Meet Our Current Fellow
Fabienne Zumbühl is the 19th aspiring graduate who is going to benefit from the Swiss-California Foundation Fellowship Program.
Degree: Master of Arts in International Affairs, University of St. Gallen (HSG)
Languages: German, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese Interests: Outdoor activities (hiking, diving), bodypump, travelling, history & politics documentaries |
A Brief Overview of the Program
The Swiss-California Foundation Fellowship Program is designed to give promising Swiss graduates a platform to explore their interests and develop their potential. The educational program is awarded exclusively to talented graduates of the University of St. Gallen. Over the years, we have gained the trust of many renown Swiss organizations and companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through our partners, we can offer a uniquely broad range of possibilities to our Fellow. The Fellowship is in constant development and it is part of the Fellow's task to shape it in a way that is most useful to them.
The Fellow is responsible for the daily business of the Foundation, which includes strategic management as well as fundraising. Become the manager of the Foundation!
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The Fellow will be organizing events for our donors, publish fundraising material, manage the website and social media
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The Fellow is in charge of HR development and knowledge management. He or she enjoys personal mentoring by our Board members and will recruit next year's Fellow
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The Fellow handles the accounting, budgeting, taxes and performance indicators of the Foundation
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1. Duration
The Fellowship Program is ten months long, starting in September and ending in June. |
2. Location
The Fellowship Program is located in the city of San Francisco, California. We are creating an exciting environment among different Swiss and American organizations, which will provide you with a wide range of insights into politics, business, as well as academia. |
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3. What's in it for you?
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The 10-month Program consists of 6 components, which cover both the Swiss and the American public and private sector
Managing the daily business of the Swiss-California Foundation
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Presiding over the
HSG Alumni Chapter in San Francisco |
Project based collaboration with the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco
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Interested?
COVID-19 Update
Due to the current situation in the Bay Area and the unpredictability of the COVID-19 situation in the United States, the Swiss-California Foundation has decided to postpone the recruiting process for the Fellowship 2020/2021 until further notice. We will update you once the situation will change. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our donors and partner organisations during this difficult times.
COVID-19 Update
Due to the current situation in the Bay Area and the unpredictability of the COVID-19 situation in the United States, the Swiss-California Foundation has decided to postpone the recruiting process for the Fellowship 2020/2021 until further notice. We will update you once the situation will change. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our donors and partner organisations during this difficult times.
FAQs
1. What is new at the Swiss-California Foundation?
For 18 years, the Swiss-California Foundation has offered a graduate from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) a ten-month internship in Santa Rosa, California, which lies one hour north of San Francisco. We now felt that the time has come to take the next step and relocate the program to a younger, even more dynamic environment. Since September 2019, the Swiss-California Foundation is based in the city of San Francisco.
The Fellow will operate at the interface of various organizations, most of which have a direct connection to Switzerland. Our partners in San Francisco will include the Consulate General, the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, swissnex SF, the Greater Zurich Area, and other organizations.
The Fellow will operate at the interface of various organizations, most of which have a direct connection to Switzerland. Our partners in San Francisco will include the Consulate General, the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, swissnex SF, the Greater Zurich Area, and other organizations.
2. How much time will I spend on SCF operations compared to projects with partner organizations?
In the beginning, you are mostly busy with Foundation operations. Depending on how involved you get with our different partners, you will quickly become active on various fronts as you are working on your projects. Meanwhile, you must never neglect your core task of operating the Foundation, which may take up about one day per week. This balancing act teaches you how to manage your time and gives you a unique position at the interface of different organizations
3. What projects will I be working on?
There are certain tasks regarding the operation of the Foundation that occur every year. In the framework of the Foundation, you can define your own personal projects, e.g. organizing a special donor event, design a new layout for our publications, develop a new (fundraising/networking/recruiting) strategy, etc. The projects with partner organizations very much depend on their needs and availability. In many cases, however, you might set up a new project and work on it with them.
4. What events will I be attending?
There are various events throughout the year which can be visited, among others:
- Panel discussions and networking events (e.g. luncheon with speakers such as the CEO of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce) at swissnex in San Francisco
- Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce Christmas Luncheon in San Francisco
- Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce company visits (e.g. Tesla, eBay)
- Greater Zurich Area conferences in the San Francisco Bay Area
5. What kind of career does the Fellowship prepare me for?
Our former Fellows pursue careers in various industries and positions. The Fellowship is designed as a broad leadership program to develop future Swiss leaders with a variety of professional skills. You learn to work independently and take on responsibility, and you will find out about your strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, spending almost a year abroad will positively influence your personality and help you grow personally
6. Where are the former Fellows now in their careers?
To find out what our alumni are doing now, have a look at the SCF alumni profiles.
