We’ve got people in Spain, France, Finland, and even one team member bouncing across Eastern Europe (soon to be logging in from Colombia).

Since the COVID days, remote work has become second nature (or maybe first nature, depending on how you look at it). And while we wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything, Q4 of 2025 reminded us just how powerful both remote and in-person collaboration can be, especially when the people involved are aligned, passionate, and working toward something bigger.

This is the story of two big ICOM projects that unfolded almost simultaneously. One happened entirely online, across time zones and continents. The other was in person, on a tiny Mediterranean island.

Let’s start with the first one.

The power of virtual collaboration

Two years ago, ICOM kicked off one of its most ambitious projects to date: a full brand refresh. Like any proper project of this scale, it wasn’t about a new logo or a sleeker website – this was about real strategic realignment. About reflecting who the organisation is today and where it’s headed next, and how that determines how it presents itself in every touchpoint. 

In true ICOM fashion, this project brought together multiple member agencies from around the globe. Switch had the privilege of articulating the brand foundations – its promise, values, tone of voice, and the story it wants to tell. We were also entrusted with coordinating all the moving parts behind the scenes. A big task, and one we were genuinely excited to take on.

The visual identity was led by Ad Angels in Estonia, the website was crafted by ImageMakers in the US, SEO support came from Espace M in Canada, and the strategic direction was shaped by input from even more agencies worldwide. It became a real-time, real-world case study in international collaboration.

Yes, it meant 5am calls for some, 9pm wrap-ups for others. There were feedback loops, time zone confusion, and plenty of “you are still on mute” moments. But even more than that, it meant growth. Learning, patience, being open-minded, and a shared desire to create something that truly represents this incredible network.

Fast forward to October 2025, and the new ICOM brand went live: bold, confident, and deeply reflective of the network it represents.

All made possible through collaboration from a distance, and yet, with so much closeness.

The magic of meeting in person

A few weeks after launch, we had the opportunity to host the 2025 ICOM EMEA Regional Meeting in Gozo. And let me tell you, while I’ll always advocate for the flexibility that comes with remote working, there’s something undeniably special about gathering in person.

Gozo was a deliberate choice. We’d hosted our last regional meeting in Valletta back in 2018, but this time we wanted to offer something a little different. Slower, more grounded, and a space where agency leaders could pause the day-to-day and actually breathe, reflect, think and connect.

With that in mind, we decided on the theme: “From Gozo, with Growth.”

For a few days, surrounded by the Gozo’s green hills, sea, and silence, we explored what it means to grow – with new business, existing clients, as independent agencies and as a collective. There was strategy, of course, but there was also laughter, late-night chats, spontaneous brainstorms, and the kind of unfiltered conversations that only happen face-to-face, with people who just get it.

Hosting this event was everything we hoped it would be, and more. If I had to pick one word to walk away with (other than the obvious, growth), it’d be joy – because so much good came out of it.

And once again, it was a reminder: when you bring good people together (virtually or in person), magic happens.

These two projects couldn’t have been more different in execution. One happened entirely over screens. The other around shared tables, hidden away from the noise of everyday life, in peaceful Gozo.. But both were driven by the same values: curiosity, collaboration, generosity, and a deep belief in doing meaningful work, together.

And that’s what ICOM is really about. It’s why we’ve been proud members since 2006, and why we’ve worked as their communications partner since 2019. It’s a network that challenges us, inspires us, and reminds us why we do what we do.

So here’s to bold ideas, to remote calls and in-person hugs and to collaboration that works wonders.

The post From virtual meetings to Gozo: a tale of two collaborations with ICOM appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

I’m okay now, chemo is (hopefully forever) behind me, and I’m now preparing to embark on the next round of treatment.

But this post isn’t about my cancer journey (I’m writing plenty about that over on Instagram.)

This post is about what these last few months have taught me about leadership, culture, and the responsibility that comes with showing up for others – especially when you are struggling to show up for yourself.

Leading Through Uncertainty

Alongside the medical recovery came a very different kind of reckoning:

If I talk about it, do I risk burdening the people around me?
If I don’t talk about it, do I set an example that battles should be fought silently?
Is empathy in leadership about being open? Or is it about protecting your team from your own chaos?

These were the questions that kept circling in my mind for weeks.

And here’s the thing: I still don’t have neat, packaged answers.

But I did make the decision to be transparent about what I’m going through.

Not because it was easy. And definitely not because I wanted to be the centre of anyone’s attention.

Part of that decision was about raising awareness. The particular type of ovarian cancer I was diagnosed with (Low-Grade Serous) makes up just 2-5% of all ovarian cancers. It’s rare, it needs research, it needs attention. And one of the ways you get that is by talking about it.

But just as important was something else. I wholeheartedly believe that kindness belongs in organisations. It’s the foundation of any culture worth building. And if we say we lead with empathy, we can’t only do it when things are going well.

Pretending I was fine would have been hypocritical. One of the most important things I want to teach my son is that you should never hide parts of yourself to make other people feel more comfortable. And I cannot teach him that if I am not willing to live it myself.

Culture goes beyond what we see when everything is easy.
It’s what holds you when things fall apart.

When Culture Becomes Tangible

These past few months have been some of the hardest of my life – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

There were days when I couldn’t find the strength to get out of bed, let alone open my laptop or jump on a call.

But even on the darkest of days, I had something that every person in any organisation deserves to have: the peace of mind that I would be supported, fully, even when I couldn’t show up.

What struck me most during those moments was this: I was never met with pity or sadness. There were no awkward silences to fill. No uncomfortable conversations to tiptoe through. Just strength. Flexibility. Care.

And that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design. 

This is what we mean when we say culture isn’t cosmetic – it’s structural. It’s the thing that holds, even when everything else shakes.

Storms test structure. And I couldn’t be prouder of the one we’ve built together at Switch; a culture shaped by intention, held together by care.

For years, we’ve prioritised our deeply ingrained core values to guide every decision we make – whether it’s about the business or about our people.

We’ve made space for real conversations. About purpose. About what we stand for. About what makes us show up and feel fulfilled. 

So when I shared what I was going through, I got to experience (yet again) that those values aren’t just words in our brand book. They became tangible. They showed up in how the team responded. In how the work continued. In how I was treated – not as a manager in crisis, but as a human being navigating something hard.

A strong foundation doesn’t mean you won’t face storms. It just means you won’t be swept away by them.

