By Rahel Gruber, Head of Operations, Co-Deputy CEO
It is hard to believe that two years have passed since I joined swissnex China in March 2018. From the first day on, I felt like I was part of a big family. During my time at swissnex China, I had the incredible honor to collaborate with 12 precious colleagues and to guide 29 bright young professionals through their journey in my role as Head of Operations and Co-Deputy CEO. It is the people behind swissnex China, who build the bridges between Switzerland and China, and who make any visitor feel welcome from the moment she/he sets foot in our office. I am deeply grateful for these priceless encounters (not to mention all the meals we shared, the endless KTV nights, the Shanghai odysseys etc.), as it was the people and the shared spirit that made my stay unforgettable.
Being an integral part of swissnex China provided me with the unique chance to immerse myself in the world of Science Diplomacy in one of the most dynamic and exciting countries in the world. I have always had a particular fascination and passion for China, a place full of mysteries, surprises and beauty. My engagement made me see China from a new angle and opened my eyes to all the opportunities lying not only within its size, but also within its people and their ideas. At home, I hear the same question over and over again: Why should innovators and researchers go to China? My answer is simple: In China, the potential to achieve something great is much bigger than the risk, if you get to talk to the right people. And this is what we do, we connect people and their ideas. Connecting the dots between Switzerland and China in education, research and innovation, swissnex China brings us a step closer to a brighter future. It was my pleasure to support swissnex China in its mission to find synergies and to help translate them into something tangible and sustainable.
Needless to say, being active in China also means facing plenty of challenges. Some of my personal highlights turned out to be some of the biggest trials for me as well as for the team, demanding a great deal of joint efforts in terms of creativity, patience and flexibility. My most memorable moments included the 10th anniversary celebration of swissnex China with Swiss Federal Councilor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, where we fought not only against time, but also the Shanghai rain; our involvement at the Swiss Pavilion during CIIE 2018, where we had to manage a crowd of cheese and chocolate lovers; The Future of Money: Brilliance in Fintech 2019, where everything to the last detail had to be perfect for the official visit of our former President Ueli Maurer; The Drone Race during the Swiss Innovation Week 2019 at the Embassy of Switzerland in China, where we organized the first-ever live drone race in an embassy compound, and many more. In a nutshell: The bigger the challenge, the more rewarding the outcome! Other initiatives such as the Café des Sciences series, which I had the chance to host numerous times (même en français!), or the many university delegation visits made my journey complete.
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank not only the entire swissnex China team including my amazing mentor Felix as well as my desk neighbor Danli, but also the Consulate General of Switzerland in Shanghai (Françoise and Sophie in particular), our headquarters SERI in Bern (special thanks to Malin), the swissnex Network, the Embassy of Switzerland in China, all the partners, universities, alumni, guests and friends of swissnex China, for inspiring me and for making my Shanghai story an exceptional chapter of my personal and professional life that I will never forget. I look forward to keeping connected with all of you!
