In the 2020 financial year, revenue at Internet service provider iWay grew from CHF 30.5 million in the previous year to CHF 34.5 million. Revenue growth thus increased from 12 percent in 2019 to 13 percent in 2020. The company's most important business areas also recorded the highest growth rates: the Internet Access segment grew by 18.5 percent to CHF 19.8 million, which corresponds to a 59 percent share of total revenue. With Internet telephony (Voice over IP) and TV services, iWay generated 8.3 million francs (plus 16.1 percent) or 25 percent of sales in the past fiscal year. The workforce grew from 48 to 50 employees. This relatively moderate growth reflects the ongoing drive to digitize and automate business processes. "At 13 percent versus 10 percent, we were able to significantly exceed the budgeted growth last year. In particular, the growth in Internet connections for both fiber and xDSL lines is very pleasing in view of the highly competitive market," says Markus Vetterli, Managing Director of iWay. To a certain extent, the Covid 19 pandemic also contributed to the growth: "We were able to see that we are systemically relevant as an Internet provider. This is because the demand for larger bandwidths has risen again due to the increased shift to the home office, homeschooling and more TV and streaming consumption among private customers," says Vetterli.

More performance for the same price

iWay is now responding to this customer loyalty with a nationwide adjustment of speeds and prices: "We are immediately increasing the bandwidths for the products and reducing subscription prices. This means our customers get more performance for the same or lower price," says Vetterli. For example, a subscription with 1000/1000 Mbit/s upload and download speeds now costs 59 francs a month. For the 10-GBit/s subscription, iWay is even lowering the price from 99 to as low as 69 francs. The prices apply to both new and existing customers. Importantly, these prices are not time-limited. "We are harmonizing our portfolio in cities with fiber optic networks, but also across Switzerland for fiber and XGS-PON connections," says Vetterli. Both existing and new customers will therefore benefit from these service and price adjustments. Furthermore, products can be tested free of charge for one month at iWay. This is because customers in the B2C sector are very willing to switch, especially when it comes to TV, as Vetterli explained at a media conference.

Virtual-ISP coveted sales model in lockdown

As expected, the partner business again proved to be significant for iWay's success in the past fiscal year. Thus, sales via indirect distribution grew from 16.9 to 17.6 million Swiss francs (plus 4 percent) in 2020. The automated ordering process for resellers in particular proved to be a business model in demand during the pandemic. While pure sales partners generate additional revenue for their company with referral commissions, wholesale partners can act as providers (Virtual ISP) to their customers. "The ability for IT companies to sell Internet and TV services to their customers in their own name and order them from the comfort of their home office on our partner portal has made things easier for many partners in the lockdown," says Vetterli. Virtual ISPs do not have to sign their own contracts with Swisscom or city networks. iWay also takes care of background handling for them, such as shipping preconfigured routers, invoicing and support services on behalf of the partners. This process optimization, which has already been tried and tested over three years, has not only enabled the company to increase its revenue via partners, but also to further expand its wholesale partner network from 171 in 2019 to 214 companies.

iWay launches new products

For enterprise customers, iWay now has the option of a telephony connection to the Microsoft Teams communications solution. Many companies have recognized how well the functionalities of these video conferencing solutions can also be used for telephony, provided that they invest in the necessary voice add-on from Microsoft, says Dejan Crvenkovic, who is responsible for the corporate customer business at iWay. For smaller companies with more basic requirements, the connection is made via a session border controller hosted by iWay. Each Teams user is assigned a phone number and can use it to make and receive calls. In addition, Teams offers a small PBX feature set by default. For companies with more complex telephony solution needs, VPBX offers a comprehensive range of PBX functionalities and maximum flexibility in addition to the connection to Microsoft Teams - even in mixed operation with desk phones, mobile clients and Microsoft Teams users. Other new products for corporate customers relate to offerings for split-second detection of interruptions in fiber or DSL connections and automatic takeover of the route by a secondary line via 4G/LTE.

