Employees at SIX

In her spare time María del Carmen, Project Manager at BME, helps out at Casa Santa Teresa, a convent that supports elderly women with disabilities. Find out more about her long journey at BME and her motivation behind volunteering on a weekly basis.

You started your career at BME 33 years ago. How has your journey been so far?   

After a few years in IT, I decided to switch to Internal Audit in 2016. Two years later, I went back to IT. At the time of the merger of SIX and BME, I had the opportunity to join a merger project. I was the first Spaniard on the project, and I served as a kind of bridge between the Swiss and the Spanish. Having worked at BME for so long, I know almost everyone. I am a very open person who likes to talk to people. This skill was very useful in establishing the link between Spain and Switzerland. Within the project I also worked for the culture workstream; we talked about the values of SIX and we encouraged teamwork.

Can you tell us about your volunteer work?

Every Saturday afternoon I volunteer at Casa Santa Teresa, a convent that helps elderly women with disabilities. I started working there seven years ago, after my daughter’s school asked for support with the Social Work subject.

I support by preparing various accessible activities that we can enjoy together: We either go for a walk, do sports or even have sleepovers and go on weekend trips. The goal is for them to enjoy themselves in a safe space where they are supported and taken care of.

What is your motivation behind this volunteering and how does it help you in your career and your work in general?

The main motivation is my desire to help people. I am a person with a lot of initiative and drive. When I started, I thought about what I needed to do, how to plan things, and how I was going to help them. The truth is, they have helped me more than I have helped them. They teach gratitude, patience, and teamwork. I feel very loved, they never ask for anything. They take what you give them without asking for anything in return. So, for me it’s a feeling of giving and receiving.

That same drive and initiative I apply to my job every day. The new perspective they give me helps with my personal and professional growth. Getting out of your comfort zone improves your ability to view challenges from different angles.

What advice can you give to a colleague who would like to do more volunteering?

When you volunteer, you see that there are lives completely different from yours, making you realize the value of having a family, a job, and good health.

Above all, you realize that it’s about gratitude. You start to value everything you have and everything they have, because you realize that there are people who are very happy with very little.

SIX and BME have made one working day per year available to their employees for a volunteer assignment. I would recommend that every employee take part in such a volunteering day. Maybe other employees will find their way to volunteering in their free time.  

Your experience at SIX and BME in three words?

Passionate, diverse, and global.

Elie is a Software Engineer and a karate teacher in one of the best dojos in Switzerland. His first contact with martial arts was the Bruce Lee movies he used to enjoy as a child, which inspired him to practice karate. Last year he became a national champion, for the third time.

When did you join SIX and what’s your area of work?

I joined SIX in March 2022, soon marking two years as Software Engineer at our Biel office in Switzerland. In the IT department I work alongside the Financial Information Department on the SIX Flex applications. Our goal is to deliver financial information to clients using CSV files and APIs.

Can you tell us about your career path in karate?

My karate journey began 26 years ago, inspired by Bruce Lee’s movies. I wanted to learn kung fu just like him, so my parents signed me up at the nearest dojo. At first, I was let down to find out it was karate, not kung fu. But as time went on, I realized how fortunate I was to have started my martial arts journey in one of the finest dojos in Switzerland.

I started competing when I was young. From 2007  to 2010, I won the title of vice-champion twice before achieving champion status twice in my category within the combat aspect of karate, known as Kumite.

For a while, I had to stop karate to focus on my studies. But karate was a part of who I am, I missed it a lot and eventually returned. I asked my karate teacher if I could practice in the evenings, and he arranged for some young athletes to train alongside me. They appreciated those trainings, the group got bigger and became part of the regular training at the dojo.

I never stopped attending karate competitions because they help you learn and get better. Last year, I even won the Swiss Karate Championships, which was awesome. Despite sustaining an injury in the final seconds – it was like something out of a movie – I managed to keep my focus and win the title. It was a real-life Karate Kid moment for me!

Do you think that the values and discipline karate promotes have been of help to you in your working life at SIX?

Of course! The discipline and values of karate, such as respect, focus, and continuous improvement, have significantly enhanced my professional life.
They have instilled a strong work ethic and the ability to collaborate effectively with others, while also fostering resilience and patience to navigate and overcome challenges in the workplace. The philosophy of karate is not confined to the dojo; its teachings offer a framework for personal conduct and professional engagement that can lead to a more productive and harmonious working life.

How do you manage balancing your work at SIX and your responsibilities as a karate coach?

I approach it as though I were practicing a sport myself. I serve as the main or assistant instructor two to three times a week.

Additionally, I take advantage of the opportunity provided by SIX to use two extra weeks of vacation to coach our athletes at various international tournaments. One such event is the Karate Youth League in Venice every December, which is among the world’s most prestigious tournaments for young athletes.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Customer focus, challenges, collaboration/flexibility.

Meet Juliane, who is currently pursuing a team coaching qualification in the UK. Find out how she can apply this knowledge and is supported by SIX during her education.

How long have you been with SIX and in which area are you working?

I have been with the company for four years and work in Human Resources, where the focus is on employees. For example, I take care of onboarding, professional development, the organizational structure, and career development for employees in the Financial Information business unit – an area of SIX that procures, aggregates and processes data for its clients.

You are currently pursuing a qualification as a team coach in the UK. Could you share more about this qualification and how you can apply this knowledge at SIX?

Team building, team structures, different roles within the team: I am fascinated by teams! Collaboration is very strong within our team. In fact, in everyday life, whether in sports or in the family, we operate within a team structure. At SIX, various smaller and larger teams are an integral part of our company and teamwork is the norm in most departments. This interest has led me to explore the question of how to improve teamwork. As a team coach, I deal with psychological issues such as human behavior or motivation and how to promote effective teamwork. We also deal with the composition of teams, the definition of roles and goal-oriented team communication. Team coaches also manage complex global, virtual, and intercultural team dynamics. My training as a team coach is a one-year qualification that is comparable to a postgraduate degree.

Perhaps, like many of us, you work in a team every day. Take a moment to observe how your team members communicate. Think about how you can listen. It’s really fascinating how much you can learn just by observing people within a group, including insights from observing your own interactions.

How does SIX support you and your overall development?

SIX has been a tremendous support on my career path so far, offering benefits like the flexible working model for all employees, and financial support, which has helped me a lot. The training program has a flexible structure, so I travel to England for the lectures and study on my own in between. This allows me to combine the program very well with my full-time job. In addition, my line manager and I regularly discuss my career development opportunities. Together, we develop strategies on how I can apply the newly acquired skills in my day-to-day work and integrate them into my job. For example, I already work as a team coach for a global team at SIX. With my current training, I am thus helping to improve the performance of the teams at SIX in the long term. Team coaching focuses entirely on the needs and challenges of the respective team: clear team goals, trust within the team, good team communication, dealing with conflicts, and, of course, fun and team spirit. A great mix of personal interest and a contribution to SIX.

What do you do in your free time to find a balance between work and your current training?

