Isabella Drolz is the Vice President of Product Marketing at Comet Yxlon, is out to change the world with her expertise.

1. Isabella Drolz: Creating Empowering
Solutions for Success
Rebranding companies for success, redefining portfolios based on market needs
and reshaping corporate culture for the better, Isabella Drolz, Vice President of
Product Marketing at Comet Yxlon, is out to change the world with her
expertise. Her experience ranges from mid-tier to global companies, and she is a
master in navigating operational and cultural challenges in the industry. Isabella
is currently making waves in the tech industry with her adept handling of the
market and empowerment of fellow women in the industry.
Comet Yxlon is driven by the belief that ‘good solutions start with good
questions.’ Its strong curiosity and passion for technology are the drivers behind
the company’s collaborative approach to product development. Based on

2. customer feedback, it develops high-end X-ray and CT system solutions that
enable non-destructive testing in the semiconductor/electronics, automotive,
and aerospace industries – from R&D labs to production settings.
In an exclusive interview with CIOLook, Isabella Drolz shares the inspirational
support that she received in her journey to the top and how she continues to
make an effort to pass it on.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief us about your career path as a staunch woman leader up until your current
position at Comet Yxlon. What were the challenges that you had to overcome to
scale your progress?
There is a saying in German stating that “The first job chooses you, not the other
way around.” I started as Business Developer at Siemens Mobility, for railway
systems such as metro & light rail systems. Getting the opportunity to work on
strategic projects, such as introducing a platform approach for metro &
passenger coaches systems at an early stage in my professional career was an
exceptional experience.
Next to the professional experience, I had strong female leaders who shaped and
taught me how to navigate a conservative industry, belief in myself and be
resilient. Quickly adapting to new environments, task settings, teams, and
business cultures are just a few things you encounter in strategic consulting.
You need to be quick on your feet.

3. When I moved to Jenoptik Advanced Systems, Jenoptik’s former defense
business unit, the industry was in a state of upheaval and my task was to
transform the project-oriented product business into a modular platform to be
prepared for future requirements.
Basically, we had to break with old habits, advance technologically and open our
minds to the new way ahead.
When you switch from corporations to medium-sized companies, you enter a
different world. At a food machinery manufacturer, I took on the role of Vice
President of Product Management & Marketing. positioning three different
product brands from three different countries and cultures under one roof while
facing a conservative management approach. It was an intense time, but I am
very grateful for the experience, and it has made me a stronger leader when
faced with headwinds and a very risk-averse environment.
Now, at Comet Yxlon, I am the Vice President in charge of Product Marketing,
which includes Product Management, Marketing and Global Application Solution
Centers. We also just rebranded, and it is always a unique experience
strategically repositioning a company, bringing different cultures closer
together, empowering teamwork and preparing for the road ahead.
Tell us something more about Comet Yxlon and its mission and vision.
Comet Yxlon is one of three divisions of Comet AG, a leading tech company in
radio frequency and x-ray technology. Comet Yxlon designs manufactures, and
markets high-end X-ray and CT systems, including data-driven services for

4. non-destructive testing to assure product quality in labs, speed up ramp-ups,
and enhance process stability in production environments for the
semiconductor, electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries.
Our X-Ray and CT systems support our global customers to increase their
productivity and sustainability by reducing product waste and, thereby,
enhancing yield. In a nutshell, we provide our customers with the key to
efficiency and innovation by seeing better, faster, more.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives your organization.
We put our customers at the center of everything we do. We strive to
understand their needs and expectations and to exceed them by deeply
understanding the market, its requirements, trends, and challenges to build
long-lasting relationships. To succeed, we challenge ourselves to continuously
improve by empowering our employees to take ownership of their work and to
make decisions that will drive the company’s success.
All this can only be achieved through trustful collaboration: We believe that by
working together as a team, we can accomplish more. Through our “Above and
Beyond program,” we foster a culture of trustful collaboration and mutual
support by sharing cross-divisional knowledge and resources. By embracing
these values, we believe that we can create a positive and productive work
environment that helps us achieve our business objectives. And by the way, it is
fun to work at.

