Our surprise guest is German author Dr Heike Specht, who this summer presented her book, The First Ones of Their Kind, at the EESC Women's Forum. The book tells the stories of women who were the first to step into high political office – and whose bravery and vision opened doors for generations to come. For EESC Info, Dr Specht reflects on what it's like to be a 'first' – as a woman in politics.

Heike Specht studied history and literature in Munich. She earned her doctorate researching the family of Lion Feuchtwanger, the famous German Jewish author persecuted under the Nazi regime. She worked for several years in publishing, as an editor. Author of several books, she now lives in Zurich and works as a freelance writer. In October 2025, her first novel 'Die Frau der Stunde' (The Woman of the Hour) will be released. You can read more about her work on her website.