It’s perhaps not surprising that I enjoy spending my free time with my friends and family. Being with them gives me a huge boost of energy. Additionally, horseback riding helps me to unwind and concentrate on something completely different. As I love animals very much, working with horses is another passion of mine.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Challenging, international, and really rewarding.

Meet Claudia, who just completed her first marathon in Berlin. She grew up in Venezuela where she attended a German school. At the age of 24, she moved to Madrid. She currently lives in Zurich. Find out how this international background helps Claudia in her work and how she can share her passion for running with other employees.

Claudia, you work in an international environment; you work as a Client Specialist for a Spanish team at SIX headquarters in Zurich. Can you tell us a little more about your job and what your team is currently working on?

At the moment, I am not exclusively dedicated to client management, as our team is involved in the development of three new products for the Swiss market. I am engaged in establishing the groundwork for these initiatives. In order to carry out this project successfully, we are working in an interdisciplinary way with different teams, such as marketing and the legal department. The goal is to create a solid foundation and facilitate future sales of our products in Switzerland.

You speak three languages fluently: Spanish, German, and English. How does your international background help you in your daily work?

Well, when you work in an international environment, you inevitably learn about your colleagues' cultures, primarily through languages, words, and perspectives. This knowledge becomes invaluable in my current position, where adaptability is key. Having proficiency in multiple languages is a significant advantage. Conversations with colleagues in their respective native language not only help in clarifying details but also contribute to creating a friendly atmosphere.

In addition to your job, you are really active and practice various sports. What are you currently focusing on and what was your biggest achievement so far?

In September this year I reached a big milestone: I ran my first marathon in Berlin. That’s my biggest achievement so far and I’m still processing the whole thing; it’s pretty overwhelming. Prior to this, I had participated in half-marathons. My marathon journey officially began two years ago when I started training with a coach from Madrid. Six months ago, I officially registered for the Berlin Marathon. That’s when the real challenge began, with intensive training sessions geared towards conquering the 42 kilometers.

At the same time, I embarked on a personal initiative rooted in my post-pandemic resolve. I started Instagram challenges. For instance, I committed to activities like practicing yoga for a month or exploring habits like daily journaling. These challenges weren’t just about pushing my limits; they were opportunities to extract valuable lessons and gain new perspectives. Whether it was enduring cold showers or keeping a daily journal, each challenge provided insights. The goal was to step out of my comfort zone, prioritize the challenge for a defined period, and then reflect on its impact. The cool part about that is that you always have something to gain – whether it’s experience, a lesson, or even a new hobby.

You are part of the running community at SIX. What has your experience been like so far?

When I joined SIX in October last year, I was introduced to various communities and opportunities within our organization. It was during this time that I discovered the SIX running community team. A marketing colleague informed me about a 6-kilometer run event in Zurich, which immediately caught my interest. Given that my primary team operates from Madrid, I often found myself running alone. However, participating in events like the 6-kilometer run provided a sense of belonging. I discovered that running with others not only boosted my motivation but also helped in improving my pace.

While my focus had been on preparing for the marathon, this interaction inspired me to get to know the people within the running team better. I observed that many colleagues went for runs along the Limmat river during their lunch breaks and then utilized the shower facilities at our company.

What is your next challenge?

I really, really don’t have an answer for that right now. There’s a quote that I truly like. The quote says that “once you conquer a mountain, you start looking for the next one.” So, I’m that type of person. Right now, the marathon is the biggest challenge I’ve tackled, and that’s why I think I need a little more time to process it. But I’m pretty sure I’m going to plan something new soon.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Connection, Community, and Experience.

Meet Robert, who started to learn Spanish when he joined SIX in Poland. Find out how he manages to learn a new language on top of his daily work and why his interest in sociology helps him get better at his job as application manager SaaS. 

Robert, as application manager SaaS you are responsible for the implementation and maintenance of Software-as-a-Service solutions: This includes ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation of cloud-based services for our internal customers. What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy working in a diverse team that brings together people from different cultures and backgrounds. This dynamic environment encourages creativity, collaboration and a lively exchange of ideas. Another aspect of my role that I find particularly fulfilling is the constant interaction with the people I work with. This includes regular communication with internal customers, end users, external consultants, and our technical teams.

How did you manage to combine learning a new language with your daily work?

Fortunately, our company provides a language-learning platform, called Speex, that has been instrumental in helping me combine my language-learning journey with my daily work. This platform offers great flexibility, allowing me to arrange lessons with native Spanish speakers in a way that fits my schedule, whether it’s during breaks, after work, or even during my commute. The platform gives me access to a range of learning materials, including written exercises and interactive activities, and allows me to track my progress.

In addition to IT, you are also fascinated by sociology. How does this knowledge support you in your daily work?

Sociology provides a unique lens through which we can understand ourselves and the world around us. Knowledge from sociology helps me see how social constructs, norms, and values impact our lives and influence our interactions with others. This broader perspective is immensely valuable to my work. In my role, it has helped me develop a deeper understanding of human behavior and dynamics in teams and organizations. By recognizing the social factors, such as cultural diversity, I can better navigate and manage interpersonal relationships, foster effective communication, and improve collaboration. This understanding is especially beneficial when working with heterogeneous teams, as it allows me to appreciate and respect different cultural backgrounds and perspectives, and to adapt my communication approach to different cultural contexts. In summary, understanding the principles of sociology allows me to approach situations with a more open mind, understand different perspectives better, and build stronger connections.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining SIX in Poland?

First and foremost, take advantage of the multitude of tools and resources provided by the company to support employee development. SIX places a strong emphasis on personal growth and provides ample opportunities for learning and advancement.

It is crucial to take ownership of your career. The company provides a supportive environment, but it is up to each and every one of us to drive our own career development. Be proactive in seeking out opportunities for growth, whether it’s attending training programs, participating in workshops or seminars, or taking on challenging projects. Actively engaging in professional development will not only enhance your skills and knowledge but also demonstrate your commitment and dedication to personal and professional growth.

Remember that career development is not limited to climbing the traditional corporate ladder. Embrace opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, lateral moves within the company, and even career shifts if they resonate with your goals and passions.

Lastly, stay curious and open-minded. The business landscape is constantly evolving, and being adaptable and willing to learn new things is essential for long-term success.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Skills Development, Trust, and Customer Focus.

Sandra moved from Ireland, her country of origin, to Paris before relocating to Brussels in 2008, where she works as Local Country Head for the Benelux countries. She has a passion for sustainability issues and interior design. Find out how the art of feng shui helps her achieve balance and harmony, both inside and outside the office.

Sandra, this year marks your 20th anniversary with SIX. What made you stay here and what did you enjoy most?

I always had the opportunity to grow and learn new things. I also felt that through my different activities I could participate in the growth of SIX. I very much enjoy the people I work with, and it has been very satisfying to see how my teams have developed and grown over the years.

How should one imagine your job?

As Local Country Head, I am responsible for the day-to-day business and have to drive the company forward, change or adapt the business. It is also my responsibility to ensure that all employees understand the goals set by SIX and that they have a working environment in which they are comfortable and feel safe. It is also important that I listen to my employees, support them, and give them a voice.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

The challenge we face is making sure that the energy stays high and that our people are motivated and enjoy what they do. Furthermore, Benelux is a multicultural and multilingual environment, and we need to constantly work on the common denominator that makes us all tick. I believe this is found in the Values of SIX: Collaboration, Ownership, Customer Focus, and Trust.

