Evelina

What if investing becomes a habit from an early day? In our family, this came very naturally when on the 7th birthday of our oldest son we presented him with a carefully chosen option to invest his gifted money.

Everything was presented in pictures but with clear enterprise names and stock prices. Firstly, we did not think that our son would be caught by this idea. Usually, at his age, children are naturally inclined to use their acquired money to buy something for their satisfaction. Surprisingly, he became hooked. He had chosen a few enterprises to own and since then, on every birthday, he allocates some of his money to buy some stocks in the business that interest him the most. During his almost four years of investing, he had already received dividends and feels happy about this.

Now, when he is entering adolescence, he increasingly understands that owning some stocks is not owning something totally detached. He owns a part of micro universe: an organization with its employees, its work processes and its results which he is a part of. If he wishes, he can get a quick summary of annual report from his father and discuss why one business constantly struggles and other flourishes.

Surprisingly, there are not many extensive studies on early days investing. However, some conclusions could be made from the authors that discussed financial literacy as such. For example, Lusardi, Mitchell & Curto in Financial Literacy among the Young found that fewer than one-third of young adults understood three fundamental ideas: interest rates, inflation and risk diversification. They also found out that the role of a family is of huge significance: young people whose parents owned stocks and retirement assets were substantially more financially literate.

Another study (Hira et al.) finds that parent-child financial discussions during childhood were associated both with developing a habit of investing regularly from early adulthood and higher household net worth in adulthood. Crucially, the association remained after controlling age, education, employment, occupation, income, marital status, investments and several other factors. Tang & Peter (2015) found that investment experience during adolescence and early adulthood was positively associated with subsequent financial knowledge, especially among people who received less financial education in college. In this case, doing may be more important than being taught how to do it.

There still exists little research on how early investing affect later investing habits or general wealth. But is clear that childhood financial socialization leads to better financial behavior and hands-on financial experience. At least, by allocating some money a child begins to understand that businesses aren't some untouchable floating subjects but productive organizations that can be owned.

How does this saying resonate with you? I bet it means different things for each of us. I finished a Catholic school which had this saying as its motto, and until adulthood I never really contemplated it within my heart.

For some, this means exactly what it sounds like — an inherent belief that one is created for better things than others. This usually stems from a family upbringing where a child is raised in an environment that claims: "You are born for a greater life than the majority." Inevitably, this leads to narcissism and arrogance sooner or later in life.

For others, it stands somewhere between the practical and the spiritual: it means achieving something noble — for yourself as well as for humanity. For a greater good.

For Saint Stanislaus Kostka, to whom this saying is traditionally attributed and whose life motto it became, Ad maiora natus sum was a purely spiritual expression. A genuine explanation of the lifestyle he had chosen. Paradoxically, he was born into an environment where "I was born for greater things" was a living, practical reality. Stanislaus lived among young aristocrats for whom elegant clothes, social life, entertainment and worldly advancement were normal expectations.

Stanislaus rejected it. He walked away from the comfortable future his family had designed for him, crossed a large part of Europe to pursue his Jesuit vocation, and accepted becoming an obscure novice rather than an important Polish nobleman. He died at seventeen, having accomplished exactly what he was aspiring for — following not earthly greatness, but Christ.

Every ambitious, prospective person striving to achieve something "greater" should first of all question herself or himself: What is truly great for me?

The invention of a new anti-cancer vaccine or the resolution of a bloody conflict? Establishing a new world order? A trophy partner or an ever-growing business? These can all, of course, be great things.

But for God, we are great as His followers. As long as we are capable of small acts of kindness, we are all capable of greatness.

Picture credit: Roz Chast

When I relocated to French-speaking Switzerland, one of the first things I noticed was the stark difference in communication styles. Coming from a post-soviet country, where people tend to be direct and sometimes blunt, the Swiss style seemed like a breath of fresh air at first — much more polite, much more nuanced, much more diplomatic.

