I was impressed when I read Lisa's profile. Working as a military staff member for the United Nations and Swiss Army in Namibia, she has learned what it means to be successful in a male-dominated field.

Having studied to become a financial expert and with several years of experience in finance, she is now after a valuable family time interested in the career re-entry program, we discussed in the Livestream www.workforward.ch with Lionstep. I am convinced that Lisa is a top favourite among career re-entrants and wish her the best of luck!

Who is Lisa Kaufmann Cicala?
Born in South of Africa with its gorgeous nature as a daughter of a Swiss father and African Mum we moved back to Switzerland when I was two years old and grew up in the lovely canton of Solothurn. After my apprenticeship in a Swiss Bank I moved to Zurich, where I have been living ever since then. I am married and a proud mum of two teenagers. While doing yoga or running around the lake of Pfäffikon, I can recharge my batteries for the day.
My first station in Zurich took me to a job in a well-known Hotel but which wasn’t my destiny. I went back to banking business and after 3 years was offered a job in Berne in a Joint-Venture between the Swiss foreign department and the United Nations, where I was able to apply my English, French and German. During this project I was given the opportunity to work in Namibia as a Military Member of the United Nations and Swiss Army.

Who or what shaped you the most for your professional career?
My Swiss grand mum, who always told me a woman should be independent and go her own way, was a role model to me as well as my father who left Switzerland at the age of 18 to go and work in Johannesburg (South Africa) have inspired me. He encouraged me to make my own experiences. During my job career I had the luck to meet people who offered me jobs and motivated me to make my Bachelor in Economics and Administration. Some years later I earned the diploma as Certified Financial Analyst and Asset Manager at the AZEK in Zurich. During that period, I was employed as an auditor for international Banks and Investment Funds where I learned to assert myself in an industry where men were prevalent. I also worked as an Asset Manager for a large Swiss Bank where women occurred to be the minority but did support each other strongly.
I have had a family break for some years but have always been eager to stay on track by visiting workshops and courses, to be prepared for re-entry. I am very proud to have completed my CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investments Analyst) studies in March 2021. This has been a demanding time for my family and myself though it has made me stronger and more self-confident as I have learned that with diligence and perseverance there is so much to achieve. I am also grateful for the wonderful people I met in online classes from different parts of the world and the team spirit among us.

Why are you a bwomen member?
Unite not divide. I think, it is important that women support each other. Together we can thrive. We can learn from one another and give advice to those who are in need. In my life, there have always been strong and compassionate women who came across my path when I needed support or advice.
I am also at bwomen to connect with women who are in the finance/banking industry or want to re-enter and are interested in riding the female wave of sustainable investing, ESG and impact investing. Together we can achieve a remarkable impact. We should exploit the momentum of Covid and grab the opportunities (remote working, home office, new working).

On which topics can other members contact you and where?
I am open to many topics like women and investments, career re-launch, responsible investing, education or Swiss schooling system. I am also passionate about cooking dishes from different countries, food as medicine, yoga, etc. And for anything any woman may need help or advice.

You can reach me via email on: mario.lisa@bluewin.ch