Matthias Aebersold is a former floorball player and is currently completing a one-year athlete program as a trainee at PostFinance in the field of Business Development. At the same time, he is studying full-time at the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration. The former defender of UHC Thun answers in this interview why he quit floorball, how he discovered PostFinance, what he particularly likes about their corporate culture, and what goals he is pursuing in the future.

How would you describe yourself as a floorball player back then – and how do you see yourself today in the office?

“In the hall, I always spread good cheer. For me, it was essential that we had a good atmosphere and dynamics within the team. The team spirit is still very important to me today in the office. Whether in sports or at work, you are always working in a team towards a goal, and when everyone works together, it’s usually easier than when you go it alone.

Both in the past on the field and today in the office, I would describe myself as an upbeat, motivated, and focused person. I also think I have a good sense of perseverance. I learned this, among other things, during my sports career. I missed a whole season due to a hip injury and had only one goal: I wanted to get back on the field, and I did everything it took to make that happen.”

Nadina Pahud-Schiesser, Business Development Manager at PostFinance and Matthias’ current supervisor, also has high praise for the former floorball player and shares her assessment of him: “I experience Matthias as a very motivated and engaged employee. What particularly stands out about him is his strong interest in new tasks and topics, which he approaches with high performance and always in a good mood. With his positive and open demeanor, he significantly contributes to a pleasant and motivating atmosphere within the team. He is well-connected and works cooperatively and constructively with his colleagues. Matthias’ combination of customer orientation, curiosity, flexibility, and team spirit makes him a valuable asset to PostFinance.”

Why did you end your sports career as a floorball player?

“I stopped for several reasons. However, the main reason was my desire to develop professionally. This intention was difficult to reconcile with playing floorball at a professional level because the sport takes up a lot of time. At the same time, it was important for me to be able to work part-time alongside my studies to advance my professional goals. Therefore, I decided to stop playing floorball.”

The social environment changes when you stop.

“The newly gained free time was quickly filled with other sports activities. For example, I use my free evenings during the week to play squash, padel, or tennis.

On the weekends, I noticed how my social environment had changed compared to before. During my floorball time, I was always with the same people, and I didn’t have to make any plans because it just happened. Now, I have to be much more proactive and plan my weekends myself. But there’s also a good side to it because it has allowed me to reconnect with people I had unfortunately neglected because of sports.”

Making the most of the Athletes Day!

“In September 2023, I started my full-time studies in Business Administration at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. My plan was to work part-time alongside my studies to gain more work experience. With this in mind, I attended the 7th Athletes Day of the Athletes Network in Bern in November 2023. During a networking session, I met Paulo Cabral from PostFinance, who introduced me to the company. I quickly realized that the values PostFinance stands for align with mine, and this sparked my interest in the company.

I then applied for the athlete program at PostFinance, which was advertised on the Athletes Network job platform. During the interview, I saw how exciting the position was and what benefits I could gain from combining it with my studies, which I really liked.

A few days after the interview, there was a joint event between PostFinance and the Athletes Network. I attended this event with the intention of getting to know the company better and positioning myself even more effectively. During this event, I met Lakshana Sinnadurai, who is responsible for the entry programs at PostFinance. This exchange was enriching for me and helped lead to this great match between me and PostFinance.”

What do you do now as a trainee in the athlete program?

“The athlete program at PostFinance lasts for one year. During this year, you work in one department. My department is Business Development. Our task is, on the one hand, to develop new services and products and test them on the market. On the other hand, we continuously assess customer interest and make adjustments as needed. Our goal is to bring ideas to a finished solution as quickly and agilely as possible.”

“The values of PostFinance align with my way of thinking.”

“Due to a colleague’s extended vacation, I took the lead on a project. I felt a great deal of trust from my team members. They see me as a full-fledged employee and not just as a trainee. As a result, I am given responsibility for my work and can contribute my skills every day. I really appreciate this level of collaboration. I also find the culture at PostFinance enriching. Although the company is very large, you can easily approach anyone, regardless of their position, and ask for advice over a coffee. Furthermore, the flexibility is a big plus for me, especially in relation to my studies. The company is very accommodating during exam periods. Thanks to the flexible vacation policy, I can reduce my workload and focus on my exams.”

What goals are you pursuing in the future?

“In the short term, I would like to find an internal solution at PostFinance after the end of the athlete program, if possible, because I feel very comfortable here and have already built a great network. Of course, I also want to successfully complete my studies in the near future.”