About the Topic:

When life feels uncertain, it’s natural to ask: Does any of this matter? But what if the moments you resist are the ones shaping your purpose? This episode looks at the unexpected wisdom of four biblical women and one modern midwife—stories that reveal how setbacks can become turning points. What if your waiting is preparing you? What if the places you feel weakest are where God is forming strength? If you’re hungry for clarity, courage, or a new way to see your story, this message invites you to imagine that you were made for more.
About the Speaker:

Dagmar C. Müller began her career as a midwife in Switzerland and later moved to New Orleans, where she founded and led a crisis pregnancy centre from 1995–2007. Returning to Switzerland, she has spent the last 18 years working as a trauma counsellor. Through her professional experience and personal faith, Dagmar empowers women to discover purpose, healing and the freedom to walk boldly into what lies ahead.

Thank you for listening to this seminar. Please do not copy, reproduce, or sell this audio. It is the copyrighted property of Day Away Association Switzerland.

About the topic

In business we spend a lot of time talking about performance, metrics, return on investment and even how to evaluate the meaning of success.  But why should that thinking be reserved for business?  What about the whole of your life, how will you measure your life?  We are drawn, through social media and well-intentioned friends, to spend our lives on many diversions (often good), going through life caught up with seeking success, comfort, and pleasure perhaps above all else.  But will you look back and say that it's been a life of purpose? We'll explore together how we might look at our time, our energy and our talents to give better hope that we can say we've lived a life that has not been wasted.

About the speaker

Lisa Fernihough is an alumni speaker at Day Away.  In 2010 she shared on the topic "Don't Waste Your Life."  Fifteen years later she's back to talk about how you might measure that and help course correct where things need to change.  Lisa is an accountant and finance person by background.  She has lived and worked in the US, Switzerland and now resides in the UK.  She currently is on the Executive Committee of KPMG UK leading the Advisory business with a turnover of £1.4 billion and about 6,000 employees.  She was recognised last year in her industry for "Lifetime Achievement", though her 92 year old father who only recently retired would state that is a bit premature!  

Thank you for listening to this seminar. Please do not make copies, reproduce or sell this audio. This is copyrighted property of DAY AWAY Association Switzerland.

In this episode, we sit down with Vicki Bagdasarianz, the inspiring woman behind the Day Away Association for Women in Switzerland. Since 2010, she has served as the organization's Executive Director, dedicating her life to faith and service.

Born in Texas, Vicki started as an elementary school teacher before a transformative encounter with Campus Crusade for Christ led her into full-time ministry. Her journey took her across the world—from working with high school students in the U.S. to missionary work in Abu Dhabi and church planting in Italy.

In 1989, she embraced a new chapter, marrying Sérge and becoming a stepmother to his four children. After his passing in 2008, she stepped into her leadership role at Day Away, where she continues to serve with passion.

Join us for an engaging conversation about moving abroad, marriage, learning new languages, and the role of faith through life’s transitions.

About the Topic

Social media, AI and technology are often blamed for rising mental health concerns and the ‘loneliness epidemic.’ Join us to examine research and explore the risks and benefits of technological innovation. We’ll discover how to balance our habits, emphasizing a person-oriented approach that greatly benefits all aspects of our lives and embraces control over fear.

About the speaker

In 2018, Kirsten left New York City and a career as a political commentator on TV and radio, host, speaker and former Miss America (2008), to follow her heart and her love to Zürich. Since then, she has continued in communications consulting in the realm of digital media, working in research on topics such as youth mental health and well-being and child data privacy at the University of Zürich, and assisting the Global Network of Centers on Internet & Society in Geneva on projects related to AI governance and communication strategy. She keeps her love for movement and her creative side alive as a fitness coach, teaching Barre, HIIT and indoor cycling at The Mix studio in Seefeld, and is completing her Master’s studies at the University of Zürich in Internet & Society.

About Day Away

The DAY AWAY Association for Women began in 1991 in Zurich as an opportunity for English-speaking women to get together and wrestle with deeper life issues we all face.  Founder, Sally Johnston, established women's breakfasts twice a year, inviting competent speakers who could provide women with practical advice, helpful insights and fresh perspectives from a biblical point of view. 

Join us on our next breakfast: Dates posted regularly on our website and instagram.

www.dayaway.org

ABOUT THE TOPIC

Our words hold immense power, capable of both good and harm. They shape attitudes, impact health, and influence lives. Choosing positive words can heal, encourage, and inspire, making a significant positive impact on those around us.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Elaine Petty has a lifelong commitment to building individuals in personal, professional, and spiritual leadership around the world.   

