How I got here
“one of the most important decisions for any woman’s career is her choice of partner: ‘It takes two to tango’ – without a partner’s support, it can prove considerably more challenging!“
Florence Schnydrig Moser, Designated Head Private Banking ZKB
What was your dream career as
a girl?
Growing up in the Oberwallis in the 1970s, the region’s dominant employer, Lonza, did not provide an abundance of role models for women. My first dream job was the one I saw in my everyday life: a school teacher.
What role models did you have as a student? what or who were key influencers when deciding on your career path?
I did not have any female role models as a student since mathematics was/is rather male-dominated. A key influencer on my decision to enter into banking after my studies was an uncle of mine, who was a managing director at one of the big Swiss banks. Banking provided a career where I could put my mathematical and analytical skills to use in an international environment.
What was your aha-moment when you realized that gender stereotypes may (or do) have an impact on your career development?
My aha-moment on the gender front was the lack of women in P&L leadership roles. Responsibility for the bottom-line success of a company is critical to have impact. I was given that opportunity with the role of CEO at Swisscard in 2018.
What is your number 1 advice for career aspiring women?
The choice of partner is more important than one might think. To have a career, one of the most important ingredients in addition to education, hard work, going beyond your comfort zone and luck of timing is the support you have in your private life.
You need a partner who believes in you and who believes in equality, in equal opportunities. Your partner can provide support in many different ways, as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend, as a fellow parent, as an additional household manager.