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.

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.

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.

He was on his way to a short work trip at the US office of the tech company he was working for, and my partner and I were catching a connecting flight towards our final stop in Brazil.

It’s known to be quite rare for us Lithuanians to break into a chat with another Lithuanian abroad. 

But this is exactly what happened.

We got to talking about how the pandemic had loosened up the stiff working environments and how great it was to have more flexibility.

However, when I shared that Switch is completely remote and I can work from wherever full-time, it really confused him.

‘But how can your boss be sure that you’re actually doing your job and not just pretending?’ he asked.

What?

In my head, this came across as a stupid question,  especially, since we’ve been working remotely throughout the pandemic. It was pretty obvious to me that if I wasn’t pulling my weight at my job, it would become apparent quite soon. People on my team would notice. Clients would notice. It’s a situation I could not see playing out any other way.

I tried to explain it. And in the end, I don’t think I managed to sway him my way.

After we went on our merry ways this interaction stuck with me. I had a bunch of questions and mixed feelings.

• How could a well-educated person, only a couple of years my senior, not understand the concept?
• Why would a professional go to the lengths of cheating their employer and their team?
• Would that same person not be able to pretend right there at the office?
• What kind of company structure and culture would create an environment for this to happen?

I really could not relate. Until it hit me.

There’s this Lithuanian saying that I think illustrates the point I’m getting to quite well.

‘Sotus alkano neužjaučia’, which roughly translates to ‘the satisfied does not feel for the hungry’.

And in this situation, I was the satisfied.

(and no, I’m not talking about the ‘free office lunch on Fridays’ crap here)

• I was part of a company that appreciates its employees and wants them to succeed both at work and in life.
• I had bosses that trust me to handle anything sent my way.
• My input and opinions were valued.
• I was part of a team that can lean on each other when we need to.
• And I was the one that can travel the world and keep the job that I enjoy doing.

It’s the least everyone deserves.

Work should challenge you, ground you, and provide opportunities to grow. But it should never feel like you need to cheat the system to get more of a work-life balance.

It’s great to see that many companies around the world are waking up from the Monday to Friday 9-to-5 ice age and creating better workplace environments.

We need more of that.

In the meantime, it’s up to the employees to send the message to the dinosaurs that aren’t willing to get with the times.

The post A Conversation on Working From Anywhere appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

You Have to Start Somewhere

I had never run before in my life, but starting a 5K running program seemed like a good idea at the time. I had more time on my hands and it was good to give some structure to my week by inserting the regular cadence of a training program.

I also loved the fact that I thought it was under my control. When everything else was going haywire, running was a simple part of my day that depended entirely on me, there was nothing that I could pin on outside situations if it went bad.

(Bonus lesson: One of my first lessons was that, yes, in fact, there are things that can go awry that are beyond your control, but luckily, at the time, I was running far too little to put a strain on my body.)

Setting a Goal

With some ups and downs around general health and some small niggles, I’ve been running pretty consistently ever since, and as I was talking to a friend of mine who decided to attempt a full marathon before 50, I thought it would be a good idea for me to attempt a full marathon before 40.

She was running her marathon in Valencia (Spain) in December, so I decided to hop on for the ride.

I followed a program pretty regimentally, understanding the ins and outs of what was prescribed to me as someone who was running his first full marathon.

5 weeks before the race, however, I hit a snag. A small foot injury that committed me to the sidelines for three weeks. I ran a little bit in the two weeks leading up to the big day, however I got to race day in anything but race form.

The First Race

I ran the first 23km of the race at a great pace, but then my lack of fitness hit me. I started cramping badly. It was some of the worst cramping that I had ever felt in my life. There were points where both my legs locked (at the same time) from my hamstring to my toes. The only way to unlock them was to stop by the side and stretch for a minute or two until I could run again to my next cramp.

It was excruciating, but I had trained for far too long and far too hard to give up then. I pushed through, seeing my goal time evaporating with every cramp. Then I saw my “respectable” time vanish in front of me, and finally I even saw the time I thought even a toddler could do the race in.

But I pushed on. A toddler could have beaten me. In fact I’m pretty sure one did, as I saw someone running past me with a pushchair at one point. But I got to the end, and if nothing else, I’m incredibly proud to say that I did.

Lessons Learned

As I was running I kept thinking of how this event will make me a stronger person, a better person, a fitter runner and ultimately a better business leader.

Here are some of the lessons that I feel training for a marathon and running it have taught me about running a business.

1. Commitment

Just like running a business, running a marathon requires long-term dedication and planning. It’s important to stay focused and make sure that both short-term and long-term goals are met in both cases. You’re allowed a let-up from time to time, but as long as you keep turning up you’ll see progress.