The Test of Strong Foundations

Here’s the tricky part about having strong foundations: 

Living by your brand fundamentals doesn’t always feel comfortable. In fact, the strongest, most authentic values an organisation can have are the ones that push us out of our comfort zones by making us ask the hard questions. Again and again. 

For me, that meant showing parts of myself that don’t fit the polished, curated version of leadership we’ve been taught to portray.

What I’ve learnt though is that by showing up as our whole, authentic selves, we model something vital.

We show our teams that being human is allowed. That strength and struggle can co-exist. That we don’t need to compartmentalise who we are from what we do.

I can’t stress this enough: culture isn’t a line item on a spreadsheet.

It’s not a yearly quota measured by how many team-building events you’ve organised.

Culture is the invisible infrastructure that holds everything together – or lets everything fall apart.

Storms will come. In life. In business. In leadership.

The question isn’t whether we can avoid them. It’s whether we’ve built a culture strong enough to stand in the middle of them.

So I’ll leave you with this exercise. Get your team together and ask yourselves:

• Have you built a culture in your organisation that could carry you through both a business and a personal storm?
• Are your values known, lived, and visible — or are they just words on a wall?
• What version of yourself are you hiding at work — and what would it take to let a little more of it be seen?

The post The strongest foundations are built before the storm appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

Okay, let me tell you about how I landed the coolest internship ever. It all started back on the 20th of August when I was doom scrolling through LinkedIn at 1.45 AM (we’ve all been there) and came across a marketing intern role at Switch. What caught my eye? They were offering a fully remote position AND a 4-day work week – like, hello, dream job? 

August 2024 

The interview process was super chill. I jumped on a video call with Luke and Melissa, who turned out to be the nicest people ever. No stuffy corporate vibes. You know those scary, super formal interviews where you’re sweating in your fancy shirt while trying to remember all those marketing keywords? Yeah, this wasn’t it at all. The chat flowed so naturally that it barely felt like an interview. When Luke wanted to schedule another call the following week, I had a good feeling about it – and yep, I officially became a switcher. 😉 

September 2024

Fast forward to September, and there I was, living my life in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. The best part? I could totally combine this internship with my Masters in Digital Marketing. My schedule was pretty sweet – mornings were for Switch work, afternoons for uni stuff, and weekends? Simple. Hours of surfing, meeting new people and hopping onto other Canarian islands.

October 2024

This is when things really started picking up at Switch. I got to dive into all sorts of cool projects – running paid ad campaigns (trust me, it’s more fun than it sounds), creating newsletters that people actually want to read, planning content calendars, and even getting my hands dirty with WordPress. The variety kept things interesting, and I was learning tons without even realising it.

November 2024

I switched islands to Tenerife (still chasing those waves, obviously) and kept crushing it at work. But the highlight? I flew to Madrid and got to meet some of my colleagues in Madrid! Got to hang out with Luke and Ernesta from the marketing team and Laura from design. Let me tell you – we ate our way through Madrid like it was our job. It was so cool to finally put faces to the Google avatars and realise we vibed just as well in person.

December 2024

This month brought me to Malta, where Switch HQ is based. Had the most amazing festive brunch with the project management team – nothing breaks the ice like good food and great company. Next week, we’re having this big Switchmas celebration where everyone’s joining virtually because, you know, we’re spread all over the world. 

Looking back at these past months, I’m still kind of amazed at how much I’ve learned without feeling overwhelmed. The 4-day work week is an absolute gamechanger (or as we Gen Z would say, a ‘W’)  – I actually have time for my studies AND a life! Every single person at Switch has been super helpful and supportive, always ready to share their knowledge or lend a hand when I need it. I’ve still got three more months to go in this internship, and honestly? I’m pumped – the whole experience has shown me that work doesn’t have to be this boring, rigid thing. You can totally have a serious career while working from beautiful places, meeting awesome people, and having time for the things you <3

P.S. If anyone’s wondering – yes, you can work while travelling the world. Switch is proof that work-life balance isn’t just a buzzword. And hey, if you’re looking for a job – they don’t all have to be boring office ones. Find a company that lets you be YOU. Trust me, they’re rare, but they exist.

The post Switching it up: balancing work, study, and surfing appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

This is the third year of our four-day work week experiment, and we have an update. 

Last year, we increased our four-day weeks to every other Friday, in addition to taking the entirety of summer as a four-day work week. This year, we’ve carried on the experiment, with a little bit of help from our friends (Asana, Google Meet, and Strava). 

This is how it’s going so far. 

The Prelude: Why Four Days?

It’s estimated that the amount of time spent on deep-focused work averages just over 4 hours and 48 minutes per day. When including collaborative work and multi-tasking opportunities into the overall calculations, the average employee is actively engaging with their work for a total of just under 7 hours – an hour less than the span of a typical work day. 

Additionally, not all work is made equally: 1 in 20 professionals spends more than twenty hours in meetings, and 60% of other valuable time is spent on ‘work about work’, such as chasing for updates. 

The quantity of work has significantly increased in the last handful of years, and the immediacy of email and work chats have pivoted towards an unsustainable working environment that ultimately can lead to burnout, low engagement, and dissatisfaction, thus stagnating company development. Above all, the four day work week is also a testimony to the belief that the mindset that prioritises astronomical growth at the cost of work-life balance is becoming increasingly unsustainable, both for business and the planet that we live in. 

Remote work is not a cure-all for bad company culture, but coupled with employee-led initiatives and continuous amendments, we feel that the four-day work week is the way of the future working world – and we’re just getting started. 

The Four Day Work Week, Year 3

Throughout the year, every alternative Friday is off; in summer, every Friday from June to October is off. Leave allowances and wages are untouched. In addition to Fridays off, while official working hours span between 9 – 5PM, employees can choose their own schedules and go out during the day to run errands, go to the gym, or work from different locations. Throughout the year, client meetings are scheduled from Monday to Thursday; the first year, Friday meeting requests were still very common, and they are down significantly this current year. 

In addition to our four-day work-week experiment, we are also a fully remote company with team members working from around the world. This decision was taken post-COVID-19, when there was no significant decrease in productivity, which introduces a new paradigm to the four-day work week. Most of us have no commute, adding several valuable hours to our free time, with the caveat that there is also less structured time: lunch is a moveable opportunity, and while there is liberty in scheduling work, there is equally less liberty in sticking to allotted end-times or start-times for the work day. While this has not proven a detriment in our own case, companies that experience crunch or have more stringent work demands can find a fully-remote and four-day work week a difficult combination to adopt. 

