EqualVoice United Special

Here, talents are heard and encouraged

Anna Maria Blengino, CIO
Andrea Rapanaro, Senior Agile Lead
Vanja Caplazi, Young Talents Coordinator
Sunrise

Telecommunications is subject to constant change. Employees must therefore be agile. With an open culture and clear values, Sunrise wants to attract people who are curious and want to shape the future together.

In Switzerland, recruitment is particularly demanding in the technology sector – no one knows this as well as Sunrise CIO Anna Maria Blengino: “At Sunrise, not only specialist knowledge counts. We are looking for people who want to help shape Sunrise’s path with curiosity, courage and the willingness to drive change.” The industry is moving rapidly and constantly changing with new technologies such as 5G, AI and the cloud. “This means that we constantly have to learn, experiment and push boundaries.” For Blengino, telecommunications remains one of the most exciting industries because it affects everyone’s daily lives.

In order to attract talent in the competitive labour market, Sunrise has launched the “Challengers wanted” campaign. It provides insights into everyday working life and is aimed at both external and internal talents. The heart of the campaign is a newly designed career website and a blog in which employees report on their personal experiences and careers. This openness is reflected in everyday working life: Sunrise promotes dialogue across hierarchical boundaries and relies on innovative learning and development formats.

“We have a mentoring program with the aim of enabling employees to pass on their experiences and skills. I myself act as a mentor and coach many women and men at Sunrise,” explains Blengino. For her, this is an important method to learn from each other and also to gain new perspectives from her mentees.

This is confirmed by Young Talents Coordinator Vanja Caplazi. The 19-year-old completed her apprenticeship with an accompanying vocational baccalaureate at Sunrise: “As an apprentice, I felt a great deal of appreciation. It’s not a matter of course that you can take on so much responsibility and initiative at the beginning of your career.” Caplazi attributes this to a very open culture in the company: “The different backgrounds and stories that we all bring are important because they open up perspectives and create space for new approaches.”

Being heard and valued

Andrea Rapanaro (44), who accompanies internal projects with agile methods, also brings his own experience: creativity and energy from his culinary side project as a chef flow into his work. He sees diversity and inclusion as a recipe for success: “People who feel respected regardless of their role or background make a more authentic and comprehensive contribution.”

Openness and equality are also central for Anna Maria Blengino: “I attach particular importance to this topic because, as an expat and a woman, I know firsthand how important it is to feel included and heard.” Fairness and equal opportunities are crucial for innovation and long-term success. This includes a working environment in which everyone has their say. “We celebrate successes and failures, encourage experimentation and set clear rules for collaboration. This enables everyone to express their opinion and even dare a moonshot – i.e. an idea whose further development initially seems unrealistic.”

More than just a job

Rapanaro also emphasizes that this attitude makes Sunrise special: “This kind of trust, where ideas are valued and tested, makes Sunrise more than just a workplace – it becomes a platform where you, as an employee, can really make a difference.”

Many Sunrise employees particularly appreciate this proximity to day-to-day business. They feel the pulse of the market every day, have to react quickly and make decisions. “It takes people who are not afraid of challenges, who act quickly and who also question the status quo. And the more diverse the perspectives, the better.

September, 2025

Source: Translation of an article first published in HANDELSZEITUNG, EqualVoice United Special, on September 04, 2025.