You are engaged with sustainability (ESG) topics and always think of ways to use the office in a more efficient and sustainable way. Can you tell us more about this?

We recently set up an ESG & Events Committee with five voluntary members covering the Benelux region. They already have a lot of ideas such as applying for a Green Certification for an event we are organizing in October.

In April this year we became a member of IMS (Inspiring More Sustainability). This organization can teach us a lot about ESG, as they have trainings, conferences, and events where we can participate in and learn how to drive this mission forward.

Another big achievement was signing the Diversity Charter in Luxembourg this May, a step in the right direction for SIX. We are also proud to have greatly improved the ratio of men to women in Luxembourg: We are now at eight men to six women, compared to fourteen men to two women only three years ago.

At the moment we are looking to contribute to our environment by making sure that we sort our bins and that we are conscious about the use of energy in the office. We are planning to have some showers installed in the premises so that our employees have the possibility to come to work on their bicycle and do sport at lunch time if they wish.

Is interior design something that interests you in your free time as well?

Yes, of course. I base my decoration on a science which is 4,000 years old: feng shui. It is all about finding harmony and balance by using the cardinal directions. They come with colors, shapes, and objects, giving us various energies that we can deploy depending on our needs and wishes, whether they need activation or calming. The result is the creation of a living or working space where you feel balanced and peaceful and ready to take on the world! I am passionate about feng shui. I love it, because it works.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

That’s a hard question because there are so many things I can say after 20 years! Today I would say that SIX is: focused, developing, and supportive.

Thilde is not only a professional handball player, but also works as an Intern in the Culture & Development Team at SIX. Find out how she juggles the two and how her athlete mindset helps her at work.

How did you come to work for SIX and what made it so special? 

I came to Switzerland in the summer of 2021 to play for a Swiss handball team. As a competitive athlete, I am part of the Athletes Network, an organization that connects athletes with the business world. Because I recently finished my education and I want to start my second career, I participated in an event called Athletes Day. SIX, as a partner company of Athletes Network, was present there. Through conversations with employees, I got a very good impression of SIX. Fortunately, a few weeks later, a six-month internship became available.

Can you tell me a bit more about the Athletes Network?

The Athletes Network connects athletes in Switzerland with the business world so that they can find a way into the professional world during their athletic career or afterwards. At the same time, the organization enables companies to recruit top athletes and thus benefit from their mindset and qualities. The Athletes Network also has an academy where members can take advantage of various offers such as how best to design their LinkedIn profile. I mainly received consulting services and thus support for my career planning and job search. Especially as a foreigner with few contacts in the Swiss professional world, the Athletes Network is the gateway to different companies.

How do you reconcile your job with your athletic career? 

SIX supports me as an athlete and offers the perfect conditions, such as a flexible and hybrid work model. This allows me to combine my 80% workload well with my seven to eight training sessions per week. My team members have been very understanding and supportive right from the start. That’s very nice and makes it easier for me to go into training with a good feeling. In addition, I am a time management expert after the many years in top-class sports.

What are your sporting and professional goals for the future?

My short-term goals are to gain experience and win titles in sports. The next month and a half will be very important for me, professionally and athletically. I’m in the last month of my internship and sports is also at its peak. I want to become Swiss champion again and win the Cup title. In the long term, I want to find my professional path and be ready for my sporting retirement, so that in two to three years I know in which direction I want to go and can pursue this career just as passionately.

Does your competitive athlete mindset give you an advantage over others?

Thanks to my professional competencies from my studies and my athlete mindset consisting of competencies such as discipline, resilience, goal orientation, passion, and ambition, I can do my job very well. I believe athletes offer added value to companies with their special mindset. We want to see results, we want to get ahead, we work with determination, and anyone who manages to transfer the aforementioned aspects from their sporting to their professional career is a strong personality. Especially athletes from a team sport know the importance of always being able to rely on the team. I love playing handball, but I love being part of a team just as much and sharing the successes together. The team is never better than the worst player. You always have to make sure everyone is performing at their best. The ability to work with others is something I also try to bring to teams at SIX.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Flexibility, trust, and diversity 

Jill is a junior crypto compliance officer at SIX and at the same time a politician in the Cantonal Council of Zug. Find out how these two jobs can be reconciled, how Jill, as a member of the queer community, is committed to diversity goals, and what improvements in this regard she would like to see in the future.

What does your day look like as a junior crypto compliance officer?

I have just recently moved to the position of junior crypto compliance officer and am now excited to see how I can prevent and control money laundering in cryptocurrency. Previously I spent two years as a business analyst at SDX, mainly at the interface between business and technology, where I supported various projects in the field of cryptocurrency.

Why do you work at SDX?

SDX is a very innovative division of SIX Group that deals with the latest technological developments and aligns itself with the latest standards in the Swiss financial marketplace. For me, SDX is one of the most exciting employers in the financial world.

How did you get into politics?

When I came of age and was allowed to vote, I joined a young liberal party – the “Jungfreisinnigen.” At first, I mainly went to their events, got to know various people, and was on the street before votes to hand out flyers. At some point I felt like taking on more responsibility and started to organize bigger things like campaigns or events. Eventually my local FDP The Liberals party asked me if I wanted to run for the cantonal council. I agreed. That’s how I got elected to my first official position within the party.

How do you manage to be an active politician and work at SIX at the same time?

In Switzerland, we have a militia system, where public functions are mostly performed on a part-time basis. At SIX, taking on public duties is particularly feasible because we have flexible working hours that are not strictly based on “nine to five.” I discussed my political ambitions with my boss, and we found a solution so that I could perform my duties, both in politics and at SIX.

To what extent do your political and professional careers complement each other?

One similarity is that you have to communicate clearly and write a lot. For example, I write political columns in the newspaper, which in turn helps me to put things on paper at work. Of course, both at work and in politics I have to be able to understand and implement laws. As a final remark I would say that my political work has made me more confident when it comes to presentations.

What exactly are your tasks in the cantonal council?

The cantonal council is Zug’s parliament. There, I mainly try to stand up for innovations. A liberal and modern family policy is also important to me. I am very committed to advancing this issue, for example by working together as a team on national issues, creating campaigns, and submitting initiatives and referendums.

How important is it for you to be able to be yourself at work?

I think it’s very important because at work you also talk about private things with your colleagues. In the same way, you have to be open with your supervisor when something is going on privately. I am therefore very happy that I can talk freely about my fiancée, for example. So far, I’ve always had very good experiences at SIX in this regard.

As a member of the queer community, what do you think about the implementation of DE & I strategies in companies?

I think it’s crucial, both personally and from a company perspective. Right now we have a labor shortage and I think the best way to tackle it, is to be open to all talents. Everyone should feel welcome in the workplace. For example, there are queer people who want to start a family, which does not fit the traditional image of family. And they want to know if that is recognized in the workplace. In the same way, it’s important for trans people, for example, to know whether the company will help them transition or to what extent such a step will be accepted. Therefore I think that these topics should be dealt with in the job interview while also showing possibilities for development in the workplace. This not only benefits the employees but the company as well.

