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Interviews with Industry Leaders & Academic Experts
Our interviewees will help you discover what it is like to work with various companies and universities in Switzerland and abroad. You will also learn about persuasive and effective oral and written communication.
Whether you are a junior professional looking for career inspiration or simply curious about the latest work and research in economics, communications, international relations, education, and related fields, in the section below you will find valuable insights and motivation to explore new research, ideas, and career opportunities.









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Women in Media: Caroline Vuillemin on Creating Reliable News in Conflict Zones & Running Fondation Hirondelle
What is it like to effectively lead an NGO focused on helping to create unbiased media in some of the world's most challenging conflict...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jul 15, 202415 min read


The Careers of UN Staff Spouses: Interview with Paloma Redondo
What does it look like to be a UN staff spouse and embark on a career journey that spans multiple nations and opportunities? In this...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Sep 12, 202311 min read


The Careers of UN Staff Spouses: Interview with Gaspard Nordmann
What kind of work do spouses of United Nations (UN) professional staff members accomplish around the world and what are some strategies...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Feb 28, 20237 min read

UN Today Coverage of Persuasive Discourse
This January, UN Today co-published our interview with Fabien Merz about Switzerland’s UNSC membership (2023-24) and his research on...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jan 29, 20233 min read

Academic Success: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics
Review of the academic career advice offered by the last five academics interviewed on this site, who work in Denmark, USA and Switzerland.
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Dec 29, 20226 min read

Rights Violations, Domestic Conflict, Protest & Comics: Interview with Emily Hencken Ritter, PhD
What does it look like to study and teach the topics of political violence, international human rights law, and war, in the U.S.? And how...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Nov 18, 202221 min read


Political Violence, Design, Critique & Prevention: Interview with Jonathan Luke Austin, PhD
What does it look like to work in the field of political violence prevention? If you want to learn about how the worlds of policy,...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Oct 18, 202221 min read


Analyzing the Swiss & U.S. Financial, Political & Academic Elites: Interview with Felix Bühlmann
What does it look like to research and analyze the Swiss and U.S. elites? If you are curious to learn about some of the specific...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Sep 6, 20228 min read


Switzerland’s UNSC Membership: Interview with Fabien Merz about his Research on Swiss Foreign Policy
What does it look like to work within the fields of counter-terrorism and Swiss foreign policy, in Switzerland? If you aspire towards...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Aug 9, 20228 min read

Call for Book Chapter Proposals: "UN/ORGANIZED: Interorganizational Cooperation & Crisis Management"
The vision and mission for this volume is to showcase a variety of academic/scholarly work that discusses the opportunities and...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jul 4, 20223 min read


Insights from Working in Afghanistan & Ukraine: Interview with Cristina Teleki, PhD
What does it look like to be an ICRC female Field Delegate in countries such as: Afghanistan, Ukraine, or Georgia? If you aspire towards...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
May 31, 202212 min read


Stronger Together: International Fundraising with Michel Fornasier Helps Give Children a Hand
What type of work can help children at the international level while successfully combining philanthropy, collaboration, and 3D printing?...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Apr 25, 202212 min read

Swiss Education & Hospitality Industry: Interview with Anne-Sophie Delval, PhD
How is Swiss education perceived internationally and why do hospitality schools located in Switzerland choose to capitalize on this...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Mar 23, 202212 min read


How to Succeed in Academia: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics
Review and brief analysis of the academic advice offered to junior scholars by five academics interviewed by Persuasive Discourse.
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Mar 3, 20226 min read


World Politics & UN Peacebuilding: Interview with Sara Hellmüller, PhD
How does the emerging multipolar world order influence United Nations peacebuilding approaches? If you are an international relations...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jan 18, 20226 min read


Afghanistan Governance: The Illusion of Political Inclusion & Stability
What is the political and security situation in Afghanistan today? While under the intense scrutiny of the international community, the...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Dec 29, 20219 min read


Human Coding, Machine-Learning Techniques & Discourse Analysis: Interview with David Sylvan, PhD
Are you interested to learn about current research employing both human coding and machine-learning (ML) techniques, within the social...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Dec 16, 20217 min read


Studying & Teaching Security Studies in Pakistan vs. the U.S.: Interview with Sannia Abdullah, PhD
Do you ever struggle with following the path on which your heart might lead you? If so, to help motivate and gently nudge you to follow...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Nov 9, 20217 min read


The Spatial Turn in Peace & Conflict Studies: Interview with Annika Björkdahl, PhD
Have you ever wondered: Where does peace take place? If so, you are not alone and Prof. Björkdahl’s work is here to answer your question....
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Oct 26, 20214 min read


Public Speaking & Psychological Distance: U.S. Perceptions of South Vietnam & of Its Allies AUS & FR
How did the U.S. administration justify its intervention in South Vietnam? And, what was the U.S. perception of its allies, France and...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Sep 24, 20218 min read
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