2. Preparation

Preparation is key when it comes to running a marathon. Knowing the route, understanding the terrain, and having the right equipment can make a big difference. The same is true for running a business – prepare for potential obstacles, understand the competition and make sure you have the right tools to succeed.

3. Resilience

Running a marathon is not easy – it takes a lot of mental and physical strength to reach the finish line. And you know what, it’s so bloody tempting to stop and just call it a day when you’re halfway there. But be resilient and don’t give up when things get tough and you’ll be rewarded, in both cases.

4. Patience

Running a marathon takes time and patience. Sprint out too early and you’ve ruined your chances. And it’s mostly the same with businesses if you want to build something that will last. Don’t expect overnight success, even if it might look like people around you are achieving it and have patience for the long term.

5. Focus (on the race)

During a marathon, it’s important to stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted. It’s so easy to just get lost, seeing the people who are running faster than you, seeing people run past you as you cramp or tire out. Focus on your goals. Focus on getting to the finish line.

6. Focus (on yourself)

You’re running the race for yourself. Don’t lose sight of what’s important, and don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is running their own race, both on the track and in business. Everyone runs to the best of their ability, everyone has done their own preparation, and the rice is not as hard for them as it is for you. Even worse, with business it’s so easy to highlight the good bits without talking about the bad that it might seem that everyone around you is winning.

7. Teamwork

Running a marathon is much easier when you have a team of people to support you. It might seem like an individual effort, but people around you have to support you if you plan on training for a marathon. Take the time to acknowledge the help you’ve received, even if you were the one running.

8. Adaptability

During a marathon, it’s important to be able to adapt to the conditions and adjust your strategy as needed. I had a playlist planned out for the race, each song chosen for a specific time, designed to help me though the tougher moments or the boring bits. These all went out of the window when I started cramping. I just needed distraction, so I did the unthinkable and switched to a 4-hour long podcast about World War II.

9. Discipline

Just like running a business, running a marathon requires discipline and commitment. You can’t hope to get to the finish line if you don’t turn up to training, even when you feel like it least.

10. Enjoyment

Maybe we focus a little too much on this, but running a marathon is more enjoyable when you have fun and appreciate the journey. Business should be the same. Enjoy the process and don’t get too caught up in the end goal, we spend far too much of our life working to do stuff that we don’t enjoy. We have one life. Live it.

I’d like to close off by highlighting a few differences, though. A marathon’s length is defined, which is a luxury we don’t have in business. There’s no finish line, which makes resilience even more critical. Make sure to include some breaks in your work life or you’ll turn into a machine.

I was prepared that running a marathon was going to be one of the toughest physical endeavours I’ve ever undertaken, but it turned out to be one of the best life lessons I’ve ever learned, too.

Exercise is extremely personal, so I hesitate to suggest that anyone else should give it a go, but I can wholeheartedly recommend that you should find a goal outside business to focus on, it will not be a distraction, it will just make you a better human being.

The post 10 lessons about running a business that I learned from running a marathon appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

I was that person who rejoiced in his ability to eat 500g of pasta and not gain weight, who expounded the value of time spent on the sofa, and who asked runners what it is they were running away from.

Then, out of half a joke and half a dare, I started a Couch-to-5k programme. That’s going from sedentary, wheezy, unfit, skinny, ageing me into a version of me that was slightly less unfit, still wheezy, even older, and now injured.

As you can tell, I’m not proselytising. I’m not suggesting anyone take up running. I’m just doing as I’m told and telling the story of my journey so far.

I started just over a year and a half ago. The biggest mountain I have climbed so far was that time in the Couch-to-5K programme where I’d got to the point where I had to run for 4 minutes without stopping. It was gruelling. If you’d asked me whether I would summit the Everest or manage 4 minutes of running, I’d have said they seemed equally impossible. Until today, I have only had one more painful run than that one.

Lesson number one

The first time I managed a 5km run was a moment of unreasonable joy and an enormous sense of accomplishment. There are those around me who run ultra-marathons and complete an IronMan before breakfast. And there was my first real lesson. I’m on my own in this. My achievements, my failures, my pace, my effort, my injuries, and all the lessons I’d learn along the way are mine alone – comparison is useless.

Getting to 10km was an almost linear progression. Adding 10% to my distance every week, I scaled things up and this consistency took me there. Then I tried going faster than a human body that’s 45 years old and always sedentary should go and had my first proper injury.

This time, there were two lessons to be learned.