The benefits of a fully-remote, four-day work week

The ultimate aim of Switch’s working practices has always been to reduce the amount of time spent at work, and to complete more meaningful, high-quality, and valuable work for our clients. The three-day weekend falls in line with this plan, and additionally adheres to a changing understanding on work overall. Of the clients we’ve spoken to, most were understanding of the decision to remove communication on a Friday (and some have asked if we have any vacancies!). 

Some of the benefits reported are:

• A greater feeling of restfulness on Mondays. The three-day weekend adds another day to finish off errands, meaning that the weekend is fully and totally left for enjoyable activities. 
• Better work-life balance, and the ability to ‘reset’. 
• Working days showed higher productivity and focus. 
• Employee retention and recruitment prospects have increased. 
• A general sense of pride. 

Most notably, these benefits are in line with reports undertaken by much larger companies. 

• Microsoft’s three-day weekends boosted productivity by 40%. 
• 39% of employees in the UK experienced reduced stress levels due to the four-day week. 
• Half of respondents in a pilot study in the UK noted improvements in productivity; the remaining only noted that productivity stayed the same. 
• 56% of recruiters saw increased employee retention. 

The challenges of a four-day work week

A four-day work week is not without its drawbacks, and while the benefits can be clearly seen, there’s less focus on the negatives of having less time to work. Specifically for Switch, the challenges we most ran into were: 

• A greater difficulty in scheduling meetings, coinciding with the peak summer holiday months where parts of the team were unavailable. 
• Completing more detailed and elaborate tasks in a shorter week and with less time. 
• Coordinating with clients who work five days a week. 

That said, it is significant that the challenges faced this year are far less than the ones experienced in our previous four-day work week experiment, and can possibly be rectified with restructuring further. Two years into the four-day work week experiment, many of the initial issues have been smoothed out – but not without a certain level of effort. 

What does it take to make a four-day work week work?

For companies who are starting the four-day workweek themselves, this is a factor that is hardly spoken of: the effort, time, and practice it takes to perfect the way a four-day work week works within your organisation. 

And while we can only supply the information that we have learned over three consecutive years of experimenting with Fridays off, whether in sequence or alternative. 

The key factor to success is this: the leadership and management teams have undertaken the greatest task of streamlining Switch’s existing processes to remove opportunities for lag and delay. The biggest success of the four-day work week is down to this, and to realising that the company needed a set of values and principles to adhere to in order to make sure that we could take on the same level of work without the hitch of miscommunication. 

This has not been easy. 

But as a practice, it has been worthwhile, even outside of the four-day work-week experience. Streamlined processes and clearly communicated values mean that the potential for issues arising during work is much reduced, and as our clients continue to come to us from all corners of the world, and all around the clock, it has proven to be the most valuable asset for achieving high quality and repeatable results with a full eight hours of work removed from the week.

The four day work week: a global perspective 

What the four day work week has taught us about the way we view work is equally valuable – and about the flawed understanding that working hard means working from the first crack of dawn to overtime, every day. As the studies above show, longer hours at work does not equal higher productivity or more complete working days, and the four-day work week at Switch is concurrent with those findings. 

Additionally, what it has proven is that the pace of work has continued to accelerate, and that people are having trouble keeping up – but what that means is not trialling longer working weeks or shifting wholesale to AI to continue meeting and exceeding growth expectations that are developed slightly out of focus with the current reality.

What it does mean, and what Switch has decided to adhere to, is that we could all use sustainable growth measures over the idea of growth at all costs. Companies and company profits have reached record highs repeatedly, which has resulted in businesses staying open, unsociable hours increasing, and worker burnout on the rise. A step towards a more equitable way of working has proven great for us – and we believe it is the way forward for businesses. 

The four-day work week may not work for you. But neither will the idea that you should spend most of your waking hours at work.

We don’t have all the answers. What we do have is proof that working longer hours is outdated, at least for us. Shorter working weeks has led to happier employees, healthier life balances, and a better environment within the workplace when we’re together. 

If that isn’t the way forward for the future, it’s unclear what should be. 

The post The 4 Day Work Week Initiative, Year 3 appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

When I started my journey alone to a foreign country, I was stunned. New people, new situations – it was a whirlwind of emotions. However, this experience at Switch and in Malta has been a catalyst for my personal, cultural, and professional growth. Let me share my insights with you.

Mela.

My stay in Malta allowed me to immerse myself in a rich and diverse culture. It is a vibrant island full of different cultures coming together, which makes it special and exciting. 

Thanks to my wonderful colleagues, I was able to pick up bits of the local language, I was given super tips for places, and especially for food. If you’re ever in Malta, definitely try ftira – trust me. And for coffee enthusiasts, LOT61, Coffee & Strangers, and Coffee Circus are fantastic places to savour a cup of excellence.

It broadened my perspective and I was able to absorb part of the culture well. I’ll take it back to Germany with me.

Workwise

During my time at Switch, I had the privilege of contributing to various projects, spanning from brainstorming sessions, quality assurance, campaign setups, on-site activities such as Pjazza Kinnie, SEO, blog writing and many more…

Some highlights from my experience include:

Communication Strategy

Crafting communication strategies always fascinated me. The approach is structurally the same, but the content is always different depending on the situation. It’s where diverse topics intertwine, forming a web of connections that link business goals and creative ideas. Playing a role in shaping these strategies was a truly fulfilling experience.

Proposals

I always felt like as soon as one came up, you could say “Avengers Assemble”. Every department would collaborate to meet an approaching deadline. It felt like a ship with everyone scrambling to stay on course with the Proposal. To the untrained eye, it may seem chaotic and disorganised. However, it’s organised chaos. It motivated me to see what can be accomplished with teamwork when everyone pulls together. It’s like a puzzle, where individual pieces come together to create something significant. 

AI Integration

AI is an integral part of our life in the future. Switch knows that and adapted quickly. It has not only eased my concerns about job security but also showed me the immense potential of AI tools in enhancing our work lives. Adapting to technological change is essential to be successful in the ever-evolving professional world.

Internal process optimisation

When I first started, I optimised a spreadsheet file to more easily track my own processes and shared this with colleagues. What started as a simple task of optimising a spreadsheet soon evolved into a significant internal project. Coordinating tasks, managing extensive data in Excel, and conducting in-depth data analysis became my responsibilities, highlighting the importance of process optimisation.

