Silvia, could you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m originally from Germany and grew up in Ingolstadt. After finishing high school, I ended up in Switzerland more by chance than by design – and I’ve now been living in the Zurich area for 14 years. In 2011, I started my Bachelor’s in International Management at ZHAW and went straight on to complete my Master’s in Marketing in 2014 – also at ZHAW.

Why did you choose to study at ZHAW?

From early on, it was clear to me that I wanted to pursue an international career. When the time came to choose a university, ZHAW was a quick decision. I wanted a degree that didn’t just teach theory, but offered real-world experience as well. I wanted to work internationally from the start. ZHAW offered a practice-oriented programme taught entirely in English, with an integrated year abroad – that convinced me. It was important to me that the programme prepare students for entering the workforce, not just convey academic knowledge. Traditional business studies programmes never really appealed to me – regardless of how prestigious the university names might be in Switzerland.

How did you experience the content of the programme?

Again, I have to highlight the practical relevance, which really impressed me. We often worked on group projects in collaboration with companies, gave presentations not only to fellow students but also to clients, and wrote our theses in cooperation with businesses. Many of the lecturers had professional experience themselves and brought a lot of real-world insights into the classroom.

In class, I didn’t just study theories and models – I learned how to apply them in reality and how business actually works. Of course, you often only look back positively on these efforts later – the long nights before final presentations, the disagreements during group work, and the nerves before public speaking. Today, I take all of that in stride.

Equally valuable was the language of instruction: English – and not school English, but business English. I learned the language that really matters in the international business world. Vocabulary, phrasing, tone – it all helped me appear professional from the very beginning in job interviews and presentations. Today, I conduct all meetings, presentations, and client interactions in English. The confidence I gained in my language skills during my time at ZHAW made it much easier to enter an international environment later on. That, along with strong presentation skills, is absolutely essential for me in today’s international management context.

How did you transition into your professional career after your studies?

After initial roles at Roche and Microsoft, I joined Salesforce, the global leader in CRM solutions. Today, I’m a Senior Manager in Solution Engineering, leading a team of nine people and supporting clients in the retail, consumer goods, and luxury industries. During my studies, I learned how to quickly get up to speed on new topics and develop pragmatic solutions – both essential in the fast-paced tech world. With the rapid developments in fields like artificial intelligence, it’s important to quickly gain an overview and understand which skills are critical for me, my team, and our company.

What do you remember about the social environment? What was it like working with your classmates and lecturers?

We were quite a “wild bunch” in our class, with a strong sense of community and cohesion. Because the programme was full-time and on-campus, with relatively small classes, we got to know each other very well. Many of those friendships still last today.

Interestingly, nine people from my degree programme have worked or are currently working at Salesforce – and more are applying all the time. It’s always nice when paths cross again.

I also really appreciated the personal exchanges with lecturers. They were always open for conversations – or even constructive disagreements when opinions differed. One of my lecturers even advised me on choosing my first job after graduation and helped me weigh the right criteria.

What interests or hobbies do you pursue outside of work?

I race for fun – with my own car and an official racing license. Several times a year, I’m on various race tracks in Italy, France, or Germany. Driving is the perfect balance for me. On the track, only the here and now matters – everything else fades into the background, including where you come from or how wealthy you are. You’re completely reliant on yourself – on your body, your reflexes, your ability to assess dangerous situations quickly and proactively. Overthinking is not an option – it only leads to mistakes. Most people also underestimate how exhausted you are after just 25 minutes!