Do you think more could be done to make people feel comfortable in their work environment?

In my opinion, HR plays an important role here and I think you always have to ask yourself what challenges your employees are faced with. In this regard, SIX is already very well positioned in many areas. For instance, you can buy additional vacation days, as well as having the option to adjust your workload quite flexibly. Of course, there are still gaps in the law when it comes to maternity and paternity leave, especially for people living in a same-sex marriage.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Unity, adventurous, flexible

One leadership position, several leaders – that is the idea of co-leadership. Julinda and Sven, Co-Heads at SIX, know that the success of this model requires much more than the division of tasks.

What was your motivation to create a co-leadership position?

Julinda: We decided to merge two teams. We were convinced if we had the teams collaborating and looking at problems jointly we would be able to find better solutions and deliver more value for the company. Once we made the decision the question arose as to who would lead this newly joint team. Someone suggested, “Why not opt for a co-leadership?” Because our background and our skills were complementary, because we had worked together before, and had a good basis of trust and respect, we decided to go for it and take on this challenge.

Where do you benefit most from each other?

Julinda: It’s important to understand that in our department we have three business areas and in two of them we are building up the business from scratch. Building up a business requires skills, experience, a lot of strength, and endurance. Without the combined power of both of us and of course our teams we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this for two businesses at the same time.

Many people talk about how successful they were in building up their business. What they usually don’t talk about as much is the doubt, uncertainty, and tough decisions that arise during such a journey.

We have been on this journey for four months now. We have, of, course, encountered challenges, but have also learned a lot. We can already see great benefits and positive effects from this work arrangement. The other person not only understands and helps you to deliver even better quality or to make better decisions, but he or she also allows you to open up and reflect during difficult moments, especially when things are not going the way you had planned. This, for me, is definitely one of the greatest benefits.

A research paper by Prof. Dinesh Hasija suggests “interpersonal trust and relationship commitment” as the two key elements for this leadership model to be successful. Would you agree?

Sven: Absolutely. As Julinda mentioned before, one of the benefits is having someone at your side to reflect and motivate you especially during challenging times. This absolutely requires trust. And the question is, how do you get there? When we thought about taking on the co-lead challenge we met at a coffee shop on a Sunday and talked for three hours about our values: what is important to us personally, what principles we have regarding leadership, and what we want for our teams.

This was a first important building block in our relationship which we then decided to build our co-leadership on. We are still working on this every day.

This is especially important for the team. When they talk to one of us or when one of us makes a decision, our team needs to be assured that both of us are aligned and trust each other.

Do you think it is important to match on a personal level as well?

Julinda: I think it’s not necessary, but it’s important to be complementary to a certain degree. It’s also important to have different skills and experiences as well as to have different viewpoints in areas that are not business-related. Of course, it’s much more fun if you respect and enjoy being with the other person. All areas are very important, but the emotional level is not to be underestimated.

Business psychologist Rebecca Newton says, “Share ownership of the goal but divide roles and responsibilities” when it comes to co-leadership. How are you organized with your co-lead?

Julinda: We are very lucky in the sense that our superiors as well as Human Resources are supporting us on our co-lead journey. With this support we took the time early on to decide on our principles: how we would make decisions and how we would divide our attention and resources while still having overarching goals – not only for us but also for our different teams. We have figured out where we share full responsibility, where we share responsibility but one of us is in charge, and where we are independent. At the same time it’s just as important to address new challenges as they come. Not everything can be planned, and time is limited. That’s why it’s also important to have some commonalities, for example both of us are very pragmatic and quick to deal with new challenges.

Sven: You are never done. I mean, it’s leadership, to co-lead means to lead, and you are never done with being a good leader or even a great leader. We are constantly improving our co-lead role, and the way we implement it is based on the feedback that we receive from our team and, of course, the feedback that we receive from each other.

How do you manage and guide your team compared to a single leader?

Sven: For us it’s important that the team benefit from a wider skillset in the leadership and from well-founded decisions. This requires that we avoid inefficiencies as much as possible, that there should be no need for coordination with both co-leads and that we are not difficult to reach, for example, that we are not both attending the same meeting. This is where the clearly defined responsibilities come in as well as the trust that we share in the co-lead. With this we hope we can really deliver a lot of value to the team compared to a single leader.

There are a few areas where we actually do everything together. One of them is the development of the team and organization. It’s important for us because if we are both responsible for reaching our goals, we need to be both in agreement about how to best structure the organization to reach these goals. For the team there is an additional benefit. They get two different views, they generally get a more comprehensive feedback, and they get two people who think about what the next best step in the team development is.

Julinda: We also put quite some effort into ensuring that the team is affected as little as possible from this new leadership structure. Especially at the beginning when we were not yet perfectly attuned. And I remember that in one of the first meetings with our team we were very honest. We communicated that there were probably things that we hadn’t considered and that we would need the team’s feedback on.

How do you handle disagreement when you have to make a joint decision?

Sven: This is a key topic we also discussed early on when we started on our co-lead journey. First of all we are responsible for the same goals, which from the start eliminates possible conflicts of interest. Also, in a disagreement, you take the time to explain your point of view, but also make sure you understand the other person’s point of view. This process usually allows us to reach consensus. In the rare case that we fail to reach agreement, we have designated a person we both trust who we can turn to to help us find the right decision.

Julinda: In the end we are different people. And this is also why we benefit from this structure. We have different perspectives. It is also about having and giving each other the space, opening up, and listening to the different points of view. That’s how you reach better decisions.

What advice would you give to others who want to work in a co-leadership position?

Sven: Make time to understand the values of the other person. Make sure that you are compatible with the other person, agree on principles which you want to live by every day, and write them down. Ultimately it’s easy: You need to understand that a co-leadership will become one of the most important relationships in your professional life. You really need to ask yourself whether you can see yourself working side by side with the other person through late nights to solve really difficult problems. If the answer is yes, then go for it. As in all great relationships it is both enriching and challenging.

Meet Jira from our Singapore office: She explains how she maintains a healthy work-life balance and is benefiting from being a member of “Lean In Network, Women in Tech.”

What does your day as a Senior Sales Consultant look like? 

The day starts with a quick morning catch-up with my sales team, so we get aligned on our priorities for the day. Our most pressing tasks each day are ever-changing; it could be preparing for a big sales pitch; going live with a new client’s production environment, answering a Request for Proposal from an influential prospect, or creating a mock-up of a dataset that our new clients receive. The rest of the day is usually filled with client meetings, internal meetings, and a bit of quiet time to execute on the priorities.  

How do you feel working for a Swiss company with a branch in Singapore?

I’ve observed resemblances between the Swiss culture and the Singapore culture, having been with SIX for over a year now. Singaporeans are civic-minded folks and the majority of us conform to social norms to “do the right thing.” It’s not very different here at SIX because there’s always the right way of doing things, via the right channels. And as long as you ensure that, you’ll get your things done. I’ve learned that from my own experience. 

