Returning to your home country after living abroad can be an exhilarating yet overwhelming experience. If you are repatriating from the USA or other countries to Germany (or Switzerland), you might have forgotten what real life in Germany is like. You will also have to acknowledge that the country and culture have changed a lot since you left over twenty years ago.  The Emotional Challenges of Repatriation Repatriation can bring a wave of mixed emotions. After spending a significant amount of time in a different country, it’s common to feel disoriented upon returning home. You may experience a range of emotions, from excitement and happiness to sadness and loss. It’s important to acknowledge and accept these emotions as a normal […]

If you have read any standard American career guidebook or scrolled through LinkedIn for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the advice: “Just invite them for a virtual coffee chat!” It sounds so easy. It’s low-stakes. It’s friendly. In many business cultures—particularly the US—it is the “Swiss Army Knife” of networking; an efficient, accepted way to break the ice and uncover opportunities. But I’m going to give you a piece of unpopular advice, specifically for those of you trying to build a professional network from scratch here in the Germanic countries, which are all considered “low context” countries in intercultural theory: Stop asking strangers for coffee chats. First, A Necessary Disclaimer (Because Culture is Complicated) Before the comments section explodes, […]

A guest post by Adriana Gasser This coming Sunday, March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day. In Switzerland, this date coincides with important structural debates, such as the vote on individual taxation, which could remove a historical financial barrier to female participation in the workforce. However, as I advance in my professional studies (CAS) at the University of St. Gallen (HSG), a recent finance module brought me a crucial reflection. Changes in tax laws must be accompanied by an adaptation in how we position ourselves in the market. In previous discussions, specifically in the article I co-authored with Angela Weinberger and recently published on my LinkedIn, we covered how the Swiss recruitment market often values linear and local career paths. […]

The dream is iconic: a laptop on a Croatian beach or a cozy hut in Estonia. For Millennials and the “new breed” of global talent, the allure of the nomadic life is undeniable. However, as any seasoned traveler knows, the picturesque Instagram post rarely shows the struggle for reliable Wi-Fi or the “tax nightmare” lurking behind a Zoom call. A New Breed in Global Mobility? The term “Digital Nomad” isn’t a 21st-century invention; it was coined in 1997. Yet, until recently, it was reserved for a tech-savvy elite. Today, it is a mainstream ambition. But as you transition from a “desk-bound employee” to a “location-independent founder,” you must realize that freedom comes with a new set of rules—especially in a […]

Once again, this year I started the New Year in Kerala, South India, at 30 degrees Celsius, with an amazing vacation that felt like a trip to paradise. And while it’s cold and snowing now in Switzerland, the warmth and happiness I took with me still light up my heart.  I hope you understand that I also have moments of self-doubt and fear, and that I’m not always the calm, relaxed coach you might know. I can also get stressed and deal with issues similar to those you might experience. However, after disconnecting, spending time with friends and family, and taking time to really rest and soak in the sunshine, I feel thrilled to work again. My desire and ambition […]