Barbara Becker.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Barbara regularly worked in the production of her family's company, which specialized in conveyor technology and systems, during her school and semester breaks. This brought her into contact with a melting pot of different cultures and social environments at an early age. This early exposure, her passion for people from diverse backgrounds, and her interest in social interactions led to a bachelor's degree in social sciences with a concentration in human resources from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania.

After moving across the ocean to Germany and earning her first spurs in the HR division of a global industrial company, she took on leadership roles in international talent management with a focus on R&D, technology and production. She was also successful in HR management of international executives at a global joint venture in the household goods industry.

Meanwhile, Barbara has been working in Switzerland for almost 20 years. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she made significant contributions to global market leaders in the retail, chocolate and HR services industries to drive their growth strategies, business model transformations and culture changes. Barbara led HR teams with up to 160 employees on five continents. She was also responsible for the global integration of several thousand employees as part of an M&A transaction

In addition to her experience of public companies, startups and private equity firms, Barbara is a talented cook and an avid scuba diver. She spends a lot of time hiking, which also fits her maxim: "New paths are created by walking them.