Ahmet Uysal: The following episode of Sunrise Community Talks was recorded at the end of November 2023 before the start of the ski season.
Ahmet Uysal: Welcome to Community Talks, the podcast from and for the Sunrise Community. In today’s episode, we have Urs Wenger, Senior Program and Project Manager at Sunrise, as our guest. He gives us insights into his exciting daily life with Swiss Ski. Dear Urs, welcome to Community Talks. How are you?
Urs Wenger: Thank you, I’m doing very well. The ski season has started, and of course, I’m feeling better because of that.
Ahmet Uysal: Honestly, the ski season is not particularly thrilling for me, as I’m not a winter person at all and don’t have much interest in skiing. So, I look forward to having an interesting conversation with you today. As a layperson, I’m far from the topic, while you are deeply involved. How will this turn out? But I’m very excited about our conversation. Urs, you are a Senior Program and Project Manager at Sunrise. What does a Senior Program and Project Manager do?
Urs Wenger: A good question. A Senior Program and Project Manager works in the marketing team, specifically in the Commercial Program Management Office. This means we take care of all commercial projects and programs. One of them was Swiss Ski, and another significant project was the entire rebranding, where we merged the UPC and Sunrise brands. In this way, we design programs, talk to many people, and try to achieve the best for Sunrise. Those are my days.
Ahmet Uysal: I remember well that we worked closely during the rebranding period. It was a success when the two brands UPC and Sunrise were merged. Later, the whole Swiss Ski theme came into play. How did you get involved in this topic? And what were your first steps?
Urs Wenger: With the Swiss Ski theme, it was a stroke of luck for me because I was the only one who spoke Swiss German.
Ahmet Uysal: That’s certainly an advantage.
Urs Wenger: Exactly, exactly. Andreas Caluori then approached me and said, “Hello, we are still looking for someone for our team.” I already knew the team and had worked with them before. So, he approached me and said that at the beginning of Swiss Ski, we needed to build something. It warmed my heart. It was enjoyable for me to be a part of it. So, I got involved. At that time, I was still in the IT organization with Domenico Luka, who liked it very much. I’ve been there from the first hour when Swiss Ski spoke with us on a project basis.
Ahmet Uysal: How did the partnership with Sunrise actually come about? Were you already involved at that time?
Urs Wenger: I was not involved at that time. It was a smaller group that worked it out. It was Andreas Caluori and André Krause who did it. But it was known that the 5-year contract with Swisscom was expiring. They initiated a conversation with Swiss Ski, and, in my opinion, negotiated very well to end the 20-year partnership with Swisscom. So, I think it was a great success, and that’s how it happened.
Ahmet Uysal: So, it’s a practical collaboration. As you said, skiing is culturally rooted in Switzerland. What do you think this means for the Sunrise brand itself? It was certainly a significant step in this regard. What perspectives do we see for the future?
Urs Wenger: Of course, we hope to eventually derive financial benefits from this partnership, that the sponsorship with Swiss Ski pays off in some way. Additionally, we want to reposition our brand. The timing of the rebranding, in my opinion, was perfect, and the collaboration with Swiss Ski went in the same direction. We hope that the brand continues to improve through the collaboration, and awareness increases. Those are the usual goals of a company.
Ahmet Uysal: Yes, certainly. And in what sense is this measurable from your perspective? Do you see added value that has already been realized? We’ve had some highlights recently, where we’ve seen successes from a sports perspective. How do you view the whole situation from your perspective?
Urs Wenger: We need to look at it a bit cautiously. Our goal in the first year was, and we are still at the beginning of the second season, for Sunrise not to focus on sales and similar aspects. Instead, we wanted to make this season as smooth as possible so that Swiss Ski athletes could benefit from us and participate in the entire World Cup events. That was our main focus in that direction. The initial evaluations are already quite positive and heading in a promising direction. I honestly don’t know the exact numbers, but we are catching up. Swisscom is still a bit ahead of us, but we will surpass them in the near future, especially when it comes to connecting ski sports and Swisscom. These measurements were conducted, and it was an extremely positive season for us at Sunrise. Of course, the success of Swiss athletes contributed to this. The communication was right, and we are now heading in the right direction.
