Relocating with a young family from Australia to Switzerland

Olaf Borutz, Senior Legal Counsel Sponsorship & Licensing Rights

Olaf’s love of travel started early. Born to a Polish family in Germany, they relocated to Adelaide, Australia when he was two years old. While his childhood and education were centred in Oz, he was used to visiting family every few years in Europe.

As an adult, when he and his (Greek Australian) wife decided they were ready to explore potentially living and working internationally, Olaf began searching for jobs across the globe – London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore. But when a role at TEAM, based in Lucerne, Switzerland, showed up in his search, he immediately knew it was his dream job.

“With my law and sports media degrees, and my desire to work in the global sports industry, it was the perfect mix. TEAM offered the elements of working at a top sports marketing agency and a role that focused on my specific legal area of interest - IP and marketing rights”.

But, with an 8.5 hour time zone difference, that meant Olaf’s video interviews usually started at 8pm. “My wife and 18-month old son would drive around at night, so I could have a quiet house for the calls.” In the end it was worth it: after three successful interviews, a skills test and presentation, Olaf was offered the job.

Seamless relocation support

From handling their residency permits before leaving Australia, to organising an airport transfer upon arrival, every detail was managed by TEAM. In addition, TEAM assisted Olaf and his family in applying for health insurance, opening bank accounts, and visiting the local immigration office. Temporary housing was provided, as well as support from a dedicated relocation agent in finding a permanent residence. “Our relocation agent not only proposed many options, but she took us to visit each one and then handled the negotiations in German for us. It was an immense relief that neither my wife nor I needed to stress about these details. The result was that I could truly hit the ground running.”

Dream destination

Lucerne frequently makes the list for one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and Switzerland tops the charts in terms of safety. To be able to live in such a sought-after and central location was previously only a dream. Olaf loves that he can easily plan weekend getaways to France, Germany, Italy – all of which are only 1-2 hours away. And with a young son, Switzerland has proven a great place to raise a family. The exposure to languages (Switzerland has four national languages – German, French, Italian and Romansch) and cultures, alongside the very safe and secure location appeals to most expats.

Pay-it-forward culture

With expats accounting for approximately 25% of Switzerland’s population and 50% of TEAM’s staff, there are many colleagues in the same boat. “Despite being so far away from family, I immediately felt welcomed and surrounded by friends. Because so many at TEAM have left their home countries, they know what it’s like to be in a new place where everything is foreign – the culture, the language, the customs. They want to pay-it-forward by helping the new joiner find the English-speaking dentist or paediatrician, recommending the best babysitters and generally finding their feet.”

At TEAM, Olaf joined the weekly football matches and took the initiative to organise weekly lunch-time basketball games. Regular social events (like trips to theme parks, chocolate factories or the ski slopes) often include partners and families, which made it easy for Olaf’s wife to also make friends and integrate. Along with all new team members, Olaf was assigned a mentor, who helped answer questions about life at TEAM, as well as life in Switzerland.

The company culture is truly amazing – I’ve never seen such openness and genuine willingness to connect and support at all levels. But the best part is the calibre of the opportunities to which we're exposed.

Are you interested in taking your career in sports to Switzerland? Check out our Careers page to learn more about Life at TEAM and our open roles.