Branding

I told you about the Brand Project in the last blog, but this inspired me to do an internal brand workshop. It was exciting and insightful, but at the same time overwhelming and complicated. There were so many, sometimes slightly different opinions, views, and ideas. Redefining results following the brand exercise was tricky and took a lot of time and energy, but I the end result was worth it.

A special thanks to Ed. I had the pleasure of working with him on the Brand Project. He has incredible knowledge about brand.

He was always open to a lively exchange. Many thanks for the support at the internal band workshop. I loved Branding so much that I couldn’t let go and asked directly if there will be a new brand project and if I could be part of it. And yes, there was one and I was also able to be there in the beginning. 

All this showed me that branding interests me and where I want to go:

Branding, here I come!

Lifelong learning

Never-ending inquisitiveness – My time at Switch fostered a never-ending curiosity, driving me to delve into backgrounds, understand contexts, and think towards the future. Participating in meetings and initiating my projects allowed me to apply and expand these skills.

Self Organisation – Small businesses, like Switch, presented a variety of tasks and situations, teaching me the importance of prioritisation based on relevance and importance. Self-organisation is a crucial aspect of working in an environment

About me – My interactions with colleagues highlighted the significance of human connections and the motivation they bring. Feeling comfortable and happy in my workspace became a key aspect of my personal growth.

Gratitude

I am grateful for all the trust. Various colleagues came to me several times and gave me a task that sometimes had to be completed by the end of the business day (end of business). I had the privilege of participating in customer meetings and working on projects autonomously. Thank you for these opportunities.

Thank you.

A special thank you goes to Luke who brought me into this team. Don’t worry, internally, I thanked everyone as well 😉

My highlight

Switch is a diverse group of people each of them with unique hobbies, personalities, and skills. However, the common thread that binds them is the care and support they have for each other. That’s what makes them so strong together. I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone for the warm welcome, the encouragement to ask questions, and the chance to contribute to various projects. 

My ultimate highlight of the internship is the team itself. 

You guys are an incredible team. Stay curious, open-minded, and most importantly, be who you are.

I will stay in contact with Switch. That’s for sure. And you guys should get to know them as well. Great people do great business. Go for it!

Fabi out.

Peace, love, and coffee

The post The Switch Experience – What I Have Learnt From Switch and Being in Malta appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

To commemorate my time on death row, I feel like reminiscing over what happened in these 3 beautiful months of working here. “What was I convicted for?”, you may ask. I’ll tell you later.

The Shoots

Parting the clouds of tragedy, you will find the rays of gratitude I have for the entire team. We are a team that, despite all odds, keep on pushing towards what they want to achieve, with a smile on their face. A special shout out, however, goes to Ed, our head of creative and brand. 

Imagine being inducted into a company that works completely different from every other company you’ve worked with. Everything is online, heavily technology-oriented, different from the classroom. Everytime you enter a meeting, it feels like you’re sitting around a council. It was alien to me. 

One day, I got a message from Lisa, “Ed has a shoot, care to join?” 

I indulged myself.

It was my first true example of how the agency operates, seriousness when needed but it was fun. It was not the typical “It’s my job, ugh work” kind of feel. Ed himself used to say “Why would you sign a contract that has work in it?” His careful setup of the photoshoot, yet his willingness to try new things, even suggested by interns and his clients, is a revolutionary method of working. He explains his thought process on light and shot composition, like a professor, to someone who only had a middle school level of physics. 

Yet I understood every single bit. 

He applauded everyone for their contributions, always.  He would remark how clients brought him food. It seemed to be a standard from what I’ve seen. He thanked Sarah for adjusting elements in the photos, the models for doing what they were told to, me for figuring out how we were going to set up the next shot. I thought they were standard issue things, mundane. Yet he was grateful as if it was the biggest favour for him.

Thomas’ style of working is different. He is more of a director, funnily enough. He orchestrates what his actors do and makes sure every actor gets his/her time in the spotlight. His ability to extract the best from people is something of myth. All whilst carrying a smile and passion into the work. A director, obviously, has his vision of what the final product is, yet he permits others to show their magic. It all unfolds into a symphony of work that, frankly, is indescribable. 

It just works. 

It is Thomas in his element. Again, he is grateful for every interaction, he is serious yet he jokes around.

These shoots were my favourite part, simply because they are the physical manifestation of what Switch is. Passion and gratefulness, condensed into whatever that their client needs with an expert’s touch.

The blogs

Funnily enough, I’m pretty sure this came about by accident. Elise, our content manager, and Luke, our marketing manager, had mentioned that they needed someone to write blogs for Switch. “I wrote like a few blogs before, so why shouldn’t I?” I figured. So I took on the challenge and after both of them had given me the go ahead, I met the blank page and my thoughts.

I thought it would be like the assignments at university. Regurgitate the notes from class and blanket it under sources so it looks like you did “research”, maybe adding something a bit extra and in a few hours you get an A. 

I could not have been more wrong.

It becomes a nuclear fusion of you and the outside world, not knowing the end result. You quench your thirst for knowledge, originality, and teaching. It’s like when you order something at a restaurant that you don’t know will soon become your favourite dish, everytime.

I barely scratched the surface of what blog writing really is. Yet it’s intoxicating. You end up in a spiral of pages and papers, trying to make sense of what’s in front of you. The job then becomes, “How do you make it entertaining and understandable by even people who aren’t even in the sector?”

The self-expression that comes from this makes me writhe with joy. Your opinion, based on facts and research (championed by Luke), can contribute to something bigger than yourself, even bigger than the company. It can move people. This expression, that goes beyond words, beyond everything you do, is something to applaud.

That’s one of the many things Elise taught me in writing and what the internal team loved my writing for. To be OK with expressing your informed opinion, cause the right people for you will listen.

A side note on Dr. Eggman

As part of my mission in the internship, I wanted to speak to EVERYONE in the agency. Hence, I started meeting other people in the agency. There was Andrea, head of design, Lisa, head of Client Services, Ernesta, Social media manager (More on the others in the next section) but I was dodging Rik, our CEO. He barely spoke in the group chat. I never saw him in my meetings. He must’ve been doing super CEO important stuff that’s so important it determines the fate of the universe.

So I swallowed my pride, and decided to book a meeting with him, among his stacked calendar, hoping his graciousness would accept my plea for interaction. It was met with acceptance, somehow. 

