Meet Marta - Community Member Portrayed

At WISF we're embracing fresh opportunities to highlight our community and we're thrilled to feature Marta Schafstall in our «Community Member Portrayed» column.

A Journey Westward

At age three, I left Poland with my family to start anew in West Berlin. My father and I in one train compartment, my mother and sister in another – separated to evade the state police. This marked our departure from a system that offered us no future.  

This experience taught me early lessons about leaving everything behind: certainties, homeland, language. Like many migrants, I developed a unique resilience – the courage to embrace new beginnings. Every childhood move gifted me unexpected tools: the boldness to approach strangers, reinvent myself, and trust in my ability to overcome challenges.  

Thus began my journey of self-discovery. Studying political science drove me to decode power structures and communication dynamics. Yet intellectual pursuits alone left me unfulfilled. It was during my studies in psychomotor therapy and body psychotherapy that I discovered the key: our bodies manifest emotions, anchor memories, and project presence through posture and awareness.  

After 2500 clinical hours in psychosomatic clinics, I leapt into preventive healthcare. As an insurance executive, I led teams, negotiated with stakeholders, and managed a multimillion-euro campaign. Later, as Head of Platform for a health-tech venture capital firm, I navigated the startup world's relentless pace. But the higher I climbed, the clearer it became: traditional leadership models clashed with my authentic self.  

During a pivotal week of illness, clarity struck: true impact requires autonomy. Today, I guide women in tech, finance, and consulting to redefine leadership for women and together with women – fusing body awareness, clarity, and personal power.  

My mission empowers leaders to:  

✨ Project calm authority and unshakable presence  

✨ Master nervous system regulation  

✨ Release outdated coping mechanisms  

✨ Set boundaries with grace and counter power plays  

Authentic leadership emerges from within, through the development of inner strength, rather than relying on external tactics. Only when grounded in self-awareness can we lead authentically, build networks, and claim space – without self-denial.

WISF – a Community of Substance and Vision

I came to know WISF as a network that is not only inspiring – but profoundly impactful. I still recall the first events I attended and how quickly I knew: This is about creating lasting change.

What I value most about WISF is the quality of its conversations and dialogues. They are courageous, honest, and visionary – yet always grounded in practicality and solutions. These dialogues are nurtured by a community and built on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Today, I actively contribute to the community, recently co-creating programs, moderating spaces for meaningful connection, and guiding fellow members to step forward – not as perfected versions of themselves, but as authentically present individuals.

Say hello!

Meet me at one of the upcoming WISF events. And if you’ve been craving deeper conversations and more authentic moments in your professional life, join me for the WISF networking lunch on May 6th. I’ll guide you through a networking experience that feels energizing, grounded. 

Sign up here

WISF Member Networking Lunch, 6th May

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Who should take the baton next?

Interested to appear in one of our future «Community Member Portrayed»? Or would you like to learn more about a WISF member? Contact us or approach the WISF team directly at an event.