Every week, interesting personalities from the world of finance and beyond share their personal preferences in our section Backstage.

What do you do first in the morning?

My favorite way to start the day is with a latte macchiatto and a fresh orange juice.

What is the best thing about your job?

The creative opportunities and working with different people.

A moment that changed your life?

When I founded my first company, Inspire 925.

What car do you drive? What is your favorite?

The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron.

What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

Do something every day that will help make your dreams come true - even if it's just something tiny.

What are you particularly proud of?

That at the age of 20 I had the courage to move to another continent on my own for almost five years to complete my degree in economics.

What was your biggest defeat?

It's difficult for me to pick out just one; there have been many since founding Inspire 925 in 2013. Defeats are part and parcel of entrepreneurship - be it through lost pitches, project rejections, wrong strategic decisions or unexpected market changes. Looking back, I see them above all as valuable learning moments that have helped us develop further.

What is your favorite wine?

I don't drink much alcohol, but in summer, I enjoy having a glass or two of “Whispering Angel” on Lake Zurich with friends.

Are you currently working on a project?

I am currently preparing for the eighth edition of the Liechtenstein Digital Summit, which will take place on April 15, 2025 in Vaduz with the motto “Artificial Intelligence - Transformation of the Future”. Keynote speakers such as Christine Antlanger-Winter (Country Director Google Switzerland) and Fabian Schmid (Head of IT for the Principality of Liechtenstein) will also be there.

What is most important to you at the moment?

My health – it's the foundation for everything else I enjoy doing each day.

What would be the biggest surprise for someone who had to do your job for a day?

I combine different roles in my job, including entrepreneur, board member, course director, speaker, moderator, lecturer, etc. I think others might be surprised at how often and effortlessly I change roles.

What is your personal drive?

A mixture of tireless curiosity, the joy of creating and the conviction that progress comes from commitment and willpower.

What are you afraid of?

Dementia. My grandmother suffered from it and later passed away; I think it's a terrible disease. I'm afraid of losing my cognitive abilities one day.

Your favorite watch brand?

IWC Schaffhausen

What do your employees value most about you?

I think my openness and my ability to stay calm and lead the way in pressure situations.

Your best investment?

My education.

Sunnie J. Groeneveld is entrepreneur, board member, author and speaker. She is the founder and managing partner of the consulting firm Inspire 925 and a board member of several medium-sized Swiss companies.