However, as time went on, I began to notice that this polished way of communicating — this tendency to "gloss over the problems" — can sometimes be counterproductive. There are moments when a problem needs to be stated clearly and addressed head-on, without beating around the bush.

Exactly. The old saying "Actions speak louder than words" is still relevant in most situations.

Cinta Vidal — "Community"

What a beautiful poem by Sufi mystic and poet Rumi. His teaching expands throughout the centuries and touches even the most numb soul. Here he invites us to treat ourselves as a unique guest house of experience, kindly welcoming all emotions — embracing the pleasant ones and acknowledging, not banishing, the unpleasant.

Felix Vallotton — "From the Front"

On the eve of the Cold War, American diplomat George F. Kennan wrote — back in 1948 — that no Russian government would ever accept Ukrainian independence. Back then, he also wrote that at the bottom of the Kremlin's neurotic view of world affairs is the traditional and instinctive Russian sense of insecurity, and that Russian rulers have invariably sensed that their rule was relatively archaic in form, fragile and artificial in its psychological foundation, unable to stand comparison with the political systems of Western countries.

Was Mr. Kennan a political clairvoyant, or an empathetically strategic political analyst — one of those rare species hardly found these days?

When my second child was born, I noticed something I had not noticed with my first: the inflation of publications about the difficulties and burdens of motherhood. Our parents and grandparents lived in much more difficult socioeconomic conditions than ours and perceived the difficulties of raising children as a natural part of life. Today, babies are still being born in terrifying conditions — in Ukraine's shelters, in Afghanistan's caves.

The culture of sharing that came with social networks brought its benefits — people no longer feel alone in certain situations. But there is no need to make a drama of natural things. Instead, value the blessings given from Above and honestly evaluate the level of your difficulties.

Many Eastern European countries banned the communist symbols — the hammer and sickle.

And when I cross such a symbol in the street called Chemin de la Paix (The Street of Peace), just on the corner of a primary school in a calm neighbourhood, I feel irritated and angry.

It seems that extremely bored children have nothing to do but play at communism. I would really like to see them fulfilling their dreams not only sitting in their mountain-facing villas but in practice.

Where does it begin and where end that tiny red line that distinguishes the violation of your boundaries? It is not worth always acting strictly adhering to the principle "what's mine is mine, what's yours is yours." It is heartwarming to perform an act of service in your work environment when it is comfortable for your well-being.

We step into the season where various charitable activities are being held. But is it necessary to do something huge? Very often, the simplest act of service and love can brighten the day more than thousands of glittering lights in the streets. Helping the overworked colleague on the verge of burnout to cope with his task is a beautiful gesture of solidarity. There is no need to always calculate the cost of your help.

It is widely thought that the gender pay gap has been greatly narrowed over time. Surprisingly, this year's Nobel Prize winner in economics, Claudia Goldin, reveals quite an unexpected finding — the gap has decreased, but not as significantly as expected. Her research uncovered the "parenthood effect" as a major contributor: the current gap is largely attributed to the impact of having children, and the disadvantages handed to women as a result of gender stereotypes. Only time will tell how policymakers will use her insights.

Now, when I look at the homework of my older son, I am amazed. How smartly cognitive development skills are being fostered! Reading is not mere reading — there are text comprehension questions after every text. Mathematics is not dry calculating — arithmetic is included in daily life situations. That is how critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a thirst for knowledge are aroused.

Access to primary education is a basic right for every child. Unfortunately, UNICEF indicates that in West and Central Africa, less than 30% of children from the poorest households complete primary education. Good education marks the beginning of a long road to a fulfilled life, and every single child deserves the good start.

Usually, there are two categories of people: those who believe one should make an effort to achieve something, and those who slide through every possible shortcut in life to reach success. The shortcut philosophy consists of freeriding, lies, manipulations, sweet talk, self-aggrandisation, and downgrading others — when in fact they themselves are nothing more than a bubble that bursts at the slightest change of weather.

