‘Going to work is obvious for me’

With her youngest son. Gesantian

Born in southern China, Gie Santian (not her real name which is known to the author) came to Switzerland at the age of 19. She had been always an excellent student in China and earned her bachelors and doctoral degrees at the University of Basel. Today she is a senior risk management manager and the mother of three children, working full time for a major Swiss bank. 

“I was born into a family in which both my father and mother worked, so it’s normal for me that the mother goes to work,” she says. That’s why it was a no brainer for her to continue working after becoming a mother.  

“I’m lucky, my job is my passion. I don’t have to spend money for my passion, and even earn money with it!” 

She is also grateful that her company offers six months of maternity leave (Swiss law provides for 14 weeks), which allowed her time to nurture the bond with her child. After maternity leave, she returned to work and her child went to daycare – an environment she finds more stimulating than being at home.  

Gie Santian notes that while she is a good risk management manager, the nursery teacher knows how to be more patient with children.  

“Isn’t it better that each of us does what we do best?”  

As for how to reconcile family and work, Gie Santian finds that “good time management and strict discipline” are very important.