Outlook for 2021: iWay expects further growth

For the current financial year, Vetterli expects growth in the high single-digit percentage range. This is because increasing price pressure and a certain negative effect following the pandemic are likely to make the same strong growth in the access area as in previous years less likely. On the other hand, Vetterli expects clear double-digit growth in Voice-Over-IP in the business customer environment and in TV offerings. Cybersecurity is also becoming increasingly important. iWay also confirms an increase in DDOS attacks since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, but considers itself well equipped in this regard. Among other things, the IP addresses of iWay customers are constantly monitored by external cybersecurity service providers, so that open ports or poorly secured servers can be quickly detected and customers informed accordingly.

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localsearch (Swisscom Directories AG), the leading digital agency for Swiss SMEs, is revolutionizing advertising for SMEs and launching MyCAMPAIGNS, a Swiss first for small business. Thanks to the novel offer, small companies can for the first time catch up with the big advertisers and carry out broad-based professional advertising campaigns without prior knowledge, according to the company. In this way, SMEs advertise where their potential customers are today.

Advertising for SMEs becomes even easier

The new solution combines state-of-the-art marketing technologies such as cross-channel retargeting, budget optimization and detailed campaign reporting with a personal agency service. A combination of expert know-how and artificial intelligence is designed to ensure perfectly coordinated campaigns across all media channels, the provider says. Thanks to MyCAMPAIGNS, it has never been easier for the trade to win customers online, the promise goes.

Available in three gradations

"With MyCAMPAIGNS, we have developed an advertising product that for the first time gives Swiss small businesses the unlimited power of cross-channel digital marketing campaigns. Whether Google Ads, Facebook ads or banner ads on the most important news portals in Switzerland such as 20 Minuten, Blick or Tagesanzeiger: MyCAMPAIGNS revolutionizes the way SMEs do digital advertising," says Stefano Santinelli, CEO of localsearch. The new product is available in three gradations: "Search" (Google Ads), "Visual" (social media advertising and banner ads on news portals) and "Search Plus" (Google Ads, social media advertising and banner ads on news portals).

Source and further information: localsearch.ch

The British parent company Sage announced on November 20, 2020 that it intends to sell Sage Schweiz AG. Now the buyer has been found: Infoniqa GmbH from Wels, Austria, will take over the company.

Infoniqa sees "attractive synergy potentials

The acquisition of Sage Schweiz AG will almost double the Infoniqa Group's annual sales to a total of 60 million euros and increase the number of employees to a total of 410. In particular, the acquisition strengthens the company's positioning in the strategically important segment of small and medium-sized enterprises. The product portfolio will be expanded to include ERP solutions, financial management software, and payroll and HCM solutions specialized for Swiss requirements. Due to the high product compatibility, there is attractive synergy potential.

"We are very pleased to announce our next acquisition with the support of our owners Warburg Pincus Global Growth and Elvaston Capital. With the acquisition of Sage Schweiz AG, we are consistently pursuing our growth strategy and further driving the international expansion of the Infoniqa Group. Together with the proven and leading Sage Schweiz AG, we will be able to invest even more consistently in the further development of the products as well as in excellent customer service for all Swiss customers and partners," summarizes Léon Vergnes, Managing Director of Infoniqa.

Further development of existing products assured

The purchase includes the Sage Start, Sage 50 Extra and Sage 200 Extra products, which will continue to be developed and supported locally by experienced employees, according to the statement. "The acquisition of Sage Schweiz AG by Infoniqa is a great opportunity for our employees, customers and partners. As part of the Infoniqa Group with a strong investor in the background, this step offers us strong future prospects and the opportunity to continue to provide the highest software quality and maximum customer satisfaction as part of a strong growth-oriented solution provider in the DACH region. Over the past 30 years, Infoniqa has shown that its excellent service and strong customer focus delight customers and partners alike," adds Thomas Hersche, Managing Director of Sage Schweiz AG.

Following the purchase of Haveldata GmbH at the end of 2019 and StoneData GmbH at the beginning of 2020, the acquisition of Sage Schweiz AG represents a further step in Infoniqa's growth strategy.

Source and further information

For more than 18 years, Continuum AG has been advising and supporting medium-sized and larger companies in their long-term development and helping families to solve their challenges in the succession process. In addition to Zurich and Staufen b. Lenzburg, the company has existed in St.Gallen since 2003 with Partner Rolf Brunner, Senior Manager Dr. Stefan Schneider and Associate Partner Matt Moser.

