Meet the Venturelab team: A coffee break with Calimna Sladic

11.07.2023 15:00, Rita Longobardi

Venturelab supports the most innovative Swiss startups with tools, programs, and a one-of-a-kind network of partners and investors. To find out who makes all of this happen, we will take a look behind the scenes: We meet the Venturelab team members for a coffee break to talk about their work and find out what makes them tick when they are not supporting Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem with their expertise and experience. Our guest today is Calimna Sladic, one of our project managers responsible for Innosuisse Startup Training and Venture Briefings.

Calimna, thank you for taking a coffee break with us. What were you working on just now?
I was just finalizing the topics for our Venture Challenge workshops next semester at EPFL and inviting an inspiring femtech entrepreneur to come to share her experience.

You started working at Venturelab in March 2022. What are your primary responsibilities?
My primary role is to familiarize students, researchers and post-docs with entrepreneurship, equip them with the tools to launch their projects and help them build a solid network of professionals in the Swiss startup ecosystem. I oversee the organization of the Venture Briefings, Venture Challenges, and Ask the Expert workshops in Romandie. Finally, I ensure we keep positive and enriching relationships with our Innosuisse startup trainers, experts, and partners.

What is your favorite part about being a project manager at Venturelab?
Seeing the evolution of students who join the events and courses we organize later get their first funding, partly thanks to the skills and feedback they could integrate from the Venturelab programs.

What did you do before joining Venturelab?
Before moving to Switzerland for my studies in management at the University of St. Gallen, I grew up in Bordeaux, in the south of France. During my last year as a student, I led the association of AIESEC in St. Gallen as a first and incredibly rich leadership experience. I moved to Lausanne to work with Venturelab in early 2022 while writing my Bachelor's thesis on the political challenges of implementing permaculture in Switzerland.

Why did you apply for the job?
Meaningful and value-adding technological innovation has fascinated me for a long time, and I continue to be amazed every day by the crazy inventions being brought to life! I applied as a startup supporter to connect with the dynamic Swiss startup ecosystem and apply my learnings to support aspiring founders in making their projects a reality.

What is something your co-workers might not know about you?
I sang in a rock music band in high school and am passionate about regenerative agriculture! My family and I are creating a large permaculture field in our Bordeaux region, applying principles of organic farming, minimal soil disturbance, and permanent covering.

What is your guilty pleasure?
The Harry Potter series. I might very well know all movies by heart.

How did you earn your first paycheck?
As a waiter in a small pub in Oxford while I was in exchange, the perfect way to learn English!

What is a social media account everyone should follow?
Gary Vaynerchuk is the entrepreneur, investor and content creator to follow for anyone aspiring to grow and build a meaningful life.

What is your favorite topic to discuss during coffee breaks?
Permaculture, psychology, philosophy, and weird innovations.

What is your favorite artist or playlist to listen to while working?
It depends on my mood; cozy loft music when I am in a flow, 80’s classics for happy peaks, and noise cancelling is my friend for urgent matters.