The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action’. According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take roughly five generations to reach full gender parity. Increased momentum is needed to address the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
One of the ways we can positively impact women’s advancement is by celebrating the inspirational women in our lives and raising awareness of their achievements. With this in mind, we asked four Julius Baer employees to share personal stories about the women who have inspired them. What characteristics do they admire in these women? What have they learned? And how do they follow these women’s examples in their own lives?
Sonia Gössi, Head Switzerland & Europe
“My godmother was the eldest of six children left orphaned at the end of World War Two. She raised her siblings despite only being a teenager herself. As a girl, I used to spend the summer holidays with her family in Italy. I’d help them sell newspapers from their news stand in the village. I saw that my godmother didn’t have any time for herself – no time for proper eating breaks, for fresh air or to look after her own needs. I was almost annoyed with her for her selflessness – and yet, she shined. Gradually I saw that what made her shine was the pride she took in helping others to shine.
She taught me the important lesson that good leadership – both at work and in the family – is about empowering those around you, not boosting your own ego. I have a son with special needs. When we discovered this, it was tough emotionally. However, I realised through my godmother’s example that life can throw up challenges and it’s about making the best of the situation, by giving the other the best care you can and being grateful that you have the resources not only to help your own child but also other families in the same situation. When I asked my godmother later in life what her dream travel destination would be, she said she’d like to visit Lourdes to help disabled people and pray for their health.
I also admire how smart my godmother was. She had no formal education, but she read those unsold history and art magazines from the news stand front to back. When we went to museums in Milan, she could tell me everything about the paintings and sculptures. Sadly, she’s no longer with us but, if she were, she’d tell you that she didn’t have a hard existence. She loved, she was loved, and she was happy and fulfilled. She helped me realise what it means to lead a fulfilled life.”
Leong Yip, Chief Risk Officer Asia
“I’m fortunate to have been surrounded by a lot of brilliant women, but one who’s made a huge difference throughout my life is my mother. When I was growing up in Malaysia, she worked as a teacher and she believed passionately in the power of education. She’d never left Malaysia, but she encouraged me to pursue the opportunities that came my way and, after finishing school, I went to New Zealand. Although it must have been difficult for her to see me leave, she knew it would open up new horizons for me.
One mantra of hers that has stayed with me is that I should always take care of my safety. I can imagine that for her, the daughter of a Chinese migrant to Malaysia, born just before World War Two, staying out of danger was a priority. Her generation had to pick themselves up and rebuild their lives, which made them highly resilient. I see this in her – she’s always been very determined. She did whatever she set out to do, training and working as a teacher while raising three children. That’s admirable, considering the environment at that time.
My role as a Chief Risk Officer requires a lot of judgment and I often bounce ideas off my team. They’re all brilliant people, but I believe men and women can analyse and think about issues differently. Like my mother, women sometimes provide their input from another perspective to provide a holistic approach to various topics, so I make a conscious effort to try to avoid confirmation bias and to pick up on their input. I also see that many of the women in my team are often juggling family priorities with the demands of work and societal expectations. I think this helps them to analyse issues in a well-balanced, helpful and constructive manner.”
Michelle, Team Head IT
“I joined Julius Baer straight from school in 2008 and, as I worked at that time on the IT Service Desk, I was invited to help out at Julius Baer’s stand at a local IT careers fair for girls. That’s where I met a woman who has been inspiring me ever since: my colleague Laura. In the years since then, she and I have worked on many other initiatives at Julius Baer, such as her idea of creating Daughter’s Day, an IT-specific day for girls, which has since evolved into the annual IT Kids Day.
Laura isn’t somebody who simply dips her toes into things – she goes all-in! I’m in awe of her energy. She works full-time, she’s a mother of two kids, she does photography as a hobby, she supports her kids’ football club, and she helps her husband run the family company. Even though she has so much going on, she always manages to be absolutely present in dealing with whatever task is at hand.
Laura has taught me that authenticity and honesty can be applied in any conversation, showing that being genuine and straightforward can be incredibly powerful. The way she interacts with people is a big part of her success. IT can be a daunting environment for young women. We’ve all faced situations where a male colleague has asked if there is a man around to help them solve their IT issues. But Laura deals with situations like this constructively. She’s shown me how to overcome barriers and not be put off easily by prejudice.”
Andrea, Graduate Compliance & Risk, Dubai
“The most inspirational woman in my life is my mother. She was very busy when I was growing up, helping to run the family business while bringing up a family. But she always found the time be there for me and, now that I’m older, I can see how stressful it must have been for her. When you’re younger, you don’t notice these things! Wherever my interests took me, she was supportive of them – always encouraging me to try out different sports and hobbies and finding the time and money to let me pursue them. Perhaps it would be the guitar one year, skiing the next. Eventually I focused on my passion for tennis. She took me to competitions and was always there to support me.
One of the key things I’ve learned from my mother is to have a positive mindset. She says: ‘If you have a problem, there’s no point in going crazy about it. Let’s face the situation head-on, find a solution, and do what you need to do to get through it.’ I’d describe her as stoic, somebody with great personal resilience. She’s experienced different spells of bad health in her life, but she never complains. Even when she was undergoing chemo or intensive therapy, she simply got on with her life – those around her barely noticed any difference.
She’s also taught me the importance of trying to work things out with your loved ones. She and my father have been married for 30 years. She told me to treat my partner right: to be a gentleman, open the door for her, and pay her compliments. And, importantly, to show her respect by talking through any problems directly with her.”