Reinforcement of Continuum AG in the midlands

As of April 2021, Rudolf P. Winzenried will join the team as an additional Associate Partner and expand the network in the Mittelland region. Rudolf P. Winzenried has a broad experience in corporate governance, strategy development and structuring of family businesses.

Rolf Brunner, who has been supporting companies in development and succession processes as a partner for eight years, is pleased about the reinforcement: "The already broad field of competence of Continuum AG is complemented in an almost ideal way by the entry of Rudolf P. Winzenried."

Rudolf P. Winzenried: A wealth of experience in the family business landscape

As a lawyer, a graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration, Advanced Management Program SKU and Certified Board Member, Rudolf P. Winzenried has 30 years of experience at board and executive management level in internationally active Swiss family-owned companies in the industrial, consumer goods, retail, real estate and hospitality sectors. His main areas of expertise are strategy development, structuring of companies and transactions, moderation and solution finding in complex situations of interests and their legal structuring as well as corporate governance. He holds mandates as chairman or member of boards of directors and boards of trustees.

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On March 11, the general assembly of the Coworking Switzerland association took place - virtually for the first time. At the meeting, the current state of coworking in Switzerland and the impact of the pandemic were also discussed.

The pandemic also hits coworking spaces in 2020

At the beginning of 2020, the headline was still that coworking had evolved from a marginal phenomenon to a growth market. However, this development was largely slowed down by the pandemic, although the various measures taken to combat the pandemic never led to the forced closure of coworking spaces. Nevertheless, in the spring of 2020, most coworking spaces were forced into inactivity, both in terms of workspace rentals and conference and meeting rooms. After the restrictions were lifted in the summer, there was a recovery. New customers came in, interested in individual workspaces in the open space or even private offices.

However, this upswing was interrupted again in October 2020, and given the restrictions and the home office obligation, the situation has not really eased since then. So 2020, like many other industries, was a difficult year. In a survey, 56% of association members reported a loss of income. Spaces that depend on event and conference space rentals were hit harder than others. These income losses were partially offset in more than 40% of cases by reduced work hours, Covid-19 relief funds, and rent reductions from landlords.

In 2020, another challenge for coworking spaces was to keep an existing community - the very idea behind coworking - alive despite contact restrictions. Ingenuity was the order of the day, and so various actions were offered to the respective community members. These actions, in which the social contacts that are so important for people were still present, contributed to the good mental health of the coworkers.

Sustainable change in the world of work will strengthen coworking

The Covid19 pandemic has turned working habits in our country upside down, and an increasing number of employees have discovered working from home - with more or less pleasure. The time saved in terms of commuting to work thanks to home office allows for an increase in quality of life. Nevertheless, it remains difficult to separate private and professional life, especially if the working conditions at home are not ideal. This experience will shape the world of work for the future: According to a study published last week of Deloitte, only 12% of employees want to return fully to the "normal" office after the end of the pandemic. 62% want more flexibility and would like to divide their working time between the office and home office. However, the term home office does not go far enough: almost half (46%) of the respondents not only use their own residence as a home office, but also work, for example, in vacation homes, with friends, family or in a coworking space. For 44% of the respondents, the lack of personal exchange at work is one of the biggest challenges in the home office. This is precisely the aspect where coworking spaces score highly as an alternative to the home office. Proximity to the place of residence is also an important argument: With more than 150 coworking spaces throughout Switzerland, the Coworking Switzerland association provides a nationwide offering.

Coworking spaces aim to capitalize on momentum for post-Corona work environment

The majority of Swiss coworking players are convinced that the situation they have just experienced has accelerated the paradigm shift at the professional level and that coworking spaces will benefit from this in the medium term. The Coworking Switzerland association is also responding to the opportunity that now exists for coworking to become more widely established. It has produced a compact clip that highlights the advantages of coworking as an alternative to the home office: Proximity to home, separation of personal and professional life, ergonomic offices, social contacts. The campaign with the video available in five languages will start in the coming days.

The past year has changed the way most office workers work. Coworking spaces, which are popping up all over the country - and increasingly in rural areas - will play a role in the post-Corona work world. They allow everyone to work close to home in a professional environment while maintaining the social connections that are so important to our mental health.