5. What do you believe is the significant factor for women in the tech industry, and
what is the most important aspect of your success in adhering to these
fundamentals?
It is tough to nail it down to one. However, one critical success factor is to
believe in yourself and your abilities. Confidence is key to success in any field,
and it’s especially important for women in male-dominated industries. In
addition, building up a strong network of professional contacts and among your
colleagues are crucial success factors to me, as also staying informed and
educated.
I am trying to keep up to date with the latest industry trends, technologies, and
best practices by reading relevant literature, attending conferences and
workshops. But most and for all, I do not let stereotypes or biases affect me.
Everyone and especially women, encounter stereotypes and unconscious biases
in their careers. The key is not to get discouraged by them or let them doubt
yourself. Instead, use them to your advantage and as motivation to excel in your
field.
What strategies do you implement as a leader to promote gender diversity for
various positions at Comet Yxlon?
As leader but also as a management team at Comet Yxlon, we seek out a number
of strategies to promote gender diversity for various positions within the
company, starting with recruitment. I actively ensure to recruit from a diverse

6. pool of potential candidates, as well as encourage our recruitment team to do
the same.
In addition, our recruitment team works to create a diverse pipeline of potential
candidates by reaching out to universities and organizations that focus on
diversity. Furthermore, we established a more flexible work environment that
allows for different working styles and schedules. In our mobile working
program, we established that our employees could flexibly arrange where they
want to conduct their work and when. Through this program, we ensure a
healthy work-life balance. Transparency and open dialogue are key to success.
Therefore, we are reviewing and monitoring our progress on a quarterly basis.
We review our diversity and inclusion efforts, establish metrics to track our
progress and adjust as needed. It is important to make diversity and inclusion a
transparent topic and part of the management agenda.
Finally, one topic and the most important topic to me is offering mentorship to
women. When starting my career, I greatly benefited from having female
mentors.
They shaped me into the leader I am today by teaching me how to navigate in a
male-dominant industry, stay true to my beliefs, and see it through. Therefore, I
also mentor female potentials across the industry to provide them with the
support and guidance they need to advance in their careers.
What change would you like to bring to your industry if given a chance?

7. There are several factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of women
in the tech & machine-building industries, including unconscious bias, lack of
role models and mentorship, and a culture that may not be inclusive or
welcoming to all. To increase gender diversity, it is important to openly address
these issues and thereby create a more inclusive culture. This can be achieved
through initiatives such as diversity and inclusion panel discussions at
exhibitions and conferences and actively recruiting and promoting women in the
field.
As mentioned before, mentorship programs are key to success for women in the
tech & machine-building industries by providing guidance, giving networking
opportunities, providing support on career development, helping break
unconscious bias, and encouraging and offering exposure to new opportunities.
Therefore, implementing sustainable female mentorship across the industry
would bring tremendous change and potential.
What, according to you, could be the next significant change for women in Tech?
How is Comet Yxlon preparing to be a part of that change?
A potential change could be a greater emphasis on actively creating a more
inclusive and equitable workplace culture. This includes not only addressing
issues such as unconscious bias and discrimination but also actively working to
create a culture that supports and values diversity and provides opportunities
for the growth and development of all employees.

8. Starting with active diverse and international recruitment: Actively seeking out
and recruiting from diverse backgrounds and countries for leadership and
technical positions, including those from underrepresented groups.
In addition, providing training and education on intersectionality and inclusivity:
To ensure that all employees are aware of and understand the importance of
intersectionality and inclusivity in the workplace.
But all starts by making diversity and inclusion a priority: Making sure that
diversity and inclusion are a priority for the company and that the leadership
team is committed to these values, policies, and practices and reflect this
commitment.
Comet has now put this on top of its agenda by launching a diversity program
that will prepare all divisions, including Comet Yxlon, to foster a more inclusive
and equitable workplace culture that values and supports the contributions of all
employees, including those from diverse backgrounds.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future
goals for Comet Yxlon?
It’s always hard to predict the future, but what I know for sure is that I want to
continue working in a challenging international environment. Preparing
companies for the future by taking business structures, products and teams to
the next level, breaking old habits and prejudices, and shaping mindsets to drive
continuous improvement – that’s what excites me.

9. Therefore, I want to shape Comet Yxlon in a way that we are not only ready but
are the driver for the coming trends and challenges in our industry, especially
when it comes to data analytics and artificial intelligence. In a nutshell, taking
the next step to accelerate the market and our customers by fostering and
empowering diverse teams to drive our business forward.