Béatrice Speiser, what personally drove you to abandon your legal career to devote yourself entirely to social work?
«It wasn't so much a conscious decision as a process. Crescenda It began to take up more and more space in my life, gradually replacing my practice as a lawyer—and I embraced this change. In retrospect, I can say that this way I was able to more permanently achieve my original goal: to work for the socially disadvantaged.
However, I don't consider myself a social worker, but rather a social entrepreneur. I have great respect for those who work on the front lines of social work, with patience and empathy—but I have a more entrepreneurial temperament. Designing, building new structures, and creating opportunities for participation: this has been, and continues to be, my commitment to social justice.
As a lawyer, I learned to understand complex systems and to conceive of justice as something structural. Today, I consciously apply this way of thinking in a different context, to offer new perspectives to women with experiences of migration or flight from their country of origin.
Was there a defining episode that particularly influenced your commitment to social justice?
There were several significant moments. I grew up in Brussels, where from a young age I was able to observe the opportunities and challenges that migration brings to a society. At the same time, I was also a foreigner—albeit in very privileged circumstances. This profoundly influenced my sensitivity to the issue.
I was also very fortunate to grow up in an open-minded and humanist family, where people of different origins met and political debate was part of everyday life.
A crucial inspiration came from a trip to India over thirty years ago. There, I understood the central role of women who, as individual entrepreneurs, support their families and entire communities. I was struck by the ease with which they assumed this responsibility—often under extremely challenging conditions. Ten years later, that experience sparked the idea of applying these insights to the lives of women with a migrant background in Switzerland.
Of course, my personal experience as a woman also played an important role—commitment to social justice was never the sole driving force. Rather, it was the intertwining of observations, experiences, values, and the joy of creating social opportunities that led me on this path.
How would you describe your role as a bridge builder between cultures and generations?
I don't see it as a role so much as an internal attitude. Curiosity and openness are excellent prerequisites. What really matters is to carefully observe: what are the real living conditions of these people? What influences, experiences, and wounds do they bring with them? What happened in their country of origin, along the migration route, or once they arrived here? For me, building bridges means creating spaces for mutual learning processes.
What was your original vision for Crescenda – and how has it evolved over the years?
My vision has changed surprisingly little. From the beginning, it was about empowering women with experiences of migration or displacement, so they could actively participate in the economic and social life of our country. These women bring with them extraordinary resources—talent, knowledge, life experiences. Our goal is to find ways together to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. Only then can they become role models and multipliers of change within their families.
Over the years, however, I've learned a lot—about integration, entrepreneurship, and the strength of community. Today, I also see Crescenda as a laboratory for social innovation: a place where new approaches to participation are born."
What challenges do you encounter in working with women from diverse cultural backgrounds?
Different cultures bring with them different systems of values and communication. Just think of nonverbal communication: a nod can mean agreement or rejection, depending on the cultural context. Or our relationship with time: while in Ethiopia we celebrate lengthy coffee ceremonies, in Europe we often rush from one appointment to the next with a "coffee to go" in hand.
Added to this are the aforementioned structural barriers, such as the lack of childcare services – often due to the absence of the family of origin – the lack of recognition of foreign qualifications, or language difficulties.
This is precisely where we come in: by providing knowledge, empowerment, and networks that build concrete bridges to the labor market and society.
At the same time, people with a migrant background ultimately want what we all want: to be seen, to develop their potential, to lead a self-determined life, and to contribute to society. This is why openness, a sincere interest in diversity, and encounters on equal terms are essential.
Is there a success story related to Crescenda that has particularly struck you?
On our twentieth anniversary, a former participant came to visit me with her daughter, now an adult. When she began her journey with us, the little girl was about five years old. Today she studies at a university of applied sciences. They arrived with a huge cake to thank us—they told me that Crescenda was like family to them, a turning point. Is there a greater compliment?
This example also demonstrates the important role of women as role models and catalysts of change within the family. Stories like this demonstrate that integration is possible when trust, training, and personal initiative come together. It's precisely these moments that motivate us every day. And it's certainly the main reason why, after more than twenty years, my enthusiasm for Crescenda is still as strong as it was on the first day.
You were a speaker at the 2025 Swiss Foundation Day, organized by proFonds on the theme "Acting with Creativity and Courage." What messages did you want to convey on that occasion?
We live in an era of growing challenges—social, ecological, and economic. These require not only technical solutions, but above all social innovations: creative and shared responses.
At the same time, our society is increasingly shaped by systems and norms. These are important, but we sometimes forget that they should serve people—not the other way around. Today, it takes courage to put humans at the center of our actions. Especially in the age of artificial intelligence technology! And we need spaces for experimentation, where we can try, fail, and learn. Only in this way can true innovations be born.
How do you define philanthropy in the 21st century – and how does it differ from traditional charity?
For me, philanthropy means partnership: two or more parties share a common goal—one provides resources or expertise, the other implements the project. What matters is that this exchange occurs on an equal footing.
Modern philanthropy shouldn't be one-way. Both sides give, and both receive and learn: one enables, the other makes it happen. In the best case, a shared growth path develops.
Do you believe that social innovations arise more easily from civil society or from state structures?
I'm convinced that innovation can arise anywhere. However, state structures are more constrained by regulatory frameworks. Civil society has greater freedom to experiment—and that's exactly what innovation needs.
However, for lasting change to occur, all parties must come together and collaborate: the state, civil society, and the economy. Without this network, Crescenda would never have become what it is today.
If you could make one wish for Crescenda's future, what would it be?
"I have so many hopes! (laughs) Above all, I hope that Crescenda can continue to offer new perspectives to women with migrant backgrounds, that it remains a place where social innovations are constantly born and where people and organizations find inspiration and strength."
Béatrice Speiser
Dr. Béatrice Speiser is a doctorate in law and a lawyer. In 2004, she founded Crescenda in Basel, the first center in Switzerland dedicated to promoting female entrepreneurship among migrant women. The initiative's goal is to support them towards lasting professional and social independence. Crescenda has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Swiss Integration Award. The book, "Crescenda: A Journey to the Future," was published in 2014. The Crescenda Model: Migrant Women as Entrepreneurs, which illustrates the center's innovative approach. Béatrice Speiser is actively involved in various social and entrepreneurial initiatives. Since 2015, she has been a member of the supervisory board of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
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