Source: www.coworking.ch

As part of an online survey on the topic of "Developing potential in the world of work", the Marketagent market research institute surveyed 500 employed people aged between 18 and 65 from German-speaking Switzerland on behalf of XING in February 2021. The random sample is representative of the working population in German-speaking Switzerland. The most important result: every third person (32 percent) has to play a role in their job. Only one in four (26 percent) can be completely themselves on the job. 34 percent also have the impression that they are not perceived by their employer as an individual, but rather as a mere worker. The demand would be different: 92 percent of men and 96 percent of women find it important to be able to be themselves on the job.

Have a role to play: Especially in large companies

Living out one's own individuality tends to work better in smaller companies. In companies with up to 10 employees, just under 40 percent say they can be themselves at work. At the other end of the scale, in large companies with more than 10,000 employees, just 21 percent feel this way.

Often the framework conditions for individual potential development are lacking

73 percent of respondents say that they can only fully develop their potential if they can be themselves on the job. However, the necessary framework conditions are often not in place: More than one in four (28 percent) say that the current corporate culture or working environment does not allow individual potential to develop, and another quarter (23 percent) find that their own employer only focuses on employees' weaknesses instead of their strengths.

Desire for more dialog with superiors about own potential development

Around one in two (52 percent) regularly talk to their manager about promoting their own talents and potential. 37 percent of respondents would like to have more such discussions. While 35 percent state that their potential and talents are promoted by their employer through training and further education, one in four (24 percent) believe that the development of personal potential is not even wanted by their own manager. XING Switzerland CEO Robert Bertschinger says: "Employees who can be themselves at work and develop their potential are more motivated, more satisfied and ultimately make a greater contribution to the success of a company. Companies that lack the necessary framework conditions are driving with the handbrake on. From both the employer's and the employees' point of view, it pays to establish a culture in which one's own abilities can be brought to bear and no one has to play a role."

One in three has to refrain from expressing their own opinion on the job

Just under a third of respondents (32 percent) say they are not always allowed to express their own opinions in their current job. And 28 percent of employees cannot always be open about their sexual orientation at work. Only around half of respondents (54 percent) say they are allowed to dress and style themselves as they wish at work.

At least there is room for positive emotions in most cases. 85 percent say they can openly show joy and fun on the job. Negative emotions are more sensitive: Only slightly more than half (54 percent) feel they are allowed to express feelings such as sadness or anger at work. And one in three (33 percent) say they must not let on when they are stressed.

Source: XING and New Work SE

The healthcare company Medgate was founded in 1999 and today employs over 300 people in Switzerland, including 110 doctors, and over 500 people worldwide. Since 2000, Medgate has been operating the largest medical telemedicine center in Europe and thus has an extraordinary amount of experience and knowledge in telemedicine. The Medgate Mini Clinics and the doctors and clinics of the Medgate Partner Network are available to patients for on-site consultations.

Up to now, Andy Fischer, MD, has led both the Swiss and the international business as co-founder and Managing Partner of Medgate. He is now handing over the management of Medgate Switzerland to Daniel Junker as of August 1.

Daniel Junker: A lot of experience in healthcare

Daniel Junker has 18 years of experience in corporate management and development in the healthcare sector. As Chief Operation Officer of Pallas-Kliniken AG as well as Managing Director of Meconex AG and santémed Gesundheitszentren, he has contributed significantly to the success of several relevant players in the healthcare sector. In addition to his activities with the various service providers, he can also draw on experience on the insurer side thanks to his previous involvement with Swica. The Board of Directors of Medgate AG is very pleased to have won Daniel Junker for the position of CEO and to entrust him with the management of Medgate in Switzerland.

Further international growth

Andy Fischer, MD, who has led Medgate's Swiss business since its founding in 1999, will focus on leading the international Medgate Group as Group CEO from August 1. In addition to Switzerland, Medgate has offices in Germany, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and India. Medgate strives for continuous growth in the European and Asian markets and pursues the goal of being a leading global digital health provider by offering all individuals easy and fast access to cost-efficient and first-class medical care.

Through his role as CEO of the Medgate Group, Andy Fischer will also be in close exchange with the new CEO of the Swiss business. In addition, he will remain a member of the Board of Directors of Medgate Switzerland.