The first is that I had to have running taken away from me to realise the enormous benefit that it was having on my state of mind. I found myself missing something so recent in a way that I’d have missed a hobby or activity that had been with me all my life. Just as I’d slowly scaled up my fitness, so had the serenity and sense that fewer fucks should be given slowly crept into my life and I wanted them back.

Lesson number two

The second lesson came from a friend who is a seasoned athlete. I was venting my displeasure and acting like this had only ever happened to me. He shrugged without any sympathy and asked: “Did you expect a sport to come without injury? Do what the physio tells you, take the time you need to heal, listen to when your body is ready to go again, and just go again.” Eight injuries later and a couple that I still carry with me, it’s this advice that keeps me accepting the bad as part of the journey.

The first race

Back out on the road, I wanted a project. I needed something concrete to aim for and have as a plan with little steps along the way and a specific deadline. This sort of thing keeps me on track, so to speak. I figured a 21km race would be great so I tried to think of the flattest one possible and Amsterdam came to mind. So, in October 2022, a year and three months after my first attempt at running, I completed this most outstanding of events. Outstanding because an entire city shuts down for the day, business be damned, and comes out into the streets to egg you on, call out your name, encourage every step, and in one way or another turn an hour and three quarters into a constant celebration. Once again, it felt fantastic. I was almost as jubilant as the feeling after that first 5km run.

Something had to give

The time I’d usually spend walking around aimlessly with a camera in hand has been replaced by time spent racking up the miles. This year, I’ve decided I’d try and take a couple of photos with my phone to keep a visual log of the journey. It’s been spotty so far but I’ll see where the year takes me.

So, what’s next?

At my age, I either persevere and feel the aches and pains that go with running injuries or sit back and feel the aches and pains that come with a lack of mobility. For as long as I feel I can handle it, I’ll pick the former. It’s a knife-edge decision so I’ll need to keep popping in these ‘projects’, these goals that have a fixed place in the calendar, to keep me from choosing Netflix.

The next big step is April. There’s the half marathon in Madrid and I’m going there with 20 of my favourite people on the planet. Our next Switch trip is planned for the weekend of the Madrid marathon and half of us are running various distances from 10km to 42km. I’ll be sticking to what I know and doing a half marathon again. It is the only sport I can think of where, by the end of the event, you can be half proud of yourself. I’ve never heard of a half tennis match or a half javelin throw but if there is another half-effort event please do bring me up to speed.

And speaking of halves, half of us are in various stages of preparation for the distance we’ve individually committed to. The other half of us are doing their bit in encouragement, helping organise us, sorting logistics, treats at the finish line, and even threats at the start line to get us moving. Every little bit helps.

So, what am I running towards?

Partly it is the surprise that this bag of flesh that’s been around for almost five decades can still carry me the distance and do so at a reasonable pace, even if it occasionally breaks down. I’m heading towards a better balance between body and mind because even if I was the biggest skeptic, I had to begrudgingly accept this to be true.

And I’m always running towards food. As often as I can, there is something for me to eat at the end of a run because it remains one of my primary reasons for existing.

Health warning: Running can cause a serious shoe habit. I’ve bought more running shoes this year than I can use over the next ten years and there are a couple of new models out there just waiting to find a good home in my wardrobe. Your mileage may vary.

The post What am I running towards? appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

I click through to the message. She has sent me a video of an incredibly ball-shaped cat, discovering to its dismay that gravity is both existent and a massive pain in the ass to deal with when all your owner wants to do is put you in silly outfits. 

I type back: me, christmas party 2022, and get a string of laughing emojis in return. She sends me another three videos in succession: a cat called Juice holding onto a hunk of meat for dear life, two cats on a wheel failing to maintain equilibrium and falling tail over ears, and a cat who has somehow found a new home on top of a showerhead. 

In response, I send her a video of ferrets covered in packing peanuts, a cat watching television with the gravitas of a BBC newscaster, and a reel of Tika the Iggy, who I know for a fact is one of her favourite accounts. 

Lisa and I have not been friends forever. 

But Switch’s office culture tends to bind you to your people quickly. 

It’s not quite office culture…

Calling it office culture is a misnomer, really. 

Our office is no longer in use. Our office is everywhere. Our office is Whatsapp and Google Meet. 

Our office is used on Thursdays, though with the worsening traffic conditions and the earlier falling night, we don’t see each other at work as often as we did before.

That’s fine. As it turns out, office culture for us isn’t tied to a place; it’s tied to the people we work with, and the in-jokes that develop almost instantaneously when you’ve seen through the worst of the worst and come out on the other side. 

What do you do in your spare time?

