Halleluya Ndimulunde

AT work

I worked at Credit Suisse (Asset Management) with the Execution team as a Junior Business Supporter under the mentorship of Angela Tatransky (she’s so cool). I did so much excel tasks and I must say I have improved. I got introduced to Asset and bond trading, forex trading and equity trading, I was more interested in forex trading so one of the team members decided he will give me more insight on it. I had so many introduction meetings on what other departments do/ focus on (quite interesting), I also attended some lunch and learn meetings with the other interns. I was always looking forward to going to work or maybe it’s because my workplace was close to a shopping mall. Whenever I completed a task my mentor would always comment like great work or super, and that really motivated me. I liked that fact that at work people with higher positions don’t act like they are more important than others in the office. Oh, let me not forget about lunch hours (I will miss you burger king).

My Swiss Host Family

My host family, my host family!! Probably the coolest family I had ever lived with. It was their first-time hosting and they weren’t bad at all, there wasn’t a day that will pass by and I hadn’t died of laughter. They could all speak English, so I did not experience any communication barriers with them. My host mom is into cooking so we would have a different meal every day and she would always say “this is really nice Halley, you have to try it” and horse riding, while my host dad is into cars, sometimes we would go for drives (unknown destination) and he’d show me around the apparent villages. Most of the weekend we would go to Flims and that is where I first saw and touched snow. I was also really looking forward to going fishing with my host brother. I loved the fact that they were very caring, a loving, fun, goofy couple and considerate. They treated me like their own daughter and I’m grateful for always making me feel part of the family. I will miss them so much!

Highlights and Challenges in Switzerland

I would say the only challenges I would consider as challenges are probably the food (of course). It was always a struggle to finish my food and I kind of felt bad, because I was wasting food and all that, it really took a while to get used. I will never forget about the beetroot soup. Another one would be the weather that changes every second :-D Oh! And the transport system, the first week I was really confused, in my mind I was just like what is this? What do I do? But as time went by, I eventually got used, its easier than I thought. Let me not forget my biggest challenge, if my host dad doesn’t pick me up that day that means I need to take the bus and walking from the bus stop to home was a real struggle, there are round about 160 stairs I had to take up a hill, sorry but I won’t miss that.
Highlights highlights highlights! My biggest and interesting highlight would be when my host my mom took me with to see an opera (ballerina) at the Opernhaus on valentine’s day, it was my first time, I was really amazed and felt like I was in a movie. The way the building is structured is so beautiful, the way people are dressed, I loved it. My host mom also toured me around the old town of Zurich, checked out the churches, beautiful place I must say. My host family and I went to Laax for skiing (I can’t so I didn’t) and had lunch at the Das Elephant restaurant which is 2,477 meters above sea level on a mountain covered up with snow, truly beautiful. Some weekends we would go hiking or walking.
What I like the most about Swiss people is that they are very punctual. I love Switzerland.

My Future Plans

When I left for Switzerland, I wasn’t quite sure what path I wanted to take in the field of economics apart from saying I want to work as an actual economist with knowing that there’s so much out there. At Credit Suisse, I worked with the Execution team got introduced to so many portfolios and I must say out of all the introductions Forex Trading caught my attention, love, at first sight, I guess. I plan on completing my honors degree God willing and focus on Forex Trading and hope to work for Bank of Namibia one day. If that doesn’t go as planned I am also willing to gain experience as a statistician or a budget analyst, too bad I couldn’t talk to the Statisticians and budget analysts from Credit Suisse as planned because of our early departure, but I am positive and hoping for the best.

Personal Message

Your limitation—it's only your imagination. Push yourself, no one else is going to do it for you, because great things never come from comfort zones.

Thank you so much B360 Education Partnership.