Source: Medgate

"Perfection does not come from not adding anything, but from not leaving anything out" is a rather well-known saying. In this case, if we translate "perfection" to mean outstanding results, then it creates a powerful question for your leadership: "What can and should you leave out that gets in the way of your outstanding results rather than helps them?"

What stands in the way of perfection?

The principle behind this is that you can only use every minute of your life exactly once. You can use this minute for something useful or waste it. That in itself is very simple to understand, and yet hardly anyone manages to use their time more than 50 percent productively.

That's why a simple question to ask yourself regularly throughout the day helps: "Is this minute contributing to my top results or to other things?" Important: Top results also include private issues, such as increasing closeness with your children, improving your sleep or increasing your fitness.

Three tips for spring cleaning in leadership

Because the things that are not quite as important in comparison automatically grow like weeds or the stuff in your cubby or on your desk, I suggest a regular "spring cleaning" in your daily work. Here are three steps I recommend for your effective "decluttering":

1. Get clear once again about your really most important goals. What do you really want to achieve this year and in the next few years? What does this result in for your monthly and weekly goals? Attention: Never have more than three top goals! Throw the rest away or save them for later.
2. Make a list of all the responsibilities and activities that you really need to achieve your goals. And vice versa: what are you doing all day today that you can leave out? Otherwise, there is a danger that we will symbolically add storage space, when in reality throwing things away would make much more sense.
3. Start your "garage sale": Which activities and responsibilities do you give to others? Which do you remove because they have become unimportant (note: these are often our cherished toys)? Which do you cut back on a lot? Step 3 is definitely the most difficult. For this, you almost always need a partner or coach to support you and push you forward.

The good news is that after any decluttering, you feel better and full of energy. You'll feel the same way after this spring cleaning. Bonus tip: Do this exercise with your entire team.

To the author:
Volkmar Völzke is a success maximizer. Book author. Consultant. Coach. Speaker. www.volkmarvoelzke.ch

Since the outbreak of the pandemic a year ago, the topic of home office has been on everyone's lips. In February 2021, 52 percent of the employed population in Switzerland worked wholly or partly from home. during the lockdown a year ago, it was 50 percent. For 36 percent, working from home is not possible in principle. This is the result of a representative survey conducted by the auditing and consulting firm Deloitte between February 12 and 23 among around 2,000 people of working age living in Switzerland.

Back to the office: Yes, but no longer every day

According to the Deloitte survey, a large majority (88%) of office workers no longer want to spend every working day in the office in the future (see chart 1). Almost two-thirds (62 %) of respondents want to work from home on certain days of the week even after the pandemic. Twenty-six percent even advocate staying in the home office entirely. As many as 12 percent want to return to the office entirely.

"The last twelve months have shown that remote working works very well for many people. The fact that so few want to return to the office completely after the pandemic clearly confirms this," says Reto Savoia, CEO of Deloitte Switzerland. "A clear majority wants a suitable mix of remote working and office presence for the work of the future and wants to take advantage of both work models. Companies cannot and should not close their minds to this need. The trend towards remote working is also bringing about major economic and social changes and will, for example, have an impact on public transport, the real estate market or the catering and retail trade. At the same time, flexible and attractive remote working models also open up new opportunities for companies and their workforce. Be it in an expansion of the recruitment radius or the establishment of new family models."

Differences between the generations

When it comes to individual preferences, there are also differences between the generations: Among those under 30, only 9 percent want to return to the office completely; among those over 50, 16 percent no longer want to work in a home office. On the other side of the spectrum, the picture is similar: 31 percent of young people want to work completely at home even after the pandemic, compared with only 22 percent of those over 50.

"The younger generations want more flexibility at work," explains Veronica Melian, Human Capital Leader at Deloitte Switzerland. "Attracting talented young recruits remains a major challenge for many companies. It is important that employers understand the preferences and work styles of their younger employees and incorporate them into their companies in a targeted and productive way. Companies need to target and communicate flexible workplace models to attract much-needed young talent from around the world who are geographically flexible and consciously seek a modern and forward-thinking work environment. This is a key strategic challenge for many companies in light of the worsening skills shortage."

More productive in the home office?

