinger
Please briefly introduce yourself.
Hi, I am Anja Kozlinger. I am a Senior Electrical Engineer at Weidmann Electrical Technology, based in Croatia, and I have been with Weidmann for eleven years.
Tell us about your path into engineering and what it was like. As a woman entering the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), did you face any challenges, and what kept you going?
From a young age, I was interested in natural science subjects. When it was time to choose a university, I knew I wanted to study Electrical Engineering. Though it was a field chosen mostly by men, the most important thing was to study something I enjoyed.
How did your path lead you to Weidmann, and what made you stay?
What caught my attention in the Weidmann job ad was the focus on Finite Element Methods (FEM), which closely matched my university research and work experience. That Weidmann was an international company also made the opportunity attractive to me. I knew I would learn from experienced experts, work in an international team, and step outside my comfort zone. I stay for the opportunities to keep learning, take on new challenges, and grow within the company.
How did becoming a mother change your everyday work life, and how did Weidmann support you in finding a model that works for both?
My husband and I used to live in Zagreb, but we always wished to return to our home village, near family and friends. When our first child was born, I asked if it was possible to work remotely. Both HR and my manager were understanding, and we agreed on a hybrid model where I combine working from home and travelling to the office. The great team and flexibility of management make me want to stay and grow my career at Weidmann.
You manage a hybrid setup, partly remote, partly in office. How do you balance both?
Since our team is international and most of our meetings are held via Teams, it doesn’t really matter where in the world you sit. At the beginning, it was harder because I didn’t know how to separate work and private life, but I soon found my rhythm, and it works well. It was important to me to have a proper office at home – a separate room that is a real workspace.
How do you navigate international business travel as an industry expert and a mother? Please share your tips on how to achieve balance for the up-and-coming generations.
For longer international business trips, I have great support from my family. I know my children are in the best hands. We show our children that a career doesn’t exclude private life – the two can be balanced. For the next generation of parents trying to combine a career with raising and educating their children, I can only wish for more companies like Weidmann.
Is there someone who inspired you on your path? And what would you say to young women today who are considering engineering?
Seeing how well my female colleagues – from university and from our team – manage their roles has always inspired me. To young women considering engineering, I would simply say: you can do everything!
In your role as an electrical engineer at Weidmann, where do you see your biggest leverage opportunity to advance sustainability, technically or culturally?
Honestly, both. On the technical side, the insulation components we design and analyze are at the heart of the energy transition: reliable transformers are what make a stable and increasingly renewable power grid possible. In my own work, I also see how the industry is moving towards more environmentally friendly solutions, such as biodegradable ester liquids instead of mineral oil, and it is exciting to contribute to designs that support this shift. Every component that performs better and lasts longer directly contributes to sustainability. On the cultural side, I hope my own way of working shows that sustainability is also about people. Working remotely means less commuting, and living these values every day, at work and at home, is perhaps the strongest leverage of all.
Is there a topic we didn’t cover that you’d love to share with our audience?
Sustainability doesn’t have to mean big, dramatic changes. For me, it is the sum of many small, everyday choices: a home office instead of a daily commute, vegetables from my own garden, leftovers that never go to waste, and a job where my engineering work supports a greener power grid. If my children grow up seeing it all as completely normal, then I think we are on the right path.
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