Claudia Müller is 2025 Hertie School Alumni Achievement Award winner

Claudia Müller is the 2025 Hertie School Alumni Achievement Award winner. The award recognises Müller for her unwavering commitment to increasing financial literacy, especially among women. Müller is the founder and CEO of the Female Finance Forum, an organisation that teaches women financial literacy and sustainable investing.

Improving financial literacy among women and teaching green investing

Müller graduated from the Master of Public Policy programme in 2012 after having previously studied economics. It was while working at the Deutsche Bundesbank, Germany’s Central Bank, that she discovered her passion for sustainable finance. The idea to start her own company was sparked by helping her father invest sustainably and by a conversation with a friend who struggled to find financial resources written by women, for women. “I thought, that’s an idea. Let’s combine these two aspects: women teaching women, focussing on green sustainable finance,” she recalls.

Müller founded the Female Finance Forum in 2017. The forum’s mission is to teach women, in Müller’s words, “how they can make the most of their money without harming the planet”. The forum offers a range of course formats dealing with topics as basic as how to have more money at the end of the month to how to invest in stocks. 

The forum specifically approaches employers with course offers for their female employees that they can attend during their working hours. “We don’t target the women ourselves to pay for our workshops because that way we would only reach those who are already interested and have the money and time to pay for it,” Müller says.

Müller explains why it is so important for women to improve their financial literacy: “Women have, on average, less income and also less wealth than men, while also living longer than men. With less money we have to finance a longer life, which means we have to be better with our money than men.”

Teaching the young about financial literacy

Müller does not stop at teaching financial management to adults. She and her colleague Isabel Sorg are the co-authors of the book Über Geld spricht man doch!: Wie Kinder spielerisch einen guten Umgang mit Geld lernen, a guidebook for parents on how to teach their children financial literacy. She stresses that it is crucial to start to think about finances young so that the “fear and shame that money is often surrounded with – especially in German culture – doesn’t even start.”

Congratulations from Hertie School President Cornelia Woll

“Claudia Müller’s work is a true testament to public purpose in the private sector. Through her company, public engagements and publications, Claudia addresses the financial literacy gap across genders, empowering individuals and fostering a more equitable and informed society. We are very proud to present her with this year’s Alumni Achievement Award,” says Cornelia Woll, President of the Hertie School. 

Müller's innovative approach has had a positive impact in gender equality. Her work not only contributes to public policy discussions but also drives real-world change, equipping people with the knowledge to shape their financial futures.  

Award ceremony at the 2025 Hertie Summit and Alumni Reunion

“Hertie School alumni are driving meaningful change across sectors and continents, and we are incredibly proud of what they accomplish,” says Nena Grceva, Director of Alumni Affairs. “The Alumni Achievement Award shines a spotlight on those whose work truly embodies the values of public service, innovation and leadership. It’s our way of honouring their impact and sharing their inspiring stories with the broader community.”

The Alumni Achievement Award is conferred annually to highlight the impact and commitment of the Hertie School’s alumni. This year’s award will be conferred on 27 June during the opening of the Hertie Summit and Alumni Reunion at the Hertie School. 

Watch our video interview with Claudia Müller below.