Nearly half of respondents (47%) feel they are more productive in the home office than they are with their colleagues in the office. Only 16 percent believe they are less productive working from home, while for 37 percent productivity has remained the same. Comparing these figures with the Deloitte survey conducted during last year's lockdown., it shows improved productivity (see chart 2).

"The fact that employees' perceived productivity increased compared to the previous year could be due in part to the fact that schools remained open and many parents no longer had to worry about childcare themselves," explains Veronica Melian. "In addition, employees and companies alike were more technically prepared than during the first lockdown and more proficient in using digital tools."

The personal exchange is missing

However, the home office also has its pitfalls. In addition to space problems (20%) and a lack of infrastructure (22%), the lack of personal exchange is the biggest challenge for many of those surveyed (44%). "Conscious personal exchange continues to play an important role for many, also for the corporate culture," says Reto Savoia. "People come to the office to exchange ideas, to create ideas together - essential aspects of innovation require personal interaction and can best be realized on site. This is where companies have great opportunities to combine the need for personal contact with customers and colleagues, as well as the targeted use of digitization, into an attractive overall package that best meets the needs of employees."

"Companies need to set themselves up for post-lockdown, finding a good mix of remote working and office presence," Savoia continues. "On the one hand, I envision employees working at home in a deliberate and focused way. On the other hand, if it's about the collaborative and creative aspects of work, a modern office makes more sense. Companies need to create new spaces and 'collaboration spaces' accordingly that allow employees to be inspired, encourage the exchange of ideas and help develop new strategies."

Source: Deloitte

With another double-digit increase in sales, Abacus confirms its leading position as a manufacturer of business software for SMEs and public administration in 2020. The traditional licensing business, in which software is purchased, has remained at a consistently high level, with over 2,400 program modules sold and 460 companies choosing Abacus Business Software, according to the company. This compares to 2,200 program modules and 450 companies in 2019. Subscriptions for use from the cloud have met with great demand thanks to innovative developments. This solution, with 3,100 subscriptions added by the end of the year, already counted more than 13,800 users who use 24,000 program subscriptions for various application areas.

Self-service functions meet with acceptance

Self-service functions were also very well received, with an additional 60,000 subscriptions, an increase of fifty percent. They are tailored to the needs of company employees and allow them to adjust master data such as address and bank details themselves, view pay slips or record expense receipts, working hours, absences and benefits from any location using smartphones, tablets and computers. As of the end of 2020, 180,000 users were using these functions of the Abacus software.

Increase in sales enables voluntary repayment of short-time working compensation

Claudio Hintermann, CEO of Abacus, is therefore more than satisfied with last year's business performance: "Contrary to expectations, we ended the year extremely successfully despite the difficult economic environment due to the rampant pandemic. As a result, we decided to voluntarily refund to the state all short-time working compensation of over 1.3 million Swiss francs received. Also, no salary reductions were made due to the interrupted working hours. The short-time work at Abacus lasted from May to August and applied to practically all employees with only a few exceptions. A big thank you goes to our distribution partners, who had a significant impact on the very good result despite the difficult Corona period."

Successful sales partners

Abacus' largest distribution partner in 2020 in terms of total sales was, as in 2019, the Axept Business Softwarefollowed by BDO and OBT. The most successful provider of software subscriptions for the mobile use of Abacus software and the use of the ERP software together with employee self-service subscriptions proved to be the partner OBT, which was awarded the innovation prize for this. In addition, the number of Abacus employees increased by 37 to 439 last year. The entire group, including the subsidiaries in Biel, Thalwil and Germany, employed 556 people at the end of the year.

Source and further information: Abacus Research AG

"Back to home office" is the order of the day. The pandemic continues to define our reality. In terms of clothing, we are drawing on the wealth of experience from the first wave. We already have a certain routine in switching from the office to the home office.
Work mode.

You can't see a shoe on the screen?

A professional outfit is part of a professional appearance, even from home. Only the matter of the shoes has not yet been completely clarified for many. After all, many think, you can't see them on the screen. Are you sure? What very few people realize is that the outfit also has an effect on the inside.

The shoe creates personality and charisma. Even in times of zoom and Webex. Because if you have a good standing, you create a good standing for yourself. The choice of shoes has an influence on leadership, the quality of work and productivity. Therefore: Always consider - even in the home office - the importance of business shoes.