I noticed the very simple truth: the most fulfilment, happiness, and joy come from personal or professional achievements that took time to build — like playing a difficult piano piece after long practice, or the satisfaction of listening to your child start to read fluently. Shortcuts people may enjoy some short-lived success. But when it comes to lasting happiness — I have never seen any example of it.

Laurent Grasso — "Arrival"

Great leaders such as Gandhi lived by the teaching ahimsa parama dharma: "Nonviolence is our greatest walk of life." The principle of Ahimsa is inspired by the premise that all living beings have the spark of divine spiritual energy. To hurt another being in any way is to hurt oneself.

Ideally, this principle should be followed not only in personal but in professional environments. Many are used to talking behind colleagues' backs or inventing speculations about their work ethic or personal life. The principle is simple: always consider potential harm done both for The Other and for Yourself. Even though I am not personally a fan of Eastern religion, this universal principle — abstaining from doing harm to another directly or indirectly — is so easily forgotten.

More often than not, punctuality may reveal more about a personality profile than any other behavioural pattern. A study by San Diego State University psychologist Jeff Conte found that "Type A" personalities estimate a minute at 58 seconds, while the more laid-back "Type B" perceives a minute as 77 seconds.

Only those who are chronically late believe there is nothing wrong with five or ten extra minutes. The truth is that such a personality trait acts as a huge put-off and dissuades from further personal or professional collaboration. Professionalism, work ethic, and respect for other colleagues are universal traits applied to every single profession on earth.

It is not easy to work — let alone be productive — in summer. Therefore, one renewed corporate trend could be a real treat for overall well-being. The policy of so-called Summer Fridays allows staff to leave early, or take the day off altogether, every Friday during the summer months.

A 2022 report by PwC showed that 90% of its staff thought Summer Fridays had a positive impact, and 73% said it impacted their general well-being to a great extent. Even though some enterprises cannot afford to offer this, the trend is obviously a way to go. What can be better than an opportunity to enjoy long summer days with family or friends that pass so quickly?

How do you spend your breaks at work? The quality of breaks at work is as important as the recovery at home. Researchers at the American Psychological Association found a close connection between exercising and well-being during breaks; that work-related conversations during breaks are not as restorative as time spent with close people; and that employees who spent their breaks with a dog had lower cortisol levels.

An Israeli study found that judges were more likely to grant paroles after coming back from food breaks. As decision fatigue set in after long hours of work, the rate of paroles gradually dropped to near zero. Even though more and more work environments offer diverse break opportunities, many companies still look suspiciously at someone who decides to stretch or walk around the block — to their own disadvantage.

M. K. Čiurlionis — "Pilies Pasaka" (Castle Fairy Tale)

"How wonderful it is to be useful for people and to feel light in your hands" — wrote Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis in a letter to his wife Sofia. I am certain that if he had lived in Paris, Madrid, or London, he would be even more famous than other artists of his era. Like Van Gogh and Kandinsky, he had synaesthesia — the neurological condition that enabled him to see sound in colours and images.

"People talk about Kandinsky being the first abstract artist, but Čiurlionis was there first," says curator Kathleen Soriano. "He is often compared to William Blake, but while Blake was all fire and brimstone, Čiurlionis is all about joy." The example of our national treasure assures: irrespective of your starting point in life, if you bring light to other people, you will be discovered and never forgotten.

The façade of "busyness" — a wish to be seen as a good employee and somehow better than other colleagues. In every work environment there are those "work bees" who are always busy. "I can't. Look, how busy I am!" — their constant mantra.

Fortunately, the pandemic showed that flexibility in working hours and mode of work can actually increase productivity. A new generation of leading managers, I believe, will finally instil a permanent mode of real productivity — where results will be more important than hours spent getting them while playing the role of a never-resting bee.

Whilst many are recovering from the news of the collapse of a bank named "too big to fail" — perhaps better named "too greedy to survive" — for the employees, the life-changing drama is just beginning. A UBS manager told "SonntagsZeitung" that the new bank was going to reduce its global workforce by 20–30%, with up to 11,000 jobs cut in Switzerland alone.

