Anthony expands his horizons in Switzerland

1. Where do you come from, how long is your secondment in Switzerland and what is your role?

I am on a three-year secondment from the United States. More specifically, I’m originally from a small town just north of Detroit. Prior to my secondment, I spent seven years with the PwC assurance practice in the US, where I had the opportunity to work with various public and privately held clients. In Switzerland, I have joined the Assurance Trade, Industries & Services (TIS) team where I serve our Swiss-based clients, with a focus on those publicly traded in the US.

2. What were your initial steps to kick off the secondment (talks with your coach, team leader, etc.)?

I’ve been fortunate to work on many different types of projects, with varying stakeholders and in various places in the United States. In comparison, the initial steps to kick off the secondment were very similar to those needed to successfully kick off any new engagement. I’ve found that taking the time to get to know each teammate, as well as my buddy and coach have been helpful in building important relationships, getting a sense of expectations, and understanding roles and responsibilities. I’ve also found it exceptionally helpful to really try to understand cultural differences between my home and my host country and even between PwC firms.

"While maybe cliché, I’ve found that personal growth commonly comes from immersing yourself in new or unknown situations, and that getting comfortable with potentially being uncomfortable often leads to rewarding experiences."

3. What was the most special moment during your time? Are there events, projects or times with colleagues that you treasure most?

At the beginning of my secondment Switzerland was experiencing a work from home mandate due to COVID-19, so although I was in Switzerland, I didn’t go to the nearby office but was working from my apartment in Zurich. The most special moments have been through the ability to finally meet my coworkers in person, some of which I’ve been working with virtually for several months. As with many PwC colleagues, I look forward to more of these special moments as we return to work and are able to connect with each other within and outside the PwC office.

4. Is there a special experience that you didn’t expect prior to moving or that has changed your life since moving to Switzerland?

Before moving to Switzerland from the United States I underestimated how much my personal perception on everyday life would change – just from picking up on the difference in cultures and accepting the societal norms. Living in Zurich is full of opportunities to not only gain an inside perspective to the Swiss culture, but many others as well. I look forward to learning, growing from and taking this insight with me on my future endeavors.

5. What do you take with you for your future work at PwC, what was your most important learning?

As mentioned, my secondment is just getting underway, and I am confident the road ahead is full of important lessons. While maybe cliché, I’ve found that personal growth commonly comes from immersing yourself in new or unknown situations, and that getting comfortable with potentially being uncomfortable often leads to rewarding experiences. I look forward to being open to new experiences, meeting new people, and expanding my horizons both at PwC and in my personal life.

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Anthony expands his horizons in Switzerland

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