The white sneaker: The bag knife under the shoes

Business shoes - this definitely includes the sneaker, and white minimal sneaker. Every man must own a pair of white sneakers! The white sneaker emphasizes the relaxed look. And always fits. It is already a classic. The white sneaker was a must-have in the fall of 2020 and remains so: because it is the sac knife among men's shoes. This shoe is a true all-rounder. It can be worn with a shirt at a video conference, looks perfect with a classic, dark suit at a customer meeting with a protective mask and with jeans on the way to daycare with the kids, it is casual for shopping, sporty for a ride on the bike, in short: a perfect everyday piece.

The sneaker is the congenial fashion partner of digitalization and home office, because as a casual business outfit it perfectly combines comfortable clothing and professional work. The sneaker offers comfort and style. Casual and high-quality. It conveys personality and status. And makes a statement: I have self-discipline and self-management, I am self-confident and
motivated. And dynamic!

Proper care and accessories

Besides the basic color white, the design and quality of the sneaker must be right. It must be of high quality and impeccable workmanship. And importantly, the white sneaker must always be kept clean - clean it every now and then with a toothbrush and some soap. Over time, it will lose its pristine white color. That's okay too, it's allowed to look a bit like well-kept rock'n'roll. But too much patina is an unmistakable sign that the next white sneaker must come!

When choosing socks in a business context, continue to fall back on the proven models in black or dark blue, assorted with the suit or chinos, knee-high. Sporty wear the white sneaker with white sports socks or even without. Do not under any circumstances try to set an accent with contrasting colors or even funny socks! This devalues the white sneaker - and thus also its wearer.

About the author
Dominik Risch, together with his wife, founded Risch Shoes, based in Zurich, and launched the world's unique custom shoe concept with Foot-DNA. Risch Shoes has locations in Zurich, Bern, Frankfurt, Mannheim and Lech. www.risch-shoes.com

The Chinese telecommunications company Huawei is relying on double female power: On the one hand, Lisa Stinner has been appointed Account Manager for the manufacturing, retail and transport sectors in German-speaking Switzerland. Secondly, the company appoints Laurence Pasquier Dessingy as Territory Manager in Suisse Romande for the manufacturing, financial services and higher education sectors. Both ladies are tasked with developing Huawei's business in the enterprise sector in their respective regions, maintaining and expanding relationships with existing and new customers, and advancing Huawei's partner ecosystem in Switzerland, according to a corresponding media release.vIn particular in French-speaking Switzerland, Huawei aims to increase its market share with large customers. Across Switzerland, Huawei's technology is expected to create added value for Swiss companies, increase the level of digitalization, and thus help Switzerland remain highly competitive in the aforementioned focus industries.

Women with top qualifications

Lisa Stinner and Laurence Pasquier Dessingy both bring many years of professional experience in well-known IT companies and expertise in consulting and project management as well as sales & key account management. After completing a bachelor's degree at the University of Applied Sciences in Bielefeld with a thesis on competitive positioning in the cloud environment, Lisa Stinner completed a CAS Customer Management at HWZ Zurich. She joined T-Systems and stayed with the ICT service provider for over 8 years in different countries and various customer-facing roles, most recently in a new business sales role for medium-sized customers in Switzerland.

Laurence Pasquier Dessingy's career history reads like a "Who's Who" of the ICT industry, with names such as Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Avanade and SAGlobal Switzerland. A graduate of the University of Geneva with a degree in Biology and a Master in Business & Administration, she has a total of more than 15 years of experience in sales management, account management and business development. She has a deep understanding of the manufacturing and retail industries in particular and is adept at developing partnerships and joint go-to-market initiatives for new business.

Huawei with ambitious business targets

Roland von Arx, Vice President Enterprise Business Group Switzerland, welcomes the two new additions: "We have very ambitious business goals in Switzerland, where we want to grow successfully year after year with our Enterprise Business Group and further accelerate this growth. Our two new colleagues have proven in their careers that they can inspire customers, engage and proactively drive new business. In addition to our reliable, robust and functionally excellent solutions and our services, which are highly valued in the market, it is above all our employees and their customer focus that make our success possible. I am very pleased that we are able to further expand our diversity, which is already successfully practiced and highly appreciated by customers."

Source and further information