1. Your journey from New York City to Zug is extraordinary. Can you tell us how it all began?

My story in finance began surprisingly early. At just 14 years old, I worked as a stockbroker assistant in the New York City area. By the age of 19, I had co-founded a student-run credit union with college friends, an experience that opened doors to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and later to Wall Street banks.

In 1999, life brought me to Switzerland after I got married. I initially moved for personal reasons, but Zurich quickly became the setting for some of the more exciting years of my career. The work was intensely international and so dynamic that, at times, it felt even bigger than Wall Street.

2. What was it like building your career in Zug?

Moving to Zug was both a challenge and an opportunity. Zug is one of the world's most important wealth management centers, but it can also be a very traditional environment.

Over time, I became the only foreign woman managing large private wealth portfolios in English in Zug. Even today, that remains a unique position. It required resilience, cultural sensitivity, and a strong belief that international clients who are rooted in Zug needed someone who truly understood both their language and their perspective.

3. What do you enjoy most about your work today?

I love acting as a bridge between the Swiss financial world and the international community.

Many English-speaking professionals find Swiss investments, pensions, and wealth planning difficult to navigate. Through financial awareness events and one-on-one advisory work, I help clients gain clarity and confidence to make informed decisions about their future.

That human connection is what makes this work so rewarding after more than three decades in the industry.

4. How did you join Zugerberg Finanz?

Sometimes the most important opportunities come unexpectedly.

I left Credit Suisse just one month before its collapse, an extraordinary stroke of luck. Shortly afterward, I discovered Zugerberg Finanz by chance, had the objective of finding a safe haven for my pension assets, and was offered the opportunity to become a Brand Ambassador.

My mission was to open the firm to English-speaking clients for the first time, which felt like a natural continuation of everything I had built throughout my international career. Since I started, we have hosted 11 English-language events on financial awareness in Zug.

5. What does life look like for you outside of work?

One of the best decisions I made was moving to part-time work about ten years ago. It has given me the flexibility to continue doing work I love while being present for my family.

My husband and I are raising three children, and have an active life in Zug, participating in local business venues, clubs, and cultural activities. I love cooking Armenian and Lebanese dishes for friends, traveling with my family, and taking part in the Zugerberg Finanz Trophy.

Those moments of connection, with family, friends, and community, are what keep me grounded and energized.

6. What does being part of PWN Zug & Zurich mean to you?

PWN brings together accomplished women from around the world who are willing to share their experiences and support one another locally. I met inspiring women at the Meet & Mingle in Zug who motivated me to be involved with PWN.

As someone who has built an international career and a life in Switzerland, I deeply value spaces where women can connect authentically, exchange ideas, and inspire one another. PWN offers exactly that sense of belonging and mutual encouragement.

7. What advice would you give to women building an international career?

Trust that your unique perspective is your strength.

Building a career across countries and cultures is not always easy. There will be moments when you feel like an outsider. But if you stay curious, continue learning, and remain open to new opportunities, those differences become your greatest advantage.

And above all, never underestimate the power of meaningful relationships. They can shape both your career and your personal life.