Fast forward to the day I had the meeting. Ed, after the shoot, had invited me to a brand meeting. Accidentally, I forgot that I was supposed to meet Rik. Oh God, I was gonna get a mouthful cause I was wasting his important CEO time. Ed saw me distressed and simply replied “Just tell him you’ll be late, he’ll understand.” It was the stuff of treason back where I used to work. Anyways, I leaped into the abyss, to be met with a “No worries, lemme know when you’re done”. Bottom of the barrel, telling the top dog to wait. Blasphemous.

I realised then that the company revolves around the people. Structures and hierarchies exist, that much is obvious. However, it’s democratic. It’s not a case of “I’m CEO, I am the master of your fate”. Titles here are simply a formality here, to put on your CV and to show what you’re good at.

After scrambling to get home, I hopped on the call with Rik. Normal introductions aside, the first question from him was “What do you find that is ****** annoying about the company?” Absolute dedication and the guy wants to take all the blows needed to get this company to where he wants it. My type of guy. 

So we got to it, the proverbial back and forth of amendments to company structure, which later went on to discussions on his role, hobbies, to music tastes, to then the penultimate reason why I joined Switch. 

To try and find a purpose for this 21 year old kid.

Life is really, REALLY what you want it to be. There is so much to do, so many things to be, where even to begin? I just want to land somewhere where I can say I am ok. The confines and security of school are eroding, then you’re exposed to the harsh winds of life and as Ed once said in a brand meeting “the slightest change in behaviour done now can completely change your life in 5 years”. The worst part is, you don’t know how you will end up.

And what did Rik say to all this mental catastrophe? “Just do something, it’ll come to you.” It’s that simple. Just that. In doing, you find purpose.

Thank you Rik.

The People

After being with people for 21 years, you start to pick up things. Things like, physical cues, habits, behaviour, frame of thinking etc. These elements, given my current conundrum of life’s purpose, will somehow automatically translate into lessons and philosophies in life. 

In addition to the essay above, I have learnt the following things:

Andrea – First of all, thanks for the help with the Warhammer and personal design things, you were absolutely amazing to talk to. Mainly, I learnt that it is important to stay young and creative. It keeps you fresh and interesting.

Camille – Aw Bruce. We had a lot of fun on those multiple projects. To me, you are the personification of persistence for what you love. When you wanted something done, you even worked around the clock. From boxes and bottles to even working when you’re abroad.

Ernesta – That hour call was eye-opening. It was mainly that even through misfortune and problems that destroy plans, something can be made of it. Call it resilience to the world. Your life is something from a novel.

Fabian – I also learnt something from you. The importance of having fun and connecting with new people in new countries. To explore new lands and especially, eat. A lot.

Kathleen and Melissa – Two of the moms of Switch. You both taught me kind of the same thing. To be versatile and work towards solutions for everything. Having children and managing a personal life must be ridiculously hard. Yet it fuels your work and your ever changing list of jobs.

Lisa – Funnily enough, my neighbour. Constantly working towards organising and improving processes. Reports, spreadsheets and more reports. Not only is it just a lesson to embody self improvement but also that you don’t just recruit a great group of people, you create a great group of people.

Luca – The runner. Your work has spades of knowledge to learn from. I really found your coaching career more interesting though. Someone who not only does it but teaches as well. The importance of inspiring others and fuelling the next generation, especially at such a young age. Inspiring haha.

Luke – I wish I had met you before in my life. Well, you have taught me everything, inducted me into Switch. The importance of staying curious and constantly learning, through reading, watching and listening to everything in life. That everything is a teacher and life is to be discovered, one bit at a time. Also, Lords of the Rings is peak fiction.

Maria – I wish I could have talked to you more. Even after natural disasters, you somehow stay with a smile on your face and make everyone laugh. It is a secret to behold.

Fanny, Kim, Laura (And Luke, and Ernesta again) – All of you showed me that just because you are born somewhere, doesn’t mean you are confined to living there forever. There is a whole world to explore, with heaps of exciting projects, cultures and people to work with.

Whilst I tried getting lessons from everyone and listening to their songs of life, it is there where I committed my crime. I did not listen to everyone’s story. Their approaches, their struggles, their joys. Simply because I did not have the time or luck to meet them for that long. There are only fragments of it, like an ice cube from the entire iceberg.

The essence of Switch

That is the essence of Switch. Not just that it’s a world class agency filled with talented people but it IS the culmination of these peoples stories that make it somewhat possible to communicate the company’s story. That’s what makes it world class, the harmonious energy, the positive can do attitude, and the fun of it.

What and who I didn’t mention, like helping with leads, helping PM and marketing organise their structures and reports, the bits of design, Pjazza Kinnie and helping round on menial tasks wasn’t boring. However, fitting everything together is like the proverbial equivalent of condensing a supernova into the palm of your hand.

It is something that will not be able to fit in one blog, nor two, but will echo throughout the strings that my future work will play for the rest of my life. 

I never intended this to be a blog post like my other ones. Whether it ranks number #1 on google or if it’s so good that it goes viral means nothing to me. It’s whether I get to the person reading that is my sole intention, through emotion or through logic.

If all of this has not convinced you to join Switch, I don’t know what will. It will challenge your perspective on everything and make you question even the fundamentals of your own existence. However, whatever the experience will strip you of, it will adorn you with garments of the finest quality.

The post Ranson’s Requiem: An Internship Story appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

Why Switch?

My aim was clear – I wanted to dive into the world of Digital Marketing and Strategy, work with a diverse, open-minded team, and explore a range of topics. So, I began my search for a digital marketing agency that not only knew their stuff but also valued a strategic approach, who worked deliberately rather than worked just based on what sounded good at the time.

I aimed to glean insights from enthusiastic and driven individuals, become a part of the team, and share my own expertise. 

This is precisely what I discovered during my time at Switch.

When I stumbled upon the Switch website, its cool design caught my eye. The idea that creativity and strategy should be combined intrigued me.

Looking at the team pictures, I thought, “This is where I want to be.” The team seemed friendly, approachable, skilled and above all different – qualities that were a perfect match for what I was looking for.

Getting Started

Starting this journey was exciting and nerve-wracking. It was my first time abroad alone. Stepping into Malta, I was welcomed by a lively atmosphere, stunning sea views, and plenty of spots to grab a great cup of coffee.

My first day at the office was reassuringly warm. Adjusting to new surroundings can be overwhelming, but I quickly found my footing. I had online meetings with colleagues in those initial weeks, which helped me get a grip on the company’s vibe and build connections.

