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Interviews with Industry Leaders & Academic Experts
Our interviewees will help you discover what it is like to work with various companies and universities in Switzerland and abroad. You will also learn about persuasive and effective oral and written communication.
Whether you are a junior professional looking for career inspiration or simply curious about the latest work and research in economics, communications, international relations, education, and related fields, in the section below you will find valuable insights and motivation to explore new research, ideas, and career opportunities.
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How Persuasion Will Improve Your Career: A Practical Guide
At Persuasive Discourse , each long-form interview with global leaders and experts offers valuable insights into how persuasion has...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Sep 29, 20246 min read
Boost Your Career with 4 Essential Categories for Self-Improvement
In every conversation held at Persuasive Discourse, industry experts share their guidance for aspiring professionals while also shedding...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jan 15, 202411 min read
5 Book Recommendations: Insights on International Relations & Politics from Our Interviewees
During the month of August, we would like to suggest the inclusion of two noteworthy book chapters and three books on your summer reading...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Aug 1, 20238 min read
Empowering NGOs & Fostering Organizational Development: Interview with Beatrice Schulter
What does it look like to create positive change in the non-profit sector and foster collaboration among diverse organizations? Beatrice...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jul 11, 202314 min read
Innovation and Digital Transformation in the Humanitarian Field: Interview with Françoise Lamotte
What does it look like to work in the fields of digital transformation and innovation within the humanitarian sector? If you aspire...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
May 9, 20237 min read
Online Volunteer Position
We are looking for an online volunteer to help us transcribe interviews and increase our website's visibility. If you or any of your...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Mar 27, 20232 min read
UN Today Coverage of Persuasive Discourse
This January, UN Today co-published our interview with Fabien Merz about Switzerland’s UNSC membership (2023-24) and his research on...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jan 29, 20233 min read
Academic Success: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics
Review of the academic career advice offered by the last five academics interviewed on this site, who work in Denmark, USA and Switzerland.
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Dec 29, 20226 min read
Rights Violations, Domestic Conflict, Protest & Comics: Interview with Emily Hencken Ritter, PhD
What does it look like to study and teach the topics of political violence, international human rights law, and war, in the U.S.? And how can you use the power of comics to translate your complex written work into simple drawings and messages to reach and persuade a larger audience? If you are a researcher, academic writer, scientist, or producer of any type of complex written work, and you are looking for ways to positively impact more people with your findings, then Dr. Emi
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Nov 18, 202221 min read
Political Violence, Design, Critique & Prevention: Interview with Jonathan Luke Austin, PhD
What does it look like to work in the field of political violence prevention? If you want to learn about how the worlds of policy, practice, and academia come together to address this crucial topic, then the work Dr. Jonathan Luke Austin will not only educate but also inspire you. Dr. Austin is one of my former PhD classmates and an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark. This past April, I had the opportunity to have an in-
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Oct 18, 202222 min read
Analyzing the Swiss & U.S. Financial, Political & Academic Elites: Interview with Felix Bühlmann
What does it look like to research and analyze the Swiss and U.S. elites? If you are curious to learn about some of the specific characteristics of the financial, political, and academic elites living in Switzerland vs. the U.S., then the work of Felix Bühlmann will greatly intrigue you. Dr. Bühlmann is an Associate Professor of Social and Political Sciences and a Coordinator of the Swiss Elite Observatory (Obelis), at the University of Lausanne, in Switzerland. In this inter
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Sep 6, 20228 min read
Switzerland’s UNSC Membership: Interview with Fabien Merz about his Research on Swiss Foreign Policy
What does it look like to work within the fields of counter-terrorism and Swiss foreign policy, in Switzerland? If you aspire towards...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Aug 9, 20228 min read
Insights from Working in Afghanistan & Ukraine: Interview with Cristina Teleki, PhD
What does it look like to be an ICRC female Field Delegate in countries such as: Afghanistan, Ukraine, or Georgia? If you aspire towards a career in the humanitarian field or are curious to learn from the experiences of someone who chooses this honorable, important, and courageous life path, then the work and story of Dr. Cristina Teleki will greatly inspire you. Dr. Teleki is a legal scholar and a humanitarian professional whose academic research and practical work focus on
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
May 31, 202212 min read
Stronger Together: International Fundraising with Michel Fornasier Helps Give Children a Hand
What type of work can help children at the international level while successfully combining philanthropy, collaboration, and 3D printing?...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Apr 25, 202212 min read
Swiss Education & Hospitality Industry: Interview with Anne-Sophie Delval, PhD
How is Swiss education perceived internationally and why do hospitality schools located in Switzerland choose to capitalize on this perception? In her recently published book, Dr. Anne-Sophie Delval not only answers the aforementioned questions, but also discusses and deconstructs what the concept of ‘international,’ “really means, and what it implies for organizations and individuals.” In this interview, you will be able to learn details about Dr. Delval’s book on the inter
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Mar 23, 202212 min read
How to Succeed in Academia: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics
Review and brief analysis of the academic advice offered to junior scholars by five academics interviewed by Persuasive Discourse.
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Mar 3, 20226 min read
Shaping the Practice of School Psychology: Interview with Carol S. Lidz, Psy.D.
“Who really knows us? And, who really knows what we have accomplished in our lives?” These are the questions that Dr. Carol S. Lidz asked herself at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In search of “meaning” for “the time provided,” in 2020, Dr. Lidz became “increasingly grateful” to have the ability and personal network required to write a book that showcases her and several other female colleagues’ professional experiences within the field of School Psychology. In this
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Feb 8, 202212 min read
World Politics & UN Peacebuilding: Interview with Sara Hellmüller, PhD
How does the emerging multipolar world order influence United Nations peacebuilding approaches? If you are an international relations scholar, a peacebuilding practitioner, or someone who wants to learn about current peace research, then Dr. Hellmüller’s work will greatly appeal to you. In this brief interview you will learn about: Dr. Hellmüller’s strategies to coin her research questions, the methodological approach she’s taking to structure and conduct her work, the unexpe
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Jan 18, 20226 min read
Afghanistan Governance: The Illusion of Political Inclusion & Stability
What is the political and security situation in Afghanistan today? While under the intense scrutiny of the international community, the...
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Dec 29, 20219 min read
Human Coding, Machine-Learning Techniques & Discourse Analysis: Interview with David Sylvan, PhD
Are you interested to learn about current research employing both human coding and machine-learning (ML) techniques, within the social sciences? If so, in this short interview, you will be able to read about Dr. David Sylvan’s reasons for undertaking such a methodological approach within his own research and the benefits/dis-benefits of utilizing human coding versus ML techniques to conduct discourse analysis within the field of international relations/political science. Dr.
Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
Dec 16, 20217 min read
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