Tanja Gebhard lives in Switzerland, where she is currently working toward a master’s degree at the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz University. Last July, she joined the European Innovation Academy in Hong Kong. Highly passionate about new challenges and meeting new people, Gebhard interviewed with us and shared a little about her experience in the program.

Tanja, Tell us a little bit about yourself! 

I’m 29 years old. My father is Swiss and my mother is from the Philippines. Currently, I’m working in a Swiss bank and doing my Master’s in International Management as a part-time student.

What are your biggest passions in life?

I am passionate about new challenges and meeting new people. Additionally, I’m crazy about movies!

Tanja Gebahrd participant at EIA HK 2019

What were your expectations for EIA, and what did you get from the program? 

My biggest expectation was to learn how to create a startup at a fast pace. This was the main reason I applied for EIA. After those 10 days, I l had learned a lot. But my biggest challenge was dealing with so many different cultures and characters. This great challenge was also my greatest learning experience during the program.

How would you describe your EIA experience?

The European Innovation Academy is a school for life.

What was your favorite #eiamoment? 

All my best #eiamoments came from working with my team. Despite not winning,  I’m really happy and proud of the job we did. We created SmartUp – a networking platform where start-ups can be connected to each other as well as potential customers by sharing resources based on their needs.

Tanja Gebhard pitching at EIA HK 19
Tanja Gebhard pitching at EIA HK 19

Any piece of advice for the next participants? 

Perseverance. Never forget this valuable word when joining the program.

Can you share a quote that inspires you?

“There is no better investment than investing in yourself.”

Do you want to read more inspiring stories from our participants? Check out EIA’s blog!