Parallel to a previous full-time job, you opened a Thai food delivery service while still taking care of your kids. How did you manage all that?

A few years back when I was working for my previous company full-time, I started a side business selling Thai food in Singapore. It started purely out of passion because I love to cook and share my food with my loved ones. I’m better at cooking Thai food than other types of cuisines, being born and raised in Thailand. It started as a weekend hobby, but it received a lot of positive feedback and regular customers, so much so that I managed to drag it on for two years.

It was no easy feat, considering my children were very young at the time and I would spend my weekends cooking food for other people. The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” rang very true to me during that point in my life. I was lucky to receive helping hands from friends and family who supported me with my kids while I was in the kitchen cooking.

What are your tips for a good work-life balance?

Establish healthy boundaries. I can over-work certain things sometimes although the task may not require it. I am continually learning to establish boundaries between perfect and good enough. It’s work in progress. I try as much as possible to sit down alone for some quiet time after work, literally doing nothing, even for as little as five minutes. This allows my brain and body to rest. Some of the best decisions in my life I’ve actually made during these quiet pockets of time, during the state of not thinking.

You are also part of “Lean In Network, Women in Tech” in Singapore. How do you benefit from that community?

Besides exchanging business ideas and networking, I benefit from learning how successful women overcome their own obstacles at the workplace. It’s reassuring to learn that although each of us come from different professional backgrounds, we more or less encounter the same struggles and insecurities. The community sometimes invites speakers who are inspiring leaders, like founders of game-changing start-ups, to share their visions and decision-making process. You also get to ask them personal questions, questions you wouldn’t hear elsewhere.

How can women support each other in a personal and professional way?

To view one another less as competitors, and instead, lending peer support or strengthening mentor and mentee relationships as necessary. 

 Your experience at SIX in three words.

Engaging, Collaborative, Challenging.

Meet Women in Tech at SIX: Get to know more about Aleksandra’s role and learn why working with Agile methodology is one of her passions. 

What does your day as Head Translation Service at SIX look like?

My job consists in organizing everything for my team, contacting external vendors, preparing reports, and planning to optimize solutions we provide to our internal customers. I also organize on-site sessions and generally take over as much as possible, so my team’s back is covered and they can focus on the daily business. I also try to help out with translations as much as possible. From time to time I also like to take over basic tasks we have provided for more than three years, just to stay in the loop and to see which areas we still need to improve.

What do you specifically like about your job?

I always thought I was the type of person who enjoys going deeper and deeper in a given specialty. At SIX I took over a slightly different role than I did in my previous jobs and I discovered that I enjoy supporting other people in their development. I like to identify their strengths and show them new areas of development, for instance, in the direction of IT or Agile. I’m definitely a dreamer and my favorite question is: Why not? And in most cases there is no real answer to that, so we just start working and transferring an idea to reality. I really enjoy that SIX gives me the possibility to grow and expand the service we provide. There is nothing more valuable than watching your product and your team develop at the same time.

What made you decide to work with Agile methodology?

I’ve worked with Agile for seven years now, both in Scrum and Kanban. For me it’s the best way to work, because in this methodology you value people and their expertise. You care about ideas, products, and not about hierarchy.  This methodology is something I introduced to the Translation Service on day one.

So far, it’s worked pretty well. What’s most important for me is to show my team that there is always room for development, we stay flexible and open for discussion. This means that every team member takes ownership, which might seem overwhelming. But as long as people know and see that their responsibility has a visible impact on the product they provide, the level of motivation is very high. The secret is to truly care about your product.

We take part in all Agile trainings provided by SIX Academy. At this point, we have two certified Professional Scrum Masters and one Professional Product Owner in our team.

You mentioned that SIX actually offers a training to learn the Agile methodology, can you tell us more about it?

Yes, SIX Academy offers basic Agile trainings, including Professional Scrum Master and Professional Product Owner trainings with the possibility to get certified, but also trainings like Lean Change Management and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). Everyone at SIX can take part for free. I have attended all of them and have only good words – both external and internal trainings provided by SIX Academy are innovative, modern, and highly interesting. To some extent, everyone at the Translation Service is involved in learning the Agile methodology.

What advice would you give someone who considers joining SIX? 

Dream big. Don’t get intimidated by processes and loads of documentation. Stay confident, keep learning, keep moving.

Your experience at SIX in three words?

Self-development, teamwork and innovation.

Enrique is the Director of Instituto BME in Spain. In his free time, he plays rugby and coaches the under-14 category of his club. Find out how his job and his hobby complement each other.

What does your day as Director of Instituto BME look like?

Instituto BME is a small company within the group where nine people work. We manage the courses, teach the classes, and carry out the commercial and financial activities. Every year, we have more than 6,500 students and manage around 200 courses, along with 4,000 hours of training. We have long-duration courses such as master’s degrees and short-duration specialization courses. Right now, for example, we simultaneously have 5 master’s degree courses (three editions of Artificial Intelligence and two of Financial Markets) while already preparing the summer courses and those that begin in the second half of the year. Additionally, we are recording new Braindex courses, constantly improving the platform and incorporating more staff. Each day is different, we have to be organized and versatile. Everyone has to do everything. Here at Instituto BME we don’t get bored!

What do you specifically like about your job? 

Is there anything more important than education? We have the most important job in the world, and it is one with a great deal of responsibility. I have been dedicated to training for more than 20 years and it is a very rewarding activity. From time to time a student comes up to me and tells me: “I did my master’s degree many years ago, it was the best decision. You changed my life.” In these moments, they make it all worthwhile.

You are also very active in your private life – you play rugby. 

Yes, I play rugby, although now at a slower pace as I am in the over-40 category, but I’ll keep playing as long as I can. I have been playing since I was nine years old, and I had to stop playing professionally when I was 26 years old. I say “professional level” because you train and dedicate as much time to it as a professional. But at the same time it is not professional because you can’t make a living as a rugby player in Spain. There comes a time when you must choose a field in which you can earn a living for the rest of your life. I was lucky to be part of a great generation of players and I accomplished great things. We won the Division of Honor League, two King’s Cups, one Iberian Cup, and I also played at a European Cup and two U20 World Championships with Spain. So, I can’t complain, in sports I’ve had a short but intense “professional” life. Now I enjoy a lot playing on the veterans team, especially the third half, where traditionally the home team invites the rival team to eat and drink.

You are also a coach now, right?

Yes, I currently coach the under-14 category of my club. In 2013, I took my five-year-old son to the club and the club’s management asked me to help. I’ve been coaching now for nine years. Generally, rugby clubs in Spain don’t have a big budget, so all of us working there are volunteers. But teaching the young players the values of rugby and seeing them grow and team up is very rewarding. I have been coaching throughout the categories while my son was playing. At some point I will have to leave him though.

To what extent do your hobby and your job complement each other? 

The values that I have learned from sports are teamwork, discipline, commitment, and respect. They are fundamental in any organization. A team only works if everyone pushes themselves as much as they can. Each and everyone is necessary. It takes just as much respect for teammates as it takes commitment to the job.

What advice would you give someone who considers joining SIX? 