Here’s a list of the chats I have with my coworkers: 

• Notes on a book in progress that a coworker and I have been planning since we joined the company; they exist in between updates on our favourite videogames, anecdotes about our pets, life lived out in the margins. 

• One of my coworkers just received her new Steam Deck and SD card, and is keeping me updated on her progress through getting to game. She’s recently graduated with a Masters in Design, and started her own business. Her messages are brief and colourful, and every so often, I get a picture of a cat (we have a lot of cats at the office). 

• A long-winded chat consisting only of memes, primarily Star Wars. I have a deep and unabiding hatred for Baby Yoda, a fact that Luke finds hilarious and insists on spamming me with at every opportunity. 

• On Instagram, if I see a naked cat, I send it to our traveller-at-heart, Ernesta. She finds them strange-looking; I find her emojis hilarious whenever I send her a cat more chicken-breast than cat. 

• There is a voice message from Brazil. Maria, who moved back home, keeps me updated on her life, her boys, and her husband. I listen to it before work, and miss her dearly, and also love how happy she sounds. There are children in the background, laughing. It is a noise that suits her well. 

• Good posts from around the internet; things that tell a story. Ed has an eye for a good narrative, and he wants to push us both. Whenever he sees a story, I see it too, in a Whatsapp message or a quick poke on Google Chat. 

• A volley of rabbit posts. Nella, one of our designers, sends me a rabbit in sunglasses. I send her a rabbit in a little shopping trolley. We commiserate over how much it looks like her own pet, a bunny named Nunu who rules Kappara with an iron cottontail. 

Sounds like it’s just you.

It’s not just me. Technically, we do have a group whatsapp, called Bacon, and while it’s used mostly to update on who’ll be in the office when, you see little glimpses of what it’s like between the others. 

Here’s what I know. 

Lisa, who worked in hospitality, has an ongoing conversation with Ganna over coffee: quality, best brewing technique, which coffee shop in Malta gives you the most excellent espresso. The last I heard, they’re setting up a small-batch roast-and-taste day (waiting for my invite, guys!)

Our newest hire has never watched Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, and this has to be rectified at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, Luke makes sure to remind him of his youth, and Luca makes sure to call us out when we make a technical gaff (mostly this is directed at Rik and Ed). 

If you need to know where to go for a nice date or a good dinner, Ed has an eidetic memory of every place worth eating at in Malta. Friday night sets the group chat alight, and it reminds me that we’ve yet to try eating African together (our last lunch date was Doma, where I discovered I very much dislike kimchi, but made up for it by handling my spice pretty well). 

Every so often, Melissa, who is out on maternity leave, sends us pictures of her baby. It’s a bright little moment in the Whatsapp group, and you can always tell – people all respond at once. 

Birthdays. Anniversaries. Switchiversaries. 

We might not be in the office anymore, but we’re locked into each other regardless. I know Thomas is taking his own business to a newer level, working on a shop and a place in Valletta. I know Kim is happier in Finland than she ever was in Malta, though she complains frequently about polar night, and also reminds us to get up and get moving. Rik is a running fanatic who keeps us updated on where he’s running.  

Fanny sends us pictures of her life in a French bakery, and we debate blocking her until we get a king’s ransom of baguettes and croissants (we won’t. But the point stands). 

Andrea shows us the figurines he paints in his spare time. Over the lockdown, we watched his office go from Fallout bunker to cosy little nook. His Warhammer figurines are detailed down to the last little fragment, and they shine freshly-painted on every Google Meet. 

Office culture, redux

It’s not office culture if all that holds you together is the place you’re in. 

And no, you don’t need to like your coworkers. 

But it really helps if you’re friends with the people you work with. If your culture fits together like jigsaw pieces. If you know you can send a message to a chat with over twenty people, and get an answer back, or get a joke to make you smile, or get a private message asking if you’re okay. It helps if you know your office has your back. 

I know I am lucky. The place I work in changes every day: from the sun-speckled apartment to a coffee shop crowded with brew smells to a dark little corner of a restaurant on a quick lunch break. 

What doesn’t change is how it still feels like I’m in the office. 

The post Company Culture, or how to make friends and stay productive appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.

Small beginnings

When I started my career around 2015, I didn’t even consider working from home. My one requirement was that I wanted to work close to home, so I could always use my bike to get to the office. 

When the pandemic hit, I absolutely loved working from home. 

Now, at Switch, going into the office is a choice.

And my choice of office changes. 

I started out small, working from a different location each day for a week. I quickly developed a list of my favourite coffee shops, and a list of places to avoid. I like being at my desk at home, but I also like being near the sea, or at a quiet museum when I’m working.

