Nathalie Thelen-Sattler holds a doctorate in orthodontics and runs her own practice, which she took over from her mother. She describes her upbringing as “elite” in a specific sense: her family taught her that if she was willing to put in the work, she’d succeed — but the effort had to come from her. That mindset was put to the test early on. After finishing her studies, she was rejected by 33 clinics in Germany. Rather than give up, she packed her bags for the United States, where she worked relentlessly before eventually returning to Germany feeling fulfilled — convinced that hard work truly pays off.
For context, Frank Thelen is one of Germany’s best-known startup investors and entrepreneurs, having built his profile as a judge on “Höhle der Löwen” — the German version of Shark Tank. He’s married to Nathalie, and together their contrasting career paths — hers in medicine, his in tech and venture capital — have become the foundation for a shared commitment to equal opportunity.
That commitment plays out through the “WoMen on Top” initiative, an annual German program founded by journalists Nena Brockhaus and Franca Lehfeldt that pays off a young woman’s student loan debt in recognition of her achievements. This year, Nathalie and Frank Thelen are covering the student loan of Samira Dabelow, a medical student on track to become an OB-GYN. The program also expanded for the first time in its five-year history to recognize skilled trades: this year’s honoree in that new category is Lena Widenmayer, celebrated for completing her master craftswoman qualification.
Beyond their philanthropic work, the couple also opened up about what keeps their marriage strong. Frank Thelen says his goal is simple: growing old together on a park bench, still feeling that same spark — though he’s quick to add that this isn’t something that happens automatically. It takes ongoing effort. Nathalie agrees: even with love as the foundation, a relationship needs deliberate attention, especially since both of them are driven, work-focused people who could easily lose themselves in their careers. Early in their relationship, Frank suggested they set aside one evening a week that belongs only to them — a tradition, she says, they’ve kept up to this day.
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