I sincerely hope that the new management will tackle their human resources crisis as well as they rejected the demand to award failing managers up to 34 million CHF in basic pay. The effort required will be colossal: merging two banks with entirely different cultures, building a new climate with integrated HR strategies, and creating a more transparent, stable bank. Not repeating the mistakes of the culture of greed which eventually destroys everyone — even those considered "too big to fail."

Procrastination is usually seen in a negative light. But does it really deserve such a bad reputation? A few years ago, while contributing to a TV edition on global politics, philosophy, and religion, I had the pleasure of listening to a very unexpected explanation of this phenomenon.

So it is worth questioning: if you procrastinate too much and cannot finish a given task, maybe this is a sign that something must change in your professional life? I believe it is much better to procrastinate by reviewing old photos, cuddling a lover, a child, or a pet — than to sink into stalking and false narratives.

Tout le monde is aware that Swiss law not only prohibits giving weapons to other countries but also prohibits delivering them to countries involved in armed conflicts. Having known this, Switzerland has already openly provided weapons to countries like Saudi Arabia, involved in the Yemen war, and Pakistan, involved in armed conflicts over Kashmir. Yet, claiming neutrality, it refused to provide weapons for Ukraine's defence.

You cannot be three guys at one time. When it comes to the notions of justice and freedom, you must choose which role you prefer.

March in Geneva is more than just the beginning of calendar spring — it is a month dedicated to celebrating human rights. In terms of the work environment, Switzerland's legislation allows the pay gap between men and women to reach 5%, but just a few enterprises can maintain this level after auditing. The pay gap in the private sector still stands at around 18%. After having their first baby, women in Switzerland earn 60% less while men's salaries remain the same.

I do not hide my older son from the realities of life so that he can become an agent of change himself. Statistics will not change without a change in mentality. The development of an inherent sense of how to treat "The Other" begins as soon as we begin to breathe.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

There is no secret that an official "paper" leader of an organisation is not the same as a real leader. No one can influence the choice of a leader — people just follow a certain personality or not. The team follows them because they genuinely look up to them. Not because they instil fear, exaggerate their power, and demonstrate superiority. But because they are humble, they listen, they create meaningful relationships.

Approaching the commemoration of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two leaderships are clearly illustrated by the leaders of both countries. Zelenski: devoted to his nation, refused to leave, communicates clearly, radiates self-confidence while maintaining humility. The days of authoritarian leadership are over — be it in the political or the organisational context.

Common sense tells us that constructive feedback could make a way for improvements. Surprisingly, some organisations consider employees' feedback nothing but a means to validate themselves. If feedback deviates from the narrative that HR or leading managers wish to hear — brace yourself. You can even be fired for speaking honestly.

Feedback can only function well when a reviewing person comes with real and not fake receptivity and openness — when they truly care about the wellbeing of the team and trust-building, without engaging in power games and self-aggrandisation.

Technological advancement will slowly but surely touch the sphere of recruitment. Everybody is now fussing about the dominion of ChatGPT. Inevitably, the presentation paragraph in CVs and motivational letters will be prepared with the help of AI by some candidates lacking literary skills. Yet, I doubt if it will have much effect on the final stage of selecting the right person.

More AI influence will be felt while eliminating unconscious biases in the selection of candidates. I believe eventually AI programmed for recruiting will be set to ignore demographic information such as age, race, and gender — which usually influence human decision-making and still play a role in many hiring processes.

While choosing an employer, the prevailing concept of working space is not a factor to dismiss. The open space concept is not new, and the claimed benefits are known to everyone. Yet, as years passed, researchers noticed that the effect of open space is quite contrary. Ethan Bernstein and Ben Waber researched face-to-face interactions at two Fortune 500 firms before and after transitioning from cubicles to open offices — face-to-face interactions fell by 70%.

This means that too much interaction makes people want to wrap into their cocoon and build an invisible wall from others. The breach of privacy and ongoing distraction can become an actual nightmare. A manager always looking over your shoulder does not instil a sense of security and independence.

