Get to know me
At the heart of everything I do is my deep belief in the importance of equality. I believe that every person deserves an equal opportunity to flourish in body, mind, and spirit. It's only when we nurture all these aspects we can unlock our full potential and contribute meaningfully to an organization or in our entrepreneurial ventures.
I am passionate about helping companies recognise this and guide them in building a supportive and stimulating work environment (Empowerment Zone) where every employee can flourish.
My background
I am half Brazilian and half Italian and a mother of two sons. I grew up in the canton of Thurgau until I was 21, and then I moved to Zurich to pursue my career in the tech industry. I speak six languages fluently and am currently Head of Marketing at Salesforce in Switzerland, based in Zurich. I'm also the founder of the non-profit organisation Bring Women Back to Work.
I began my career in the tech industry by coincidence without any technical knowledge. I was hired for my language skills and had to learn everything on the job. When I transitioned to Salesforce as the Director of Alliance & Channel for Switzerland, I was responsible for managing the partner ecosystem. It was during this time that I recognized the opportunity to connect women with our partners. This led to the creation of the initiative Bring Women Back to Work, which then transformed beyond my wildest dreams into a vibrant NGO.
My organisation focuses on empowering and supporting women who have taken career breaks, providing them opportunities to regain their professional momentum and contribute their valuable skills and expertise to the workforce.
My philosophy
I believe that having the courage to make mistakes is what builds our Superpower. Curiosity, courage and a willingness to learn from mistakes are essential keys to success in any endeavour.
I believe in the strength of community; together, we can achieve what alone is impossible.
I believe that true leadership is driven by psychology and does not require authority. By empowering and inspiring people to reach their full potential, we enable them to perform at their best.
I believe that every employee should be recognized as a human being. Companies must nurture employees' individuality and creativity. A thriving workforce fuels business growth.
I believe in fairness and equality. Equal compensation for equal work and transparency in every organization are vital for building employee trust and loyalty.
I believe that diversity fosters innovation and encourages creativity. Companies should hire individuals from various backgrounds to facilitate growth.
I believe there are no low performers—only employees placed in the wrong roles. It is the shared responsibility of both the company and the employee to identify the areas where the employee's strengths lie and to realign them accordingly.
I believe that companies should focus on developing their workforce rather than participating in talent wars. Loyal employees find a sense of belonging in their company beyond just good salary.
My Story
Early Life
I am the daughter of two immigrants, a Brazilian mother and an Italian father. After my parents married, they moved to Switzerland to be closer to my father's family. As an immigrant, my childhood was not easy. In school, I had a teacher who never fully believed in me. They often said that I didn’t need to become a genius because, sooner or later, I would return to my home country. This confused me since I was born in Switzerland and it was the only home I knew. I often came home upset because the teacher did not include me in activities or projects or offer me speeches as they did to others. I was good in school and I knew I had the potential, but I was never given the opportunity to show what I could do.
At that time both of my parents had to work, so I was cared for by a Spanish woman who also looked after her grandchildren while taking care of me. I called her “Grandmother”, even though we weren’t related by blood, she was definitely my grandmother by heart. She was the one who gave me the most valuable advice, which has carried me through that difficult time and is with me to this day.
My grandmother told me, “Vanessa, you are the only version of yourself in this world, and that is your Superpower. Use it!” At just 9 years old, I didn’t fully grasp her words, but they became ingrained in my DNA. Whenever I faced difficulties in school and later in life, I would remember and this was the immense power that she instilled in me. Her words fueled my determination. Now if someone says I can’t do something, I am inspired to show everyone that I can.
Bring Women Back to Work
I created a program that supports women coming back to business after an extended career break. Entering a new industry presents many challenges for women, and Bring Women Back to Work (BWBW) assists women in navigating them. This program is one year long and is entirely free for women. It equips them with essential tech knowledge but it also helps them rebuild their confidence after a career break. Furthermore, we offer mentorship, coaching, and leadership development throughout the year.
Finally, our initiative's key goal is to connect these talented women with our partners, who are not only Salesforce partners but also customers who have joined the BWBW program. This collaboration is truly remarkable. Our partners actively recruit from our diverse talent pool, allowing women to embark on exciting new journeys in a different industry.
The program is now 4 years old and has brought more than 500 women participating. So far, 80% of these women have secured jobs, 55% have obtained their Salesforce administration certification, and 60% of the positions offered are part-time.
With BWBW, opportunities that seem impossible for women after an extended career break become very possible. We even have an example of a woman securing a job while pregnant, which is quite rare given the unconscious biases often faced. Nevertheless, every partner involved in Bringing Women Back to Work places a strong emphasis on diversity as a fundamental value, ensuring they actively avoid discrimination and look beyond these biases.
We encourage our partners to prioritise hiring for attitude and then train for skills. BWBW enables this by bridging the skill gap, allowing companies to hire diverse talent and develop their own workforce rather than compete in talent wars. Diverse, motivated talent breathes innovation into the company and ensures employee retention. Additionally, we advise companies to create “an Empowerment Zone” for their employees, which provides flexible work options and supports people in expressing their individuality and uniqueness to thrive within the organisation. A happy, thriving workforce is what facilitates company growth and success.
Early Career
I started my career as a translator for criminal police. This was a special experience but also a very challenging one. Day after day, I witnessed stories that were without hope, and I felt powerless because I could not help. I am naturally positive and I like to help people grow and develop, so being in that environment was tough for me. Still, it taught me a lot about myself and what I wanted in life, and it sparked my interest in human psychology. I wanted to learn how to help people overcome challenges and become the best version of themselves.
By random circumstances, I spoke with a friend who suggested I should try working in tech. I was very sceptical at first because I had zero tech skills or background. At that time, I did not even know the difference between Office and Windows. But because I spoke 6 languages, I had the advantage of bringing different skills to the organisation that they needed, so I got hired. In my new position, I was working with customers and needed to do business with them on the topics of technology and explain to them the products that were being sold. It was pretty much learning by doing, I loved it and never looked back.
