Gertrude Lungu
Bank Julius Bär & Co. AG
Bachelor in Economics
University of Zambia
February 01 - April 30 2026
At work
With my background as an economics tutor at the University of Zambia, founder of Sprouty Academy, and passion for leadership, joining the Julius Baer Academy under Learning and Development felt like the perfect fit. Supporting staff learning initiatives became the beginning of unleashing my potential. Under the Mentorship of Mari and my line manager Dominique, I was trusted with meaningful tasks that pushed me beyond my comfort zone, including researching workplace harassment regulations for Luxembourg training content, engaging assessment tool providers, supporting employer branding at the University of St. Gallen student fair, and contributing internal communications such as the B360 article. I also had the opportunity to visit other departments, including the CFO Office and Research teams, where conversations with Idil, Denis, and Dario gave me valuable insight into finance and economics in practice.
Most importantly, the people made the experience special. Colleagues were kind, supportive, and full of humor. I embraced the bank’s learning culture by completing courses in storytelling, AI, and course design so many that my manager joked I had done more in three months than many employees do in years. Every day at work gave me something new to learn and enjoy.
My Swiss host families
Before coming to Switzerland, I was unsure how I would feel living with host families, as I had lived independently since the age of 18. What I found instead was something truly special. I believe both families were devinely chosen for me.
With Vanda and her daughters, Wara and Anna, I felt warmly welcomed from the very first day. We bonded over shared interests such as journaling, reading, creativity, knitting, and personal growth. Vanda treated me like her own daughter and even took time to research university and scholarship opportunities for me after hearing about my dream to study further.
Karine and her children, Laurane, Bertile, Mari, and Appollinaire, also became family to me. Karine constantly encouraged me, believed in my dreams, and helped me navigate challenges with wisdom and kindness. She created space for me in a way I had never experienced before. Her children each inspired me in different ways, and Laurane became like a soul sister as we explored Zurich, shared laughter, and connected deeply despite growing up in different worlds. Through both families, I experienced genuine care, belonging, and a home away from home, I never once felt homesick.
Highlights and challenges
One of the greatest highlights of my time in Switzerland has been experiencing a society where systems work so well. The punctual transport network, discipline, honesty, genuine kindness, and the way people took both me and my ambitions seriously helped me develop greater trust in structure, stability, and personal growth. It has been an environment that naturally inspires progress.
My main challenge has been knowing that I must say goodbye just as I am beginning to feel at home. I have grown attached to the host families, the breathtaking landscapes, the healthy lifestyle, and the wonderful people I worked with.
My future plans
My time in Switzerland has shown me the importance of strong systems that allow businesses to run smoothly and grow sustainably. As I continue advancing my studies in economics, entrepreneurship, and innovation, I also plan to scale my ventures with a stronger focus on structure and long-term impact. Sprouty Academy has mainly operated as a tutoring platform, but I now envision expanding it into a corporate learning and development service provider that helps individuals grow while creating job opportunities for others. Europe is certainly a place I will return to in the future, as there is still so much to learn, contribute, and build.
Personal message
I call this experience a paradigm shift, because there is no way someone can go through what I did and remain the same. This was not just an internship, it was a life-changing experience and proof of what is possible. It exposed me not only to the corporate world, but also to a different way of living, thinking, and dreaming bigger. I now feel ready to fully unleash my potential.
I am deeply grateful to Sabina, the entire B360 team for their seamless coordination, Julius Baer, especially the Academy, my host families, and my fellow interns for making this journey unforgettable. This report cannot fully capture how meaningful the experience has been; the true evidence of this transformation will be seen in how I lead my life from here onward.