During my time at Switch, I got involved in some interesting projects – brainstorming sessions, face-to-face activities, marketing strategies, and a captivating brand project. 

The brand project, in particular, was amazing. 

I was able to experience all the steps from the beginning. From the initial idea of how the company was founded to the final brand presentation. Branding is more than just logos and colours. It is a deep dive into the values and culture of the company, and it was super exciting to witness how a well-developed brand strategy can positively influence a company. 

I learned a lot – both on this project, and in general during my time at Switch.

The only downside was that my internship was scheduled for just three months, which seemed to fly by.

An Unexpected Offer

But shortly before the end, they offered to extend the internship. I was thrilled to continue my journey with the Switch team!

So, stay tuned, because I will be back and let you know about the other 3 months!

Final Thoughts

Thanks for joining me on this ride. If you’re on the lookout for a friendly team of experts to level up your marketing game, give Switch a shout. Trust me, it’s worth it. 

And hey, they’re always up for a coffee and a chat!

The post My Journey as an Intern: Gaining Insights and Experiences at Switch appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

Businesses will do that. They’ll go through periods of stasis, growing quietly in all directions, and then a moment or two will come where that period of stasis blooms into new growth. Like people, a brand goes through new challenges, and emerges differently: with new purpose, with new intent, with new guidelines to follow to reach the next stage of their role. 

Part of the next stage for us is this: we have a new general manager. She’s worked her way up through the company, going from blog writer and creative researcher to head of marketing, and a few other roles in between. She’s kind and emphatic and patient, with clients and with coworkers. 

Say hi to Mel, our new general manager. 

What inspired you to pursue a leadership role?

I didn’t actively pursue a leadership role! I just really wanted to contribute to a working environment that people took pride in working in, and so for the past few years that I’ve been at Switch, that’s what I’ve been working towards. The role was just what came next. 

I really believe that fostering positive relationships and supporting the well-being of all teams is crucial for long-term success and growth. Whether it’s ensuring client satisfaction, promoting a collaborative atmosphere among colleagues, or cultivating strong partnerships with suppliers, I am driven by a genuine care for the success and happiness of those around me.

What’s the biggest factor that has helped you advance into your new role?

The people that I have had the opportunity to work with, hands down. I’m curious by nature and I like asking questions, but the people I’ve worked with have supported me and encouraged me on a daily basis. 

I am one of the lucky ones that gets to work with people I genuinely love, and they each play a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. Every day, I am fortunate to learn something new from my colleagues, and their collective knowledge and experiences have equipped me with the tools I now use even in my personal life.

How do you stay focused and productive in the face of distractions and competing priorities?

This is challenging, and these questions were sent to me when I was really distracted, but I try and keep what I learned from Ed in mind: there are urgent tasks, and important tasks, and splitting your work into those categories really helps me prioritise. 

It’s all too easy for me to get caught up in the trap of “urgent” tasks, and constantly telling myself, “just this one more email and then…”, however I am actively working on being more deliberate in breaking down tasks. Also, I have implemented a ‘Don’t be an ass’ to-do list, which automatically prioritises tasks as deadlines approach or are missed for work that others rely on me for.

Unfortunately, this particular task remained at the top of that list for a significant amount of time, and I am genuinely grateful to Camille (and the marketing team) for their understanding and patience despite my multiple missed deadlines.

How do you handle stress and pressure in your role?

I make a conscious effort to be mindful of where I invest my energy, but there are moments where no amount of mindfulness helps – and that’s where I tend to rely on the support of the people around me. I’ve built a network of strong relationships, and they’re always there to help me: both on a personal and a professional level. 

From a work point of view, it’s truly impressive to witness the collective response of everyone in the agency whenever someone even hints at feeling stressed. The team jumps to the rescue, offering help and assistance without hesitation.

I also check in with myself daily, and ask myself whether stressing about a situation will truly help me solve it faster or better. If something is beyond my direct control, I question the usefulness of stressing about it.

I am only human, though, so there are times when stress and pressure do get to me. In those moments, the understanding, guidance, and encouragement of others plays a crucial role in helping me navigate through challenging situations.

Overall, my approach to handling stress and pressure involves building strong relationships, maintaining a mindful perspective on where to direct my energy, and seeking support from my colleagues and friends when needed.

You are undoubtedly busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain good mental health?

I like to keep myself grounded. I value open communication, which means admitting to others when I’m not okay, or when I’ve hit a wall in what I’m doing. I try and reconnect with things that bring me joy – playing with Matteo, or walking Simba are my current go-tos. It’s not easy, but I try and do my best to take care of myself so I can take care of others. 

That said, while I believe that taking care of oneself and maintaining good mental health should always be a priority (even in the midst of a busy schedule), I don’t quite listen to my own advice. I really believe that in order to effectively care for others, one must first ensure to be okay themselves. However, I must admit that at times, it can be challenging to prioritise self-care, and I tend to put myself last on the list of things ‘to do’.

How do you stay motivated and inspired?

I work with amazing, unique people who constantly make me think, “I want to be them when I grow up.” When you have these people in your life, lack of motivation or inspiration is never a problem. 

I know I’ll sound like a broken record, but the team at Switch are such a powerful driving force: when you work with amazing people who do amazing work, lack of motivation or inspiration is never a problem. Quite the opposite: I always have a drive to push through and do the best I possibly can to be sure that what we have at Switch gets better. Funnily enough, on the toughest and most challenging periods at the agency, instead of feeling demotivated and without hope, it’s when I find myself pushed through harder, simply because of who makes Switch, Switch.

Did you plan your career path?

The only thing I have ever planned in my life was being a working mother. I was just lucky enough to also develop a career that brings me joy and pride, and provides an extra challenge to balance my life around. 

Anything else to add, Mel?

As challenging as it is, it has also been pretty amazing to see how becoming a mother, and the skill sets that come with it, has truly helped me with my role within the agency.

It’s an ongoing process – as Teo grows and the agency evolves, I face daily challenges in both areas of my life. I’ve learned that the only way to succeed is to be agile and adapt as you go.

One of the reasons that I’m managing to cope (so far) is through organisation and time management. Everything is planned on both my personal and work Google Calendar, and I have a list of lists to keep track of everything instead of relying on memory: as soon as something comes to mind that needs actioning, or an idea, or a question I might have, it goes straight into its respective list.