7. What is the recruiting process like?
After handing in your application, there will first be a Skype interview with the current Fellow. Four shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a personal interview in Switzerland with Prof. Christoph Frei, based upon which the next Fellow will be chosen.
8. Are Bachelor or master students preferred?
Both Bachelor and Master students are invited to apply. In fact, the Fellowship has become significantly more complex in 2019. Thus, we are especially looking at individuals who have already had some professional experiences. The Fellowship opens up a rich network of valuable contacts – both in the San Francisco Bay Area and back home in Switzerland. This network can lead you on a very promising career path.
9. What are you looking for in a candidate?
On the one hand, it is very important that the Fellow is able to work independently, professionally, possesses good organizational skills and is reliable in order to fulfill all tasks related to the general management of the Foundation. On the other hand, we are looking for a Fellow who quickly connects with people and has excellent communication skills. Therefore, it is not just about your knowledge and grades, but very much about your personality and experiences.
10. If I spent one year in the United States already, I assume my chances are good to be accepted?
It is great that you spent one year in the United States and that you already experienced the American way of life. You gained experience abroad and managed to adapt to a new cultural setting. However, the fact that you spent time abroad is more important to us than where you did so. Therefore, having spent a year in the United States does not significantly increase your chances compared to someone who spent a year in another region of the world.
11. I do not speak English well. Do I stand a chance?
Yes, you do have a chance. If you successfully passed English Level 2 at the University of St. Gallen you should be fine. The Fellowship is an opportunity for you to improve your English and once you are immersed in a purely American environment you will do so quickly.
12. Will the SCF help me to get a job in the United States after the Fellowship?
No, the SCF will not actively help you to find a job after the Fellowship. However, we are convinced that the Fellowship experience will help you considerably if you want to work in the United States in the future. Not only will you have experienced the American business culture, but you also have had the opportunity to build a broad network among Swiss and American business leaders. This can significantly help you when looking for a job in the United States
13. How much is the stipend?
USD 2’500.- per month. This should allow you to comfortably live in the city of San Francisco. In addition, the Fellow can regularly attend lunch meetings or conferences free of charge. Some expenses should be available through partner projects.
14. Do I need to have a driver’s license?
Yes, ideally you do need a driver’s license, but it's also OK if you don't have one.
15. How is the Fellowship different from a usual internship?
The Fellowship is all about the Fellow. Since you manage the entire Foundation, you have a lot of responsibility and you take many decisions regarding the Foundation’s operations. However, the board members and alumni advise you and certain steps have to be approved by the board. In order to give you a chance to gain insights into the local economy, you are involved in various existing projects and intern in an affiliated company. You will significantly grow personally by being exposed to an American work environment.
16. What Visa will I have to apply for?
As the next Fellow, you will apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa. The visa includes health insurance and is, hence, a relatively inexpensive way of living in the United States.
17. Can I apply even if I am not Swiss?
We had various non-Swiss Fellows who did an excellent job, so we are happy to accept candidates who are non-Swiss. What is important to us is that the fellow can prove that he/she connects quickly to the Swiss community in the San Francisco Bay Area as this is where we have our network. Since we exclusively recruit from the University of St. Gallen, we assume that all applicants do have some connection to Switzerland, which helps the Fellow to connect to the Swiss community.
18. Do I have to have a place to stay before I arrive in San Francisco?
Ideally, you have already signed a contract for your room in San Francisco before you arrive. We are working on providing a room at a reduced rent for the next Fellow, as there is a large Swiss community in the city who might be willing to offer accommodation. If this option does not work out, we will help you find a room with the conventional platforms (Facebook, Craigslist, etc.). Other Swiss interns in the city of San Francisco manage to find rooms, too.
19. What happens if I do not find a room within two weeks?
We will do our best to find an adequate room for the next Fellow. In case you still have not secured housing after two weeks, there will be enough Swiss families around who could accommodate you for a short time.
20. My graduation is in September. Is the starting date of the Fellowship flexible?
Ideally, the Swiss Fellow starts in September. However, if there is an important reason that does not allow you to start on September 1, we can find a solution.