Marion brings a distinctly international perspective to the Swiss Bonebridge team: Originally from Marseille, France, she also lived and worked in Spain and Brazil before moving to Switzerland in 2023. Now, Marion and her family – her partner Ricardo and 2.5-year-old son Luca – live in Biel, Switzerland. The city sits right on the so-called “Rostigraben”, the cultural and linguistic boundary between the German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Switzerland – a perfect homebase for Marion, who caters to our customers in the western part of the country, but also commutes to the Bonebridge office in Zurich. It is a set-up that requires her to use her extensive language skills: At home, Marion speaks Spanish, Portuguese, or French; on the job, she speaks French with her customers and English with her Swiss colleagues. And for 2024, one of her goals is to start learning German: “Obviously, English is perfectly fine for business purposes. But being the only one on the team who doesn’t speak German or Swiss German can be challenging, especially in more social settings,” she says. “Generally, I think understanding the language will help me to immerse myself into the Swiss culture.”
Marion certainly does not shy away from a challenge, which makes her a great fit for her role at Bonebridge: “It’s a very competitive industry, and building relationships with new customers takes time.” If she has learned one thing during her first year with Bonebridge, it is the dynamic nature of her job. “Every day brings something different,” she says. “It can be quite unpredictable, especially with OR schedules changing at the last minute. It requires a certain level of flexibility, but I really appreciate the lack of routine,” she says. Her favorite part of the job includes meeting customers face to face at congresses and events, conducting trainings, and being present in the OR during surgeries. “I find it fascinating how each patient presents a unique history, and I am highly motivated to provide an excellent product that benefits them.”
Marion says she has always been fascinated by anatomy and was looking to embark on a career where she could help improve people’s well-being. After exploring various opportunities in the medical field, she finally decided to study osteopathy, which just struck a chord with her: “I like that it looks at the individual as a whole – focusing not only on musculoskeletal issues, but also trying to relieve visceral restrictions. It’s obviously very intense work that can also be physically demanding, but you get to really connect with each patient.”
After successful completion of her studies at the College Osteopathique de Provence Aix-Marseille, Marion gained her first few months of work experience as an osteopath at a multidisciplinary clinic in the South of France. But she soon also felt the itch to explore and discover. At that point, at age twenty-two, I really felt like I needed a change of scenery.” Marion had very fond memories of family vacations that took her to the Costa Brava, which inspired her to seek out a professional opportunity in Spain. Her first position abroad took her to Valencia, where she worked at a private practice for over two years. She then accepted a position in Barcelona, where she worked as an osteopath with children with disabilities to improve their quality of life and manage various symptoms associated with their condition.
During her first few years in Spain, Marion also met her partner Ricardo. When his job took him back to his native country of Brazil for a year, she did not hesitate to join him and spent a year living and working with other practitioners in Porto Alegre. During this time, she also seized the opportunity to travel to several South American countries, immersing herself in new cultures. When the couple returned to Barcelona, Marion felt it was time for a career change and took on a sales support role in the eyewear industry. “I wasn’t afraid to do something different, and I wanted to explore another skill set,” she says. She also started pursuing a postgraduate degree in international trade, which enabled her to transition into a key account specialist role at the same company.
After five years in Barcelona, and following the birth of their son Luca, Ricardo was offered a new position in Switzerland. The young family did not hesitate to pack up and move again. “Switzerland as a world-renowned hub for the medical industry made sense for both of us — Ricardo works in the pharmaceutical industry, and I was looking for a sales position in the medical field.” The opportunity at Bonebridge presented itself a few months after the family had settled in Biel. “It was definitely the right next step for me — it’s such a young and dynamic company with a lot of drive and ambition,” she says. As for what she likes to do in her spare time: “We’re usually very active — I love hiking and skiing, but with our 2.5-year-old, we have to adapt a bit,” Marion says. Despite having lived in Switzerland for a while now, she still considers herself a “new” expat and looks forward to exploring more of the country. On top of her list: a visit to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn.