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In this article, from Vlamingen in de Wereld, I share my journey to Switzerland and how I successfully combine running my business with being a full-time single mom. (English version below).
You expect cultural differences far away rather than close to home, and perhaps not Switzerland at all. However, Sophie Declercq drew big eyes when, as a single mom with what was then a two-year-old daughter, she started working there full-time as an expat. Meanwhile, five years later, she has her own company, supporting entrepreneurs in implementing a solid foundation of marketing and organization to guarantee increasing sales. Alpine country requires a user’s guide, as a new place to work, but also as a country in which to raise a child. However, unconscious biases are not limited to Switzerland. Some global balloons about gender equality are punctured. Sophie doesn’t let it get to her heart. She is curious, driven, enthusiastic and creates her most beautiful life.
Sophie loves a challenging job and likes to combine it with caring for her daughter. On a border more or less she does not look, but in doing so she experienced some prejudice, sometimes several times a day and independently. “It shows stereotypes in our thinking and society. ‘Did you follow your husband abroad?”, I am then told. As if a woman couldn’t do that on her own. Because that is what I did. I first worked eight years for Atlas Copco in Wilrijk, in various positions, while abroad attracted me more and more. Other cultures have always appealed to me, which may be why I now speak six languages. I was rational and realistic enough not to jump ship as a young mother without a professional parachute. So when the position of communications manager in Switzerland became vacant, I oriented myself well, applied and was hired. Today I live not far from Biel, between Bern and Basel.
Atlas Copco may be a globally active multinational that offers many opportunities internally, but that concerns mainly sales or engineering profiles and less in a communication role. “Fulfilling such a position in a language other than one’s mother tongue is not obvious either. But nevertheless, I wanted to try it. When I saw the vacancy, I was a single mother with a two-year-old daughter. A potential stumbling block for many, perhaps, but internally there was fortunately the intention to go along with my ambition. However, a first challenge soon presented itself, because in Switzerland children do not go to school until the age of four or five, and without crèches this was still a problem. It quickly became clear that my conception of working in combination with motherhood did not match local expectations. Fortunately, Switzerland is not insurmountably far and my mother turned out to be a dream babysitter.”
“I was looked at strangely because as a young mother I worked full time. Whereas in Belgium this is the most normal thing in the world. Most Swiss mothers stay home to take care of their child or work part-time while their husband works away from home.
People also don’t understand that you don’t want to be at home with your child. Meanwhile, Marie goes to school, but as a single mother I also just didn’t have a choice. I like to work and I like to see my child. Working away from home does not mean that you are less happy to see your child. Not only are crèches expensive, the daily schedule is also in function of stay-at-home moms. Many schools close from noon to 2 p.m. without the children staying in school.”
“My assignment was for three years and was extended for 12 months. By then I felt I had achieved everything I wanted within the company. Further growth was possible again in Belgium, but I was having a good time in Switzerland. That’s why I started as self-employed. Starting up a business was very easy. It went extremely fast and I was also well helped by various agencies. And the big advantage is that thanks to Atlas Copco I already had a residence permit, which for Europeans is not tied to the company. If you come from outside Europe you often have to leave the country after the assignment. And because I have been living here for five years now, both my daughter and I are already permanent residents, which is interesting from a tax perspective”.
“Today, under the name Growth Fundamentals, I support CEOs & founders of industrial growth companies in implementing a marketing plan and setting up an organizational structure to track their increasing sales. I facilitate them, so to speak, in working on their business rather than in their business. I show them how to efficiently micromanage less and optimize their organization so that they can continue to grow both privately and professionally. This ideally gives them a better work-life balance. I bring my own experience with me. That balance is important to me, even though I too once sat at my desk from 6am to 6pm. Today, I give entrepreneurs time and energy. Too often they feel they must always be there. Being able to let go of some of that takes time.”
“My daughter and I have a good time here. Our life is in Switzerland. And both in terms of standard of living and health care, it is comparable to Belgium, but at a higher price tag. Belgium is a vacation country for us. But nevertheless, I am often shocked. Switzerland may be an island within Europe, but you don’t expect such cultural differences. I thought I would experience such great contrasts in more distant countries. That makes it very fascinating, but sometimes also organizationally difficult. For the next five years, I think I will stay here. Maybe secondary education for Marie will bring us back to Belgium.”