Hi, nice to meet you!
I’m Chiara, I studied Physics at the University of Torino and obtained my PhD at the University of Padova in a CERN-LHC Experiment. After two postdocs, I realized that my career in physics was not going to fly, I was demotivated and I felt the need of focusing into my private life.
The call for change
I was looking for stability - which job or where didn’t matter much at that time. Moving to industry and recycle my skills in data science seemed to be the best and easiest option.
I found support in the career events organized by CERN and the LHC experiments and met the company that first hired me. …and moved north to Belgium.
The challenges of a new environment
My first experience was formative, but short. Less than one year later I was job hunting again. It took me a few more months to find my next job. The CERN Alumni Network was again of support for me with its “Job Offer” portal fed by the CERN Alumni community.
Another move and new challenges
This time I moved to Germany, breaking or pausing my dream for stability, but, with the benefit of hindsight, getting closer to it. I went through a new and somewhat unexpected cultural shock, but the new job allowed me to have my long-awaited free time to dedicate to my personal life as well.
Growing as an individual and becoming mom
I met my (future) husband and soon after we had our first daughter. What a change of perspective! Now a tiny human being was dictating my priorities and steeling my sleep. I soon realized I was her anchor, it was not any more about me, now I was needed by someone else and I was responsible for her.
The search for a new equilibrium between family and work
Little by little work had slipped down in my list of priorities and interests. We decided to move souther, from the Hauptstadt Berlin to the small Lindau on the Constance Lake - closer to Italy and my family of origin, with familiar mountains at the horizon and the breath-taking lake at the door.
At this point our second child was born, new challenges at home, even less time left for myself, the relationship with my husband, and work. But also a wonderful experience of seeing a very different human being coming out of the same genes.
That call for change emerging again
After I came back to work from my second parental leave, I realized very quickly that I was not going to stand being bored at work for much longer. My family was fulfilling me and my life, but I was a different person and new questions popped up. Why wasn’t I given responsibilities at work? Why did I feel different than my colleagues and isolated? Why did my brain seem “tuned off” and incapable of processing information quickly enough?
Stop and go
I decided to take a breath and stop to reflect. I looked for a coach to guide me in answering those questions. What a revolutionary discovery path I undertook!
My passions for physics and for people came to the surface again. My heart was still bound to my years at CERN and I felt the mission of giving back my learning and experience to young students, (less young) postdocs, and researchers who need a hand to take a look inside themselves and make their own discovery!
I trained as a systemic Coach with the goal of helping scientists and not only to achieve their personal and professional fulfillment.
Present
I am working at my new career, adjusting the balance between family, work, free time, relationships. It is a process and I am conscious that I will never be done. Though, I enjoy the way and I am grateful I can steer the wheel of my life.
CV
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chiara-bianchin