In our special column this month, we are happy to host an interview with Florence Schurch, Secretary General, Swiss Trading & Shipping Association (STSA), who would like see Switzerland becoming a key partner in the IMO for sustainability and decarbonization issues. Mrs Schurch explains that as Secretary general of STSA, her expertise is in politics and is excited to learn something new every day about the training and shipping industry .
Mrs. Schurch also encourages us to go overseas and discover the world as well as to be open to new ideas while she admits that learning languages and their culture has been a worthwhile investment since she has studied in Oxford and lived in the US.
SAFET4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Florence Schurch: As Secretary general of the Swiss Commodity trading and shipping association, my expertise is in politics. My job is to explain the industry to authorities and journalists and defend our interests. Beforehand I worked 12 years for the Swiss government and 11 years for the President of Geneva defending the city’s interests in the federal government.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
Fl.Sch.: Since I don’t come from the trading and shipping industry, everything is new to me and even after 2 years in that function, I still learn every day something new. I am very pleased to still learn something new every day!
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
Fl.Sch.: It depends with which glasses you look at the word successful. For a captain, success is when she brings her vessel safely from A to B, for a trader, success is when she makes a great deal, for a politician, success is when she wins election. For me, success is being recognized by my pairs in my profession, having a team I can count on and spending time with my son.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
Fl.Sch.: My father who always believed in me and gave me the security to be self-confident. He told me the sky has no limit, shoot for the moon in case you miss it, you’ll land in the stars. My boss when I started working at the Swiss Federal Police, he teached me how to see problems from another angle to find solutions.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
Fl.Sch.: Best advice: “Trust in you and ask for advice” / Worst advice: “You are the best”
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
Fl.Sch.: Learning languages and the culture which goes with the language: 1 year studying in Oxford and then being posted in the US after September 11.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
Fl.Sch.: Go overseas and discover the world
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
Fl.Sch.: To be open to new ideas
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
Fl.Sch.: To make Switzerland as a key partner in the IMO for sustainability and decarbonization issues.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
Fl.Sch.: “Impose your chance, hold your happiness and take risks. By watching you, they will get used to it.”
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