Multitasking has also become one of my fortes: I feed Matteo while on internal work video calls or reply to emails during contact naps (case in point – I am writing this while Matteo is sleeping on me).

Truth is though – I wouldn’t be able to make it work so “smoothly” if it weren’t for the great support I get at home and at the agency. 

The post Mother, Manager, Multitasker: Mel’s Many Hats appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

As a mum of two kids, I always looked at doing things for myself as something that I didn’t really have time for. I also looked at running as something that people who hated themselves did – something I only did when I was trying to lose a little bit of extra weight in between holidays. 

Now I own over four pairs of running shoes, and my favourite way to see a city is by planning a run on my first day there. It’s a little mindblowing that it took me until my mid-thirties, the Switch Trip to Madrid, and a marathon to discover how much I love running – and how much happier I am now that my days have a structure. 

And it started with Madrid. 

Changing Tracks

At first, I had no interest whatsoever in joining the Madrid runners. Instead, I imagined sipping cocktails nearby while the runners finish off. 

Out of curiosity, I joined the newly created running group chat ‘Egg’, and things started to get interesting. Seeing Mel, who just had a baby, training to take part made me feel like I could do it too. I asked questions about how to start training and Lisa suggested a ‘Couch to 10K’ app, which I installed and started following religiously. That was it! After the first week, I was hooked and couldn’t stop.

I must say that I started running because of Switch. 

If the plans for the Madrid Marathon weren’t made, I’m sure I wouldn’t have figured out the love of running on my own. Apart from that, the amount of encouragement I received from the Switch team has been unbelievable.

I signed up for the 10K in Madrid, and haven’t looked back since. The day of the 10K, I ran with Laura, another colleague, and the feeling I got was indescribable. I even cried with joy and excitement before the race started. It really felt like a dream.

Run Training

But before I could run the marathon, I had to train. The app Lisa suggested promised to take you from the couch to a runner in no time, and I spent a lot of time making sure I made room for that training. 

Switch gives us Fridays off, and I usually use this day for my longer runs. One of my favourite runs is from my home in Mosta to Golden Bay, finishing off with a beautiful view and a nice coffee. I can’t believe running has given me so much, and that I used to waste these days off on the couch watching Netflix before I discovered the joy of running.

And it’s amazing to think that – before this – I could barely run for a full minute, and I hated every second of that minute. 

Racing towards race day

I conquered my first 10K run in Rome, in the gardens of the beautiful Villa Borghese. I was drained, but I felt accomplished and so proud of myself – and that is a feeling I chased for every run before, during, and after Madrid. 

(It’s also great that running burns off so many calories that you can eat whatever you want without feeling guilty – and I really put that to the test in Rome!)

After Madrid, I also ran the Gozo half marathon! Everyone was telling me I was crazy to participate. They’d say, “you just started running, how can you take one of the locally most difficult half marathons?” I always replied that I’ll just go with the flow and see what I can do! Then Rik decided to help me out and joined me for the last 10K of the race, and oh I was so glad he did! Having someone giving you courage and pushing you over your limits is what you need to finish such a hilly race! And the feeling you get after the finish line is out of this world, no matter how many times you experience it! 

While travelling to Chania, I was already scoping out where my next run is going to be. I knew I wanted to run by the sea, and I don’t regret it: it was so lovely running along the shore, all the cafes and the port, and I discovered that running while on holiday is the best way for sightseeing. Going through the little alleys and exploring the city in the early hours gives you a different perspective of a place. And it helped that I took my new running shoes with me to test them out there.

Eventually, I want to try running a full marathon – but, although I’m taking up every run I can find right now, I’m still very far away from a full marathon. It takes a lot of training physically and mentally to be able to manage a full marathon, but I’m sure that eventually, I’ll get there too. I currently have 2 x 10K races coming up with another of my colleagues Camille and a half marathon in Pisa in October which I’m really looking forward to!

I have also planned a birthday run, 34K for my 34th. It will be by far the hardest and longest run I’ve endured till now, and because it’s in July the weather will be scorching hot and I’ve learned that the weather affects the run drastically. 

My plan is to start the run at 5am so at least I’ll be done before the sun starts doing its job. My colleagues also offered to join in bits and pieces of this run with me and one of our designers at Switch, Antonella will also be designing a birthday design to print on my tank top for this big occasion!   

Speaking of running shoes—

I’m in love with running shoes now, and if I could I would buy them all! All my heels have been packed away in their boxes. I started running roughly 3 months ago, and I have already bought four pairs of runners, my whole wardrobe has been changed to running gear, and I couldn’t be happier.

I would see people running in the streets and would say to myself why are they putting themselves through that misery? I never saw running as a hobby or as something that could actually be fun, and now here I am, looking up route after route. 

The feeling of freedom

Running makes me feel free, and happy, and like I can conquer whatever I want. 

It’s a strange feeling actually – I do feel exhausted and tired by the end of it, however, the feeling you get after completing a targeted run is so liberating! I love travelling, and now as soon as I book a holiday I’ll map out where my run in that city is going to be.

Running has put me in a better place. I realised that getting up early to run was a habit that gave my days a structure, and for me, running was the start of my new and better, happier life after struggling with mental health issues. It’s played a major role in me becoming a better me. It has made me stick to not smoking, get fit, eat well, learn about nutrition and have goals. It has also made me new friends, given me confidence, and made me feel part of something good.

I feel so very lucky to have found something I gain so much pleasure from and I feel very proud to call myself a runner. It took me until my mid-thirties to find my hobby and passion and it has been life-changing.

The post Run the World (with Kathleen) appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

Fanny joined Switch during COVID-19, long after Ernesta had already made the choice to travel around the world. The rest of us knew each other in intermittent meet-ups held since deciding to go fully remote, but there was always someone who couldn’t make a drinks session or had to leave early before others showed up. 

Madrid gave us a chance to all be in the same room together again. 

There’s been a lot said about how you need connection to run a company; you need a physical presence in an office, to see each other twice or three times or four times a week so that you don’t forget how to work together. You need the gel of a fully-stocked office with catered lunch and all the benefits. 

Madrid showed us plenty. 

Mostly, it showed us that being present in the same room together has nothing to do with the way we work. 

We work well together because we work well together. The location doesn’t matter. Whether we see each other physically doesn’t matter. What matters is that we like each other, as friends and as colleagues, and we’re committed to making the best of every situation we’re in.