SIX is a great company with many opportunities. We are operating in a fast-changing business where you have to be able to adapt quickly. My advice would be to keep a positive attitude and to be proactive. These are qualities that any manager recognizes. Also, try to be versatile. Continuing education is very important too as it helps you adapt to new challenges and projects. And don’t forget to learn from colleagues – SIX is a company with great people from whom you can learn a lot.

Your experience at SIX in three words.

Teamwork, efficiency, and honesty.

Elena, Head Financial Risk Management at SIX, enjoys playing the saxophone professionally in her free time. She graduated in Economics and Finance and, in parallel, Music. Find out why both degrees are an essential part of who she is.  

What does your day as Head Financial Risk Management look like?

Together with my team, we make sure that all financial risks are sufficiently monitored, reported, and covered. As a result, my day begins with a team meeting to share information, support and to gather feedback. After that, the day fills in quickly with meetings and requests. As the team that is accountable for the second line of defense, we want to minimize all threats to SIX, protect its reputation, fulfill regulatory requirements and still stay competitive. This requires staying focused, committed and involved. It means communicating proactively with all departments and acting fast. We do our best!

What do you specifically like about your job? 

I like that my role allows me to get a holistic view of SIX and its businesses. Also, I enjoy the fact that my tasks are very diverse and challenging, therefore, my job is always exciting. I also like that I can get in touch with everybody, share views and find common solutions.

Not only Economics and Finance are important parts of your life but also Music. How come?

I graduated in Economics and Finance and, in parallel, in Music. Both degrees are an essential part of who I am because I like rationality and numbers and to be able to prove and check a concept. Nevertheless, I also love to be creative, which is why I also enjoy playing the saxophone, something I have been doing for 20 years now. I guess my father’s passion for Jazz music, as along with my cousin and my brother, all inspired me to love music. I have been part of many bands and orchestras in the past. Currently, I play Jazz and Fusion, among others, in a big band in Kloten .

To what extent do your hobby and your job complement each other? 
Playing the saxophone pushes me to search for creativity which helps me in my job to see solutions outside the box and to sometimes improvise. In contrast, my job gives me structure, and helps me strengthen my resilience and resolve. This is also essential in music because even if you are creative you need to practice to get good at it.

What advice would you give someone who considers joining SIX?  

Be passionate about what you do and take full advantage of the company’s culture by networking with all the teams across functions. We have great people working at SIX.

Your experience at SIX in three words:

Exciting, dynamic and fun.

Five and half years ago, Alessandro started his career as a lateral mover at SIX in Operations. Now he works at the competence center of the asset servicing as an important cross function between different stakeholders. His leisure time he dedicates to Arts.

What does your day as a Specialist Corporate Actions look like?

There is no such thing as a typical day for me. Every day looks different and depends mostly on the upcoming meetings and deadlines, but other than that I am quite flexible. Since last year I have been working as a change manager and in this role I act as an intermediary between operations, IT, customers and many internal departments. I drive changes, improve and redesign processes with a holistic view.

What do you specifically like about your job?

On the one hand, I love that variety and new challenges always await me. I also like the fact that I can constantly meet new people and that we can work out solutions together. For this, good communication is particularly important. On the other hand, I think it is great that I can really make an impact and move things forward. Thereby, I am able to express my creativity by redesigning processes and thinking out of the box.

You are also creative in your private life - you paint pictures.

I am still in the experimental phase and I use many diverse painting techniques. At the moment I try mainly abstract art. My dream is to be able to exhibit my paintings at my own vernissage one day.

In what way does being an artist make you proud?

It makes me specifically proud that I'm carrying on a small tradition, since my whole family is artistically active. But most of all, I like it when my art makes other people happy. I sell my paintings on a small scale and it fills me with pride when my art pleases other people like that.

To what extent do your hobby and your job complement each other?

I am a very visual person and when I face a problem at work, I solve it by visualizing it. The other way around, I can really switch off while painting and drawing in my free time. Painting and drawing feels a bit like being in a different world. I can let out my creativity and I am guided by my inspiration. Sometimes I also get inspired by other pieces of art, art books or social media.

What advice would you give someone who considers to join SIX? 

If you want advance in your career, make an important contribution and work in an innovative, flexible, vivid and exciting environment which changes constantly, you are just right at SIX.

Your experience at SIX in three words:

Growth, trust, passion.

After his IT studies at ETH Zürich, Norwin joined SIX as a Cloud Software Engineer. In parallel to his work, he actively supports the Powercoders Program, a coding academy for migrants, as a teacher.

What does your job involve?

As a Cloud Software Engineer, I bridge the gap between cutting-edge technologies and the requirements of running an application securely in a highly regulated environment.
Together with my teammates, I manage and operate multiple development environments in the form of platforms as a service (PaaS) in both private and public cloud. We provide a stable and highly scalable infrastructure to run our applications and to provide our services.
I also advise application development teams on how to develop and run a new service in the cloud.

What do you like best about your job?

I love to creatively solve complex problems with the use of technology. The technical requirements for operating the Swiss financial market infrastructure are very interesting and exciting. It fulfills me to build a part of this infrastructure. Additionally, I like the innovational spirit as well as the freedoms at SIX. It is the perfect setting to develop my skills further and apply the theoretical concept that I learned during my studies.

What makes you proud?

I taught migrants and refugees the fundamentals of cloud computing for the Swiss organization Powercoders. It was very gratifying to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I am proud that SIX backed this amazing project and supported me in preparing and teaching this workshop. The knowledge that I have shared in this workshop I acquired at SIX over the past years.

What advice do you give someone considering joining SIX?

If you are passionate about innovation and developing sophisticated applications, then simply join this amazing journey to push SIX and yourself to the next level.

What are the three words that illustrate your experience within SIX?

Grow, inspire, share.

After completing his studies in international economics at Lund University, Lauro started as a graduate at SIX. He not only is gaining work experience at SIX, but also examines diamonds under a microscope. Find out more about how Lauro sparkles outside his job at SIX.

What are your current responsibilities at SIX?

As part of the graduate program, I work in the Primary Markets team, which supports IPOs and maintains relationships with around 250 companies listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. As a graduate, I am in close contact with stock issuers and help to improve existing solutions for them. New listings and existing issuers are the starting point for all subsequent services from SIX, like trading and post-trading. It is very exciting to be able to deepen my knowledge in this area of my job because I have been fascinated by the stock exchange business ever since I bought my first Swiss stock during my banking apprenticeship.

What do you like most about your job?

As a graduate, you learn a lot on and off the job, get your own areas of responsibility, and can contribute a new perspective on many topics. Over the past 18 months, I have been able to work in four departments in different business areas and gain interesting insights. Besides all of the projects I have worked on during the graduate program, expanding my personal network has certainly been one of the most valuable benefits for my further career development. After the program, I will start as a project manager in post-trading with a workload of 80%.

What prompted you to reduce your workload?

Many of my ancestors were involved in watchmaking and diamond trading. “For thousands of years, men have been trying to spark a fire with stones” — my father has put this slogan into practice very successfully over the past decades. The aura of diamonds is contagious and fascinating. This has motivated me to dedicate part of my time to trading with Mother Earth's hardest and most beautiful material and to take a closer look at this family tradition.