Ahmet Uysal: So, it’s a combination of various factors. There’s not just one measurement, but it’s a combination of brand positioning, communication, and the success of the athletes.
Urs Wenger: Exactly, it’s a combination of many things. It’s not only about having Swiss Ski on the jersey but ensuring that the success of Swiss athletes is seen by the general public. We need to create a connection and ensure that our brand is linked to these successes. It’s not only about the jersey but also about the stories behind the athletes. This connection is very important for us.
Ahmet Uysal: Yes, exactly. I think this connection is made through emotional stories and narratives that people can identify with. Do you see that happening already? Can you share some examples?
Urs Wenger: Absolutely, the stories about Michelle Gisin and Aline Danioth, for instance, are emotional and excellent. In this season, Michelle Gisin has had a fantastic start, and Aline Danioth has shown her potential. There are many other athletes with great stories. All these stories have an emotional touch, and we want to bring them closer to the audience. This helps in creating a bond with the Sunrise brand.
Ahmet Uysal: Yes, definitely. And as you said, these are just the beginning stages. It’s the second season now, and there will be more opportunities to develop this further.
Urs Wenger: Absolutely. The second season is just starting, and we are already ahead in terms of preparations compared to the first season. We know more about the processes and have improved our collaboration. We also have more visibility, so we can present our brand even more. We have a fantastic team at Swiss Ski, and we work together very well. We are very positive about the future.
Ahmet Uysal: Great to hear that. I think this collaboration with Swiss Ski is a good example of how partnerships can be beneficial. Let’s switch gears a bit and talk about your role as a Senior Program and Project Manager. How does your daily routine look like? What are the challenges you face?
Urs Wenger: My daily routine is extremely varied. It ranges from discussing contracts and budgeting to working with various departments. We have many touchpoints with Sales, Marketing, and IT, and I’m right in the middle of it. So, my daily routine is pretty diverse. There are days when I mainly work on contracts and budgets, and other days when I’m involved in strategic discussions or talk to various departments about ongoing projects. It’s very exciting and dynamic, and there’s always something new happening. It’s never boring.
Ahmet Uysal: That sounds interesting. And how do you manage the balance between overseeing the big picture and getting into the details when necessary?
Urs Wenger: It’s essential to have a good team. I have fantastic colleagues who support me. We have team meetings where we discuss the big picture, and we also have detailed discussions when necessary. It’s about understanding the context and knowing when to focus on the details and when to take a step back and look at the overall situation. It’s also about communication and collaboration with the team.
Ahmet Uysal: Yes, teamwork is crucial. Speaking of challenges, what are some of the challenges you face in your role?
Urs Wenger: One of the main challenges is aligning the interests of different departments. Each department has its goals, and sometimes they might have conflicting interests. Finding a common ground and ensuring that everyone is on the same page can be challenging. Communication is key here. Another challenge is dealing with external partners and managing those relationships effectively.
Ahmet Uysal: Yes, I can imagine that aligning different departments and managing external relationships can be complex. How do you approach it, especially when there are conflicting interests?
Urs Wenger: It’s about having open communication. We need to understand the goals and interests of each department and find a compromise. It’s not always possible to make everyone happy, but it’s about finding a solution that works for the overall success of the project or program. Regular communication and being transparent about challenges and opportunities are crucial.
Ahmet Uysal: Yes, transparency is key in any collaborative effort. Looking at your career, how did you end up in this role, and what advice do you have for someone aspiring to be a Program or Project Manager?
Urs Wenger: I started my career in a technical role, and I gradually moved into project management. I always had a keen interest in technology and business. My advice would be to gain a broad understanding of different aspects of business, not just focusing on one area. Being curious and open to learning new things is essential. Communication skills are also crucial in project management. It’s about being able to explain complex topics in a way that everyone can understand. Building relationships and networking is important as well.
Ahmet Uysal: That’s valuable advice. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to share with our listeners?
Urs Wenger: I would like to thank everyone for the great collaboration we’ve had during the rebranding and Swiss Ski projects. It’s been a fantastic journey, and I’m looking forward to more exciting projects in the future.
Ahmet Uysal: Thank you, Urs, for being our guest today. It was a pleasure talking to you and learning more about your role and the collaboration with Swiss Ski. Thank you for joining us on Community Talks.
Urs Wenger: Thank you very much for having me.