TechFace Success Story

Initial situation

SIX, a leading financial market infrastructure provider operating in Switzerland and Spain, plays a crucial role in ensuring seamless information and money flow between financial market participants. As an organization building digital infrastructure for the future, SIX recognized that innovation and service excellence require diverse perspectives and talents.

The company launched a strategic initiative to strengthen internal talent development and retention while creating sustainable pathways for women in technology and beyond to advance within the organization. This forward-thinking approach aimed to leverage existing talent while fostering an inclusive culture that attracts and retains diverse professionals.

TechFace collaborated with SIX to design and implement a Career Speed Networking program that would connect female tech talents with leadership teams. The initiative required careful preparation of both participant groups to ensure meaningful outcomes. 

The talent preparation focused on developing personal branding, enhancing strategic self-presentation skills, crafting compelling career narratives, and mastering effective networking techniques. Many participants, while technically skilled, appreciated the support in confidently communicating their value and aspirations within the organisation. 

Leadership preparation cantered on authentic self-presentation, helping leaders articulate their unique leadership style and team culture. We focused on developing strategic questioning techniques to uncover talent potential while addressing unconscious biases that could impact these conversations and their judgment.  

This dual-focused approach created an environment for genuine and meaningful career discussions. 

Our involvement encompassed three critical phases: 

1. Discovery and Planning 
We worked closely with stakeholders to understand their goals, challenges, and desired outcomes through detailed discussions and needs assessment. 

2. Comprehensive Preparation
We delivered a dedicated three-hour workshop for talents and specialised one hour session for leaders, focusing on practical tools and strategies for successful connections.

3. Event Execution
Working alongside SIX's HR team, we provided framework design and real-time support throughout the event, ensuring optimal outcomes for all participants. 

The initiative delivered substantial value across multiple dimensions. Talents gained confidence in presenting themselves and creating compelling pitches for career advancement. Leaders acquired fresh perspectives on talent engagement and valuable insights into their leadership styles, helping them better present themselves, their teams and opportunities. 

The program's success was evident in several key areas: 

- Enhanced presentation and networking skills for talents 
- Improved leadership engagement capabilities 
- Strengthened internal mobility pathways 
- Reduced recruitment costs 
- Increased employee engagement 

Even in cases where talents and leaders had previous interactions, the structured format enabled new conversations and perspectives about career growth possibilities. 

For organisations considering similar initiatives, we recommend a comprehensive approach that starts with strong foundations. The program should be carefully aligned with your organisation's broader DEI objectives and supported by clear success metrics from the outset. Creating sustainable follow-up processes and integrating the initiative with existing talent development programs ensures long-term impact. 

Success measurement plays a crucial role in program sustainability. We recommend establishing a robust framework to track key indicators such as internal mobility rates, retention statistics, and career progression data. This data-driven approach not only demonstrates program value but also guides continuous improvement efforts. 

To maximise impact, organisations should consider implementing regular mentoring programs, ongoing skill development workshops, and periodic networking events that build upon the initial momentum. Experience shows that sustainable change comes from consistent engagement and support rather than isolated events.