How do your two passions complement each other?

Trading on the Swiss Stock Exchange is known for its outstanding order book quality. Within a very short time, a transaction is executed in accordance with clear rules. In diamond trading, every gemstone is unique and requires precise examination. Emotions play an important role. Finding the right diamond for each customer is a complex process and requires a lot of experience. Being professionally active in both trading models is very exciting for me. I am grateful to SIX that such a work model is possible.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining SIX?

There are many job opportunities at SIX for those interested in finance and IT. Anyone who can identify with the values of SIX and wants to feel the pulse of the Swiss financial center is certainly in the right place.

What three words encapsulate your experience at SIX?

Flexibility, growth, and trust

María Calvo, a person, a woman, a wife, the mother of three kids, a daughter, a sister, and a deputy head lawyer in the legal department in Spain (at BME, a SIX company), where she has been working for almost 18 years.
 

How would you describe your current responsibilities?

Challenging and exciting. As a member of the legal team, continually adapting to the constantly changing regulatory and legal landscape is key in delivering our legal advice and cementing our position as the best business partner. As a deputy, I view my responsibilities as an opportunity to support the team in any aspect where I can contribute to fostering a better working environment, creating opportunities for professional growth and development, and facilitating daily legal tasks.

What are the most important things you have learned while progressing both professionally and privately?

The most important wisdom learned (or rather, my core belief) is that we are human beings above all, immense in significance and dignity, and equal even though each of us holds different roles or positions. We need to practice self-awareness of our virtues and weaknesses in the ongoing search for the best version of ourselves as people. We are not just professionals in a working environment. We all have our own personal dreams, interests, goals, families, hobbies, and skills. We all need to achieve our purpose and to attain fulfillment both professionally and personally. Respect, consideration, gratitude, generosity, and empathy are needed. A work-life balance is essential as well.

How does the company help you maintain your work-life balance?

Our company offers a good set of helpful measures such as the possibility to cut back working hours, employment flexibility, and a strong commitment with a culture rooted in values such as “customer focus,” “collaboration,” “ownership,” and “trust.” However, when your responsibilities and your professional commitment increase, how you attain a sustainable work-life balance depends very much on your personal limits, priorities, and organization. Combining all of your different roles in a satisfactory way sometimes becomes almost a heroic undertaking. I pay homage to all those people, particularly women, who have succeeded in this challenge.

There’s still a lot to be done, and all of us should be part of it. Raising awareness of the need to protect a work-life balance becomes imperative because motivated, personally fulfilled, and well-balanced people have proven to be the best professionals.

What advice would you give someone who is considering joining SIX? 

Take the job, join us. A job at SIX can offer you a solid horizon for growth and development. I nonetheless would also tell someone who is considering joining SIX that we need to be able to count on you and on what you can offer us as a team, your approach to solutions, your views, your energy, your enthusiasm, and your commitment. New joiners need to partake in the opportunities we offer, but we all need to learn from them and to benefit from their fresh contributions, and to then follow our common journey for growth together. This is a win-win arrangement!

What three words encapsulate your experience at SIX?

Commitment, opportunities, and an exciting future! 

Alina joined SIX in April 2020 and works as a product manager for the Connectivity ecosystem in the business unit Banking Services. Together with her team, she develops new solutions such as the open finance platform bLink for standardized interfaces that is open to banks, Fintechs and software providers.
She not only loves the adrenaline kick on the job but also outside of work when driving rallies. Staying focused, acting quickly, and enhancing her skills are the things that matter to her.

What is the best thing about being a product manager at SIX?

To me it’s actually two things: the dynamic environment and the great culture. Our leaders are young and open-minded, incredibly smart, and – most of all – kind. It’s this combination that attracts and motivates great talents.
I work in the Connectivity ecosystem, where innovative technology meets the traditional banking business. I love how we product managers continuously advance our knowledge about technology while closely collaborating not only with financial institutions, but also with leading and rising software companies in Switzerland and worldwide.

The world of finance is changing at a fast pace. How do you cope with that? 

The finance business is evolving very rapidly. The environment is becoming more competitive with rising cost pressures, making rapid action and responses essential. I personally love change combined with speed and actively seek it. I believe it makes us smarter and more adaptable in the future, when changes are inevitable.
I experience it every day professionally and also personally because I am a rally driver. No matter if the ground is dry, wet, or snowy, I need to stay focused and act quickly. When moving at full speed, anticipation and adaptation are the keys to success.

How does SIX empower you to advance your skills?  

The inspiring company culture, my network at work, and the internal training opportunities help me to grow. Having worked for different multinationals with strong cultures, I feel that SIX takes fostering and living a strong company culture very seriously.
The company gives me a lot of latitude in choosing what skills I want to advance and how. I and my managers live the company values of trust and collaboration. My managers know my skills, and we jointly define how I can broaden and enhance them. There are many opportunities like 1:1 trainings with different experts and online classes such as Udemy courses, and then I always learn on the job as well. There is also the option of attending interesting events and exchanging knowledge with the external companies I work with. The sky is the limit! ;-)

What advice would you give someone who is considering joining SIX? 

Be ready for a fast-paced market in the midst of a lasting transformation. Be ready to learn a great deal and to grow. Bring a curious and hungry (open!) mind, and you’ll be good to go. If you are looking to play a meaningful part at the intersection of technology and the financial business, then SIX is definitely the place to be!
Other than that, be clear about where you want to go, how you want to contribute, and what skills you want to develop. The SIX leadership and colleagues will make sure to embed your skills to a fit. 

Your experience at SIX in 3 words.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, dynamic, driven.

 

After he had left SIX and accepted jobs at other companies, Mark joined SIX again in 2020 and is currently Head of Infrastructure and Production at SIX Digital Exchange, the company that is building the world’s first regulated digital market infrastructure.

What is your career path at SIX?

After working as a civil engineer for ten years, I applied for a position as a product manager at SIX. For this role, I moved from Dublin to Zurich at the beginning of 2011. My supervisor at the time encouraged me to take this step and was very supportive. While at SIX, I gained further experience as a project manager; in 2018, I decided to pursue my interests in the burgeoning blockchain tech industry and therefore left SIX. In 2020, I started working at SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), thus bringing me back to SIX.

What inspires you in every day?

Genuinely the working culture at SDX is one of the best working cultures I have worked within. It fits well with my personality and the way I like to work. This creates very unique challenges and circumstances. Uncertainty, for example, is extremely high. But SDX gives employees the right tools to deal with uncertainties and perform on the job.

How did you first get interested in technology and especially in digital finance infrastructure?

I first heard about blockchain technology in 2013. A former colleague was leading a project at the time that looked at the potential impact of this technology on finance. Immediately, I took notice of Bitcoin - and dismissed Bitcoin as a fad in the years to come. Then in 2015 I was leading a software development project and was working alongside engineers where we got into conversations about technology circumventing the need for a bricks and mortar type bank account. This led me to deep-dive, in my free time, into Bitcoin and the digitalization of finance and what the implications of this technology meant for the future of finance. The topic still consumes much of my free time today outside of my role in SDX.