Cross-country

My next step was a trip to Spain, to visit my sister for a very important extra-curricular activity: cat sitting. August in Spain is unbearably hot, as I was warned, so I thought this was a great opportunity to work during the day and venture out in the evenings. This arrangement worked out perfectly – I enjoyed climate-control and the company of a cat during work hours, and later headed out to the beach or the promenade for some rollerblading. Win-win!

The Land of Opportunity

I’ve set up temporary workspaces outside of my home, outside of my country… how about outside of my time zone? 

America. The East Coast. 6 hours behind Malta’s time zone. My partner was participating in a 4-month fellowship that took them to Miami, Florida, and they invited me to visit. After checking in with Switch management, I got the go-ahead to book my flights.

The decision to spend a month in America was a really big step for me. I had never been outside of Europe before, and had never experienced a long haul flight. Travelling in general makes me anxious, throw in a connecting flight and scary American border security? I was very nervous. But I went for it because I had the opportunity, and what is life if you don’t try new things? 

The hybridisation of work-life

Work-life balance is important. And it’s important to Switch, as I’ve been reminded (many times) to switch off and enjoy my evening when I’m working late. I’ve found joy in going for an afternoon run, and continuing my work afterwards when it’s dark outside. 

Because I have the option to work from anywhere, I can take my work with me while travelling. Sure, some people need an absolute break from work. Myself, I’d rather not cut off completely. It also helps that I really love my job – this is why I’m so pleased to take work with me while travelling. The hybridisation of work and life makes sense for me.

Flexibility is what workers demand today, and it should be built into the remote working environment. 

Time zones

To deal with the 6-hour time difference, I would start working at 6am which was midday Malta time, and finish at 2pm which was 8pm Malta time. I really enjoyed the solitude of waking up before everyone else in my apartment. 

I got very familiar with the American coffee pot. 

Working in darkness was peaceful and helped me focus. I didn’t really mind waking up super early for meetings, although I wouldn’t do another 3am wake up willingly. Working when everyone else’s workday is over was also really useful, because I found myself getting things done without interruption. I also had to decide what to prioritise in the hours when our workdays overlapped, and then get prep work done for the next day.

The practicality of ‘work from anywhere’

In a practical sense, working from anywhere demands significant attention to planning. Because of time differences, I found it very useful to look ahead at any meetings for the next day, and get prepared for these the day before. Headphones became my best friend, as I worked in the early mornings, and from different locations, where noise would sometimes be an issue. 

The way we work at Switch made the option to work from anywhere less disruptive to clients. Because of the time difference, I could only attend meetings in the afternoon Malta time. My colleague Lisa was prepared from the get-go to step in if clients needed anything urgently while I was asleep. 

I got really familiar with the “schedule send” button on my emails! It’s not that I mind if anyone thinks I’m crazy when they find an email sent by me at 1:38am Malta time… but I think it’s more professional to limit emails to working hours. 

I kept my colleagues entertained with different backgrounds on my video calls – from an airport lounge, to a green lawn with deer in the background, to (my colleague Luke’s favourite) an enormous American closet.

Hurricane!

Even a natural disaster can be managed with proper planning. 

While I was in Florida, Hurricane Ian hit the state; the destruction was horrendous, especially in Western Cuba. I was visiting a friend in Tampa at the time, and the hurricane hit a little further south, at Fort Myers. Knowing that I most likely would face disruption once it hit, I got as much of my work done as possible and prepared some things that could be done offline. I also let all my colleagues know that they might not hear from me. After all that preparation (I really stocked up on cookies and other snacks), I only suffered a day of no internet. 

Around the World

I’m not the only one at Switch who’s embraced the option to work really remotely. At this moment, we span the globe, from Malta and Gozo, to Spain and Romania, to Finland, and all the way to Brazil. This has its challenges occasionally, but we’ve actively found ways to make it work. 

Just recently Switch has been nominated for the Best Workspace award from the MBA. I’m sure this news didn’t surprise any of my colleagues. With this flexibility, we all give our best because we know it’s worth it. We aren’t grinding just for a paycheck, I can see the satisfaction of my colleagues from doing a good job. We are proud of our work, and we work hard. We know we can rely on each other, and we celebrate individual successes. 

Conclusion

As my flight is about to land in Frankfurt, where I have only 20 minutes to make my connection back to Malta, I feel a little panicked but not overwhelmingly so. I know that if I have to return to Malta a day later than planned it will be ok. 

The post They said I could work from anywhere. I took that as a challenge. appeared first on Switch - Digital & Brand.