Friday

People travelling from Malta got to Madrid in a batch. The conversation on the way over: what food we were going to eat once we’re there, how excited we were to see our Madrid transplant, Luke, and whether or not it was hotter in Madrid than it was in Malta (it wasn’t – but it was a different heat, and that meant a different brace of problems, such as rueing the day most of us packed long trousers and jeans instead of shorts and sundresses). 

At an apartment just outside Retiro Park, Maria (who’d moved to Brazil) brought fresh coffee beans and guava sweets straight from a shop in Florianopolis. When the Maltese travellers finally made it, there was coffee waiting for us, and our international team – Maria, Kim, Ernesta, Luke, Laura – ready with hugs. 

A lot of hugs. 

A team lunch at Urogallo followed. Over tiny little plates of tapas and a lot of wine, we clumped up in conversation, talking over each other, on brand and very Maltese, Madrid and what everyone else has been up to. None of these conversations were new – as a team, we talk often both in work and out of it, but they take on new significance when held in person, without the hemmed-in background of a video call.

After a brief stop at the rental apartments to freshen up, we split up into three teams for the first team-building activity of the week: an escape room where Tom, Nella, Ed and Kathleen’s team was eventually crowned victor. 

More food, more conversation, this time Spaniard-late: at 11 o’clock at night, we were in a tiny part of Madrid dining over four separate tables, and the air around us rang with loud Switch conversations. Take us out of any place, and we’ll make it home: that was what Madrid had already started to show us.

Saturday

Team-building is a strange concept to think about. If you’ve worked with each other for long enough, you should automatically be a team – but if that was the case, then the whole idea of office culture and company culture collapses. Making a team that works together takes work and dedication. 

Sometimes, it means knowing how the team thinks. 

On Saturday, we spent the morning in smaller groups: coffee shops, breakfast places, shopping, exploring tiny offshoots of streets fringed and framed underneath an awning of trees. In the afternoon, Luke set us loose in the Prado Museum and told us to find our favourite artwork, and prepare to present it at dinner later. 

Most of us grouped up with people who wanted to see similar things: Goya’s Black Paintings were a popular choice (can you blame us?), but others found solace in people who wanted to go where the signs seemed most promising. 

A good portion of us liked the paintings where dogs featured heavily. 

For others, the experience was transcendental. To each their own.

Over dinner – takeaway at the apartment in front of the Retiro – we argued over the best dog, and saw each others’ presentations on their favourite artwork, their reasoning behind why it appealed to them – based on history, based on whim, based on what caught their eye in the moment.

We tend to fall into the habit of thinking that we’re very similar people; that it’s a big part of what drives the company. We’re all extroverted introverts; we like similar things. 

But when you boil down the way we work to its bare minimum, it varies in different areas: we think mechanically, we think creatively, we think in ways that go at odds with the jobs we do.

Sunday

Those running headed off early to get to the various race start lines as Madrid prepared itself for an onslaught of people in running shoes determined to go great lengths before they wound up in the same place. For most of the morning, the rest of us tracked the runners on the Madrid marathon app from coffee shops and breakfast places, from apartments still grey from the late morning light, tagging each other in locations to give the runners somewhere to aim for. We spent the day in the park otherwise, relaxed and lazy with the light, meeting up at interims to see what the rest were doing. 

In the evening, we talked brand. 

Specifically, we talked about the Switch brand. 

Part of the work we do – for clients, for ourselves – is to watch and influence the way the brand grows, the way it changes: not externally, but internally. A brand that thrives is a brand that speaks and acts in a way that is consistent with the way it thinks. If not, it takes steps to fix that: to either realign the way it works internally, or to change the way it presents externally. 

Since we last took a hard look at the Switch brand, a lot has happened. Our team is international. It is fully remote. The work we do has changed. The partnerships we make have grown.

In Madrid, early evening, the music piped in through the windows from the restaurant below, the Switch brand unfurled: internally, a lot has changed about us as people, and so the brand needs to keep up. Switch, as a brand, has always been built out of different facets of the people who work here. The more we change as people – become runners, look towards a future that’s green and good and better for all – the more Switch has to change to keep up. 

But that’s fine. The more we change, the more we want Switch to change, to reflect who we are as people. 

That’s how it works best for us.

Monday 

Monday saw us at Darwin & Verne, in a historical building still creaking and heavy with the weight of what it was. The Darwin & Verne offices are flooded with natural light, built around a central courtyard that grows wild with green trees. In a lovely room tucked away from the main road, we watched Darwin & Verne introduce themselves to us and talk about their projects; in turn, we talked about Switch, and the work we love doing. That conversation carried us through to lunch, four hours of casual discussion in a basement diner in Madrid, the light low and warm on brass fixtures and old brick.

In the afternoon, while Darwin & Verne went back to their workday, we used their offices for another team-building activity with Up Your Level. 

Here’s what we learned. 

We have very different definitions of certain things. We’re all passionate about what we do, and what we can do. We’re loud: at points, the only thing you could hear in the offices was us, talking over each other. Somehow, we communicate and we communicate well, but not well enough that we can slack on actually saying what we mean. There’s work we can do to communicate better, and we’re setting the steps down. 

We learned that the creativity we thrive on comes from everywhere, no matter what your role is. We learned that you can’t take the management drive out of a project manager (ask Camille about how much it costs to throw a Titanic-themed bash with period-accurate cocktails). 

We learned that we gravitate towards each other, but also to tiny groups that fit our personality best, and that those different personality groups work better as a whole. A table full of go-getters all used to giving orders need a temperament that will listen and follow.

What Madrid Taught Us

Madrid ended bittersweetly. It’ll be another year at least before we all see each other again – fully, without the barriers of video calls and calendar invites.

The office we have is a physical space. It’s beautifully done, and with soft light, and with a dogs-welcome policy that usually means the sound of claws and typing are mixed up often. We bring in coffee from home, and our resident baristas – Ed, Ganna, Lisa – make espressos over client meetings, taking orders like seasoned coffee veterans. 

But we don’t need to be there, day in, and day out, to work well together and to build a company we’re all proud of. 

That’s what Madrid showed us. 

More than working together, more than getting along, it showed us this: Switch is a company that is built by everyone. Everyone has a stake in the way that it runs. Everyone has a say in how it looks forward. Everyone – not just Rik, our CEO, or Ed, co-owner – has a part to play in the direction it goes in.

And it’s hard to beat a company that grows with you.

The post Madrid, Marathons, and Meet Ups: Switch Trip 2023 appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.