What advice would you give someone who is considering joining SIX? 

SIX itself is a very good employer, with good working conditions for employees. In my opinion, attitude is everything. It even trumps knowledge. SIX will give you the opportunity to go any direction you want, regardless of background, within the company and learn anything you like but in return you must bring the right attitude. My own career within SIX is proof of this. But as the saying goes nothing worth having comes easy. Such is life itself.

What are the three words that encapsulate your experience at SIX?

Life lasting memories.

Alessandra is a system engineer in the IT department "Digital Workplace" for SIX Corporate Services. IT has always been her passion.

How would you describe your current job?

My role is very interesting at the moment because we support the implementation of cloud technology. This means that whether employees work from home, abroad or in the office, cloud technology allows them to work exactly as they are used to in their IT environment in the office. IT changes so fast, so there's never a dull moment. Learning new technologies and keeping up with the pace is necessary and great fun. You never stand still. "Learn to learn" is my motto.

Why are you passionate about IT?

My first steps in IT were in a maintenance and repair center. I was able to discover everything about computers and a lot about IT. Over time, I developed my skills and a strong IT expertise at the corporate service desk. It was important for me to get to know SIX and the different requirements of the departments. Today, I work on the topics that inspire and motivate me.

What is your take on the fact that there are not many women in IT?

I've often wondered why so few women get excited about the world of computers. I can't think of any good reasons. IT has become a male domain. What many people don't know, though is that the first programmers were women.
It's a fact: IT is changing the world. Both men and women should be part of it! As women, we can always bring in new views and look at challenges from a different angle.

What advice would you give someone who is considering joining SIX? 

I would like to emphasize two points. Firstly, SIX is an excellent employer with a good work life balance. Secondly, SIX supports you in your further development so that you can flourish in the working world. Be proactive and take advantage of all opportunities to grow!

What are the three words that illustrate your experience at SIX?

Teamwork beyond your own team, respect, feeling at home. 

Adam is the Head of Equity Sales Europe at the Swiss Stock Exchange. Drawn-in by the outdoor-lifestyle (and chocolate) Switzerland offers, he has recently relocated from London to Zurich to start his second stint with SIX.

What does your typical day as Senior Sales Manager look like right now?

One of the most enjoyable parts of my role is that within the relatively narrow world of secondary market equity trading, it is filled with a variety of responsibility. From meetings with existing and potential trading members on new and active products, to working with our SIX colleagues at Bolsa de Madrid on exchange integration and a lot in between. The core of my role is to work collaboratively with our client community to bring more business to the SIX equity markets. These broad goalposts mean there is always room for creative thinking.

What have you learnt from working with customers in both the UK and Switzerland?

I have had the pleasure of working for the sales team of the Swiss Stock Exchange in London, as well as for another Stock Exchange in the UK before taking on my role as Head of Equity Sales Europe at SIX in Switzerland. I see huge value in getting to know the customer base from these different vantage points as each role exposes you to a different perspective and way of thinking about our product offering. This perspective has taught me the importance of collaborating as a business with all different types of client, from the largest global Investment Banks to smaller retail or local brokers. Working with all clients creates the best trading ecosystem and puts SIX in a great competitive position amongst its peers.

How did you experience moving to Switzerland while working remotely?

I believe that the COVID-driven move to remote working has seen our financial services industry jump decades ahead of the natural progression we were on towards flexible working arrangements. Without this move to remote working I do not believe I would have relocated to Switzerland. This was not because it made the move particularly easier, but because it changed my mindset to ‘I can work anywhere, therefore where geographically would I like to be?’. Unfortunately the drawback of remote working when you are a new-joiner at an organization is that it requires more effort to get to know colleagues and integrate into the team. My manager and colleagues have done an excellent job of helping overcome this hurdle so the difference was barely felt.

What advice would you give someone who is considering joining SIX? 

I see SIX as a rare example of a company that is both an established cornerstone of the financial markets, that still has the appetite to invest, evolve and disrupt to drive the business forwards in partnership with their clients.

Regardless of which stage of your career you are at, I believe SIX offers potential employees the opportunity to grow, see a new perspective of the industry and enjoy your role whilst doing it.

What are the three words that encapsulate your experience at SIX?

Friendly, professional and motivated.

Artur joined SIX in July 2020 and works as a system engineer for the Collaboration Engineering in our corporate IT department in Warsaw. Together with his team, he is responsible for our IT collaboration systems. Also he and his team have been a part of a data migration project. Not only does he like to make people happy at work when updating their software or providing technical support, but also outside of work when he is making perfumes.

What does your typical day as a System Engineer looks like right now?

I start working at 7 am. I check if we have any incidents in our ITSM system. I’m assigning to me the not assigned tickets that I am able to solve. At 9 am I join our daily team meeting. We discuss tasks for the day, and we also plan tasks for the upcoming days. We share difficult problems in the team and we will solve it together. For rest of the day, I normally work on different tasks, do research, update documentations, read and answer emails, or write codes to automate processes. The day goes by usually really fast.

What do you like most about your job?

I spend most of the day at work and while working in an international organization, I am meeting people from all over the world. Even though, we are all different we are still connected by the same company culture and we work like a second family. The atmosphere and trust in the team is very important, only together we can achieve great success. But also organizing work in such a way that each of the team can hold each other’s back if someone is on holidays or sick. This made us successful when we migrated a huge amount of data without major problems from one system to another in ten months. SIX inspires me every day and I come to work with a smile on my face.

What prompted you to pursue such an unusual hobby?

My wife has always loved perfumes, at some point we started to buy niche perfumes containing a lot of natural and unusual ingredients. We started buying ingredients, sniffing and analyzing them. Once, I smelled a scent that took me back to my childhood: I was reminded of my grandmother’s house and the smell of white Madonna Lilies. From that moment on, I started sniffing all the flowers I encountered.  I started reading books on the subject and absorbing all the knowledge from the internet. All these sensual scents made me decide to become a perfumer in my leisure time. Covid-19 slowed down the launch of our perfume business, but we are on the right track.

How do your two passions complement each other (IT & Perfumes)?

Perfume making teaches you incredible accuracy, there is no room for error. You lose expensive ingredients if you mix them incorrectly. It also teaches patience, as blending ingredients for perfume is a process, when you mix you have to wait for them to blend, what can take up to three weeks. Only after that you are able to make corrections. Creating a perfume also allows you to look at the complexity of the whole process. A perfume is not only about ingredients, it is about knowing how to combine them, how to design and produce a bottle, how to design a box, what are the costs and what are the legal regulations regarding the sale of perfumes.

It is the same with working at SIX. The work of a System Engineer teaches you that the answers to all questions are available in the books and Internet. You just have to take the time to learn and to do it, and you can do anything.

What advice would you give someone who is considering joining SIX in Poland? 
Browse our job offers and if you are interested, do not hesitate and contact our company. You will not regret it. At SIX Poland we are like a second family.

What are the three words that encapsulate your experience at SIX?

Trust. Family. Home.