Approaching Christmas, I would like to share a quote from Marc Chagall, a painter my husband and I adore.

I could look at Chagall's pictures all day. I get never tired of him — every time his paintings reveal something new. He was a self-taught Jewish genius who masterfully expressed his deep love for his wife through biblical and historical elements. I feel truly blessed that mine and my husband's love for each other could multiply and create new projects, be it personal or professional. In the end, what matters most is how much love you brought to others' hearts.

One charity event in my home country this year clearly stood out. Held in the most prestigious historical venue with 80 "Rich and Influential," the press statement read: "The organizers are delighted to announce that the total sum of 3,000 EUR was raised." That means, on average, every person donated €37.50. I bet the gourmet food they ate at the Palace of the Grand Dukes cost more.

Sometimes no PR is the best PR. And releasing a press statement announcing €3,000 raised is the missed moment to stay silent. Some churches during their events raise twice as much from their parishioners as these so-called rich people.

Yesterday I read about one corporation currently laying off 500-plus employees and hiring almost 20 new ones. Opening positions for external candidates when several hundred will be literally kicked out from the game. Was none of those 500+ capable enough to fill these 20 positions? How much additional financial cost will be required to hire externally?

I see this as a literal pouring of disrespect on all dedicated lifelong employees. No human-based approach. No financial foresight. No logic. I hope such companies will someday simply disappear from the business landscape.

Image credit: Jeff Dai

Do you often experience moments of awe? Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at UC Berkeley, has shown that awe leads to greater humility, curiosity, innovation, happiness, and a desire to contribute to the world. I believe the feeling of awe is directly related to professional satisfaction.

When it comes to me, a certain naiveté that I still cannot get rid of makes me embrace the moments of awe with a full heart. Every season, Geneva's botanical garden provides a different sensation of awe. Or seeing a squirrel cracking a nut in the middle of a residential area. Or being hit by the creative ideas of my son — for Mother's Day he made me a book of flowers, entirely his own idea. The pathways of a child's mind are something astonishing.

I have always thought that people are quite self-aware when it comes to evaluating their capabilities. However, when I began to work with unemployed people, I realised that many are quite unaware of their actual abilities.

Of course, you can cardinally change your direction and change qualification as many people do nowadays. But it takes a lot of effort. According to psychologist Dr. D. Gardner, the paradox is that the people who worry about self-awareness are often the very same people who already have it. Those that do not have it, have no idea there is something missing.

When people are brave enough to walk away from enterprises with small-minded visions oriented only towards profit, the quantity of people suffering from burnouts, depression, and addictions will surely decrease. And it is already becoming the reality.

Let's take the example of FAVI, the French brass foundry. CEO Jean-François Zobrist one day invited all factory employees to a meeting to discuss the purpose of the organisation. After much discussion, the answer crystallised: FAVI has two reasons for existence — to provide meaningful work in a rural area of France, and to give and receive love from clients. Yes, love. A word seemingly having nothing to do with a blue-collar manufacturing company. Before Christmas, an operator moulded excess brass into small Santa figurines and added them into boxes of finished products. Other operators picked up on the idea. Isn't that lovely?

Every bigger enterprise now quite skilfully develops the concept of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion — it has become almost a trend, a kind of seasonal "must have." When I scroll through DEI departments of various organisations, I notice they are very similar: typical compositions curated for optics rather than substance.

This is my vision of DEI — perhaps utopian, maybe overly ambitious. But I believe this concept must be universal, without exclusion of any group and any pushed agenda: I want to see single mums working on a flexible schedule with the same salary. I want to see survivors of cancer who made a career gap, successfully working in the same position with the same salary as before. I want to see talented people from small countries speaking with their authentic accents, striving to demonstrate that they are as capable as those bragging about Harvard or Sciences Po. I want to see people with chronic mental health issues enjoying their profession without trembling that they will be fired after the next episode of relapse.

I want DEI to truly celebrate the victory of Human Rights, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt — not assuming and judging without truly knowing a person.