Since over fourteen years, TUM alumna Cornelia Folz has been with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Deutschland GmbH, and since 2022 as Vice President Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability. The culture and the people at the company still inspire her every day (Image: Coca-Cola).
TUM’s degree program in Food Technology and Biotechnology offered Cornelia Folz a bridge between precise engineering and consumer experience. It combines physics, process engineering, chemistry/microbiology, and product development. “It was precisely this combination – from technically grounded laboratory work through to the finished product – that convinced me,” she says. “My decision to study at TUM was based on my commitment to quality and the prospect of a learning culture that would broaden my horizons.”
Curiosity and Resilience
After graduating in 2003, Cornelia Folz wanted to explore the world. Her broad-based education at TUM made her feel perfectly prepared for exactly that. Her first job took her to Krones AG, where she worked as an internationally active commissioning engineer. In 2011, she made the move from supplier to the Coca-Cola brand. Since then, she has held four different positions at Germany’s largest beverage company, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Deutschland GmbH (CCEP), building extensive expertise in the areas of energy, water, and packaging.
As a leader, I place particular importance on diversity and inclusion.
This goes beyond brand communication – it is about responsibility for the environment, society, and consumers. “The curiosity and resilience that were fostered at TUM empower me to embrace new challenges with confidence, take on responsibility consistently, and remain authentic throughout,” says Folz.
“Sustainability is not a side project, but a strategic core at CCEP,” says Cornelia Folz. Thinking about packaging in circular terms, making climate journeys transparent and traceable, protecting water as a foundation of life, and making social impact measurable – these are the ambitious sustainability strategies she aims to advance swiftly. For her, responsibility means safety, quality, transparency, and innovation with added value. “Major brands require a strong sense of responsibility and a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue.”
I want to build bridges between science, business, and society.
Diversity as Strategy
With her leadership position, Cornelia Folz is among the women who serve as role models for the next generation. She makes clear that leadership and diversity are decisive factors for sustainable change. “As a leader, I place particular importance on diversity and inclusion in order to create a creative and productive working environment,” says Folz. “Different perspectives lead to better decisions.”
With high energy and resilience, Cornelia Folz meets challenges head-on and motivates her team to peak performance. She holds team strength and integrity as core professional values. But balancing work, career, and family is also a concern for the mother of three. “My message to everyone including young women aspiring to leadership roles is: seek out sponsors and mentors, and dare to step outside your comfort zone,” says Cornelia Folz. “Always remain authentic and set boundaries. Because self-care is part of performance.”
Cornelia Folz (Image: Coca-Cola)
Diploma in Food Technology and Biotechnology 2003
After completing her studies in Food Technology and Biotechnology at TUM, Cornelia Folz worked for eight years at Krones AG, most recently as Head of R&D. Since 2011 she has been with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Deutschland GmbH, and since 2022 as Vice President Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability. In this role, the TUM Alumna actively helps shape responses to global challenges: drawing on a scientific foundation, strategic thinking, and a commitment to accompanying the industry’s transformation responsibly.
Cornelia Folz lives in Berlin with her husband and their three children.