With her early beginnings as a pediatric oncology nurse, her current experience ranges from teaching bioethics to med students at Georgetown University to doing leadership coaching for executives.

She has lived in Western and Eastern Europe where she has done training and been a speaker for professional groups and given leadership to a joint venture project with the Russian Ministry of Education training Russian teachers to use a curriculum teaching Biblical morals and ethics. 

She also worked in a US Senate office addressing issues of international religious freedom, writing legislation, and dealing with cases of religious persecution.

About the Speaker

Anna Lianna-Monnier is an Ukrainian born psychologist and motivational speaker, based in Switzerland. She is also the founder of the Center for Emotional Health in Lausanne, worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva and has been speaking on the topics of Emotional Health and Cultural adjustment at the headquarters of Google (Zurich) and Mercy Ships NGO.

About the Topic

Our high-pressure world full of challenges often leaves us exhausted and depleted. Stress is becoming our everyday companion, burnout is real.

Discover how to navigate life's pressures by embracing a holistic approach to self-care. Learn to prioritise well-being, combat burnout, and foster resilience. Join us in exploring effective strategies for maintaining vitality amidst challenges.

Becoming a woman of strength and dignity

In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with expectations on our time, appearance, and performance. Trying to manage all the various demands we face as career women, partners, and even mothers can be dizzying, and can lead to exhaustion and depression. For some, trying to meet external expectations can cause anxiety and overwhelming fear of never getting out of the rut. But does it have to be this way? Come with us as we trace the historical and cultural development of the “perfect woman”, and determine what true strength and real dignity mean. We will share what some famous (and some not so famous) role models throughout history can teach us, and explore how to reset our own lives so we can smile at the future.

Proverbs 31:25 – She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she smiles at the future.

About the speaker

Anne Bachle Fifer is a mediator and trainer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. A licensed attorney, she has taught courses in alternative dispute resolution for Cooley Law School, Trinity International University, and other academic institutions. She mediates cases involving businesses, employment matters, and estates, as well as church-based conflicts integrating Christian principles into the process. She frequently conducts basic and advanced mediation training for lawyers and other mediators, and has trained in Europe, Asia and Africa. She is a mediator, trainer, and board member with Peacemaker Ministries and is a Certified Christian Conciliator through the Institute for Christian Conciliation. She regularly serves on state court and state bar committees related to mediation, and is listed annually in Best Lawyers in America© in the field of mediation. Anne and her husband Mark attend Berean Baptist Church in Grand Rapids.

About the topic

A good apology can soothe a troubled relationship, but we don’t always apologize well. Forgiveness heals a rift, but we misunderstand forgiveness. No wonder reconciliation feels impossible! Learn how to make your apologies effective and your forgiveness genuine, opening the way to improved relationships.

About the speaker

Melanie Moll is a Professor of Intercultural Studies at the Europäische Fernhochschule in Hamburg, and a researcher of Biblical and Cultural History. She has taught at Universities in the US and in Western Europe and conducts seminars in Intercultural Management, Intercultural Competence and Communication, as well as Biblical Apologetics. Melanie currently lives near St. Gallen with her husband.

About the topic

Scholars and the general public alike tend to approach the ancient Biblical stories not as scientific and historical narratives, but rather as simple literary tales. However, as archeologists continue to dig and uncover artifacts and ancient texts, a different story emerges. Come with us as we examine some of the most exciting scientific discoveries of the ancient world, specifically regarding the wanderings of a people referred to in hieroglyphics as the ‘nomads of Yahweh’. We will look at linguistic, historical, and archeological finds that will amaze you.

About the speaker

Sarah Tesnjak is a certified professional personal development coach and founder of True Voice Coaching. She grew up in Northern California and received her degree in Vocal Performance at Dominican University of California. She moved to Switzerland nearly 20 years ago with her husband and has 2 beautiful daughters. While in Zurich she has served as Director of Children’s Music at the International Protestant Church of Zurich as well as leading various other musical and study ministries.

About the topic

It is possible to exchange stress, fear, and exhaustion for empathy, creativity, and laser focused action? We all have dreams and goals we want to achieve, however there are times we are in our own way. Everyone possesses strengths, but not everyone is using them. Today Sarah Tesnjak will discuss how to move from surviving into thriving; how to build a resilience that will allow us to grow even in the midst of uncertainty and challenging times. You will learn how to intercept and recognise negative emotions and how to uncover self-sabotaging. When you strengthen your mental fitness you can shift those negative emotions to positive emotions. The result is a calmer state of mind that provides more compassion, joy, innovation, exploration, navigation and laser focused action. With anxieties out of the way, we have greater capacity for the love that makes all things possible!