The DAY AWAY Association for Women began in 1991 in Zurich as an opportunity for English-speaking women to get together and wrestle with deeper life issues we all face. Twice a year, we invite expert speakers to share their wisdom, offering practical advice, helpful insights, and fresh perspectives from a biblical point of view. Our goal is to be a valuable resource for women, fostering meaningful dialogue on the challenges we face in today's world.
About the topic:
We have all found ourselves at the bottom — a place that can feel hopeless and lonely. This seminar will explore practices that may be helpful to you if you find yourself at the bottom. In this seminar, Sally shares vulnerably and openly, hoping that each woman will recognise something of her own story. Sally suggests that the bottom may not only be a place of pain, but also a place of possibility — perhaps even exactly where you need to be.
About the speaker:
Sally Johnston founded Day Away Seminars for Women in Zurich in 1991 and later formalised it as a Swiss non-profit. After returning to the United States in 2010, she completed a Master’s degree in Counselling and worked in addiction and marriage therapy, specialising in Emotionally Focused Therapy. Now based in St. Louis, Sally is active in women’s ministry, serves on the board of Arch Oars supporting breast cancer survivors through rowing, and continues to return to Switzerland each year.
Thank you for listening to this seminar. Please do not make copies, reproduce or sell this audio. This is copyrighted property of DAY AWAY Association Switzerland.
13 Nov 2025
Empowered with Purpose – What if you were made for more? with Dagmar C. Müller
About the Topic:
When life feels uncertain, it’s natural to ask: Does any of this matter? But what if the moments you resist are the ones shaping your purpose? This episode looks at the unexpected wisdom of four biblical women and one modern midwife—stories that reveal how setbacks can become turning points. What if your waiting is preparing you? What if the places you feel weakest are where God is forming strength? If you’re hungry for clarity, courage, or a new way to see your story, this message invites you to imagine that you were made for more.
About the Speaker:
Dagmar C. Müller began her career as a midwife in Switzerland and later moved to New Orleans, where she founded and led a crisis pregnancy centre from 1995–2007. Returning to Switzerland, she has spent the last 18 years working as a trauma counsellor. Through her professional experience and personal faith, Dagmar empowers women to discover purpose, healing and the freedom to walk boldly into what lies ahead.
Thank you for listening to this seminar. Please do not copy, reproduce, or sell this audio. It is the copyrighted property of Day Away Association Switzerland.
12 Mar 2025
Lisa Fernihough - How will you measure your life?
About the topic
In business we spend a lot of time talking about performance, metrics, return on investment and even how to evaluate the meaning of success. But why should that thinking be reserved for business? What about the whole of your life, how will you measure your life? We are drawn, through social media and well-intentioned friends, to spend our lives on many diversions (often good), going through life caught up with seeking success, comfort, and pleasure perhaps above all else. But will you look back and say that it's been a life of purpose? We'll explore together how we might look at our time, our energy and our talents to give better hope that we can say we've lived a life that has not been wasted.
About the speaker
Lisa Fernihough is an alumni speaker at Day Away. In 2010 she shared on the topic "Don't Waste Your Life." Fifteen years later she's back to talk about how you might measure that and help course correct where things need to change. Lisa is an accountant and finance person by background. She has lived and worked in the US, Switzerland and now resides in the UK. She currently is on the Executive Committee of KPMG UK leading the Advisory business with a turnover of £1.4 billion and about 6,000 employees. She was recognised last year in her industry for "Lifetime Achievement", though her 92 year old father who only recently retired would state that is a bit premature!
Thank you for listening to this seminar. Please do not make copies, reproduce or sell this audio. This is copyrighted property of DAY AWAY Association Switzerland.
19 Feb 2025
An Interview with Vicki Bagdasarianz
In this episode, we sit down with Vicki Bagdasarianz, the inspiring woman behind the Day Away Association for Women in Switzerland. Since 2010, she has served as the organization's Executive Director, dedicating her life to faith and service.
Born in Texas, Vicki started as an elementary school teacher before a transformative encounter with Campus Crusade for Christ led her into full-time ministry. Her journey took her across the world—from working with high school students in the U.S. to missionary work in Abu Dhabi and church planting in Italy.
In 1989, she embraced a new chapter, marrying Sérge and becoming a stepmother to his four children. After his passing in 2008, she stepped into her leadership role at Day Away, where she continues to serve with passion.
Join us for an engaging conversation about moving abroad, marriage, learning new languages, and the role of faith through life’s transitions.
7 Nov 2024
Kirsten Müller Daubermann - The Digital Dilemma
Kirsten Müller Daubermann, a communications consultant and former Miss America, explores the digital dilemma, balancing technological innovation with mental health and well-being in a person-oriented approach.
10 Mar 2024
Elaine Petty - The weight of words: how to use them well
ABOUT THE TOPIC
Our words hold immense power, capable of both good and harm. They shape attitudes, impact health, and influence lives. Choosing positive words can heal, encourage, and inspire, making a significant positive impact on those around us.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Elaine Petty has a lifelong commitment to building individuals in personal, professional, and spiritual leadership around the world.
With her early beginnings as a pediatric oncology nurse, her current experience ranges from teaching bioethics to med students at Georgetown University to doing leadership coaching for executives.
She has lived in Western and Eastern Europe where she has done training and been a speaker for professional groups and given leadership to a joint venture project with the Russian Ministry of Education training Russian teachers to use a curriculum teaching Biblical morals and ethics.
She also worked in a US Senate office addressing issues of international religious freedom, writing legislation, and dealing with cases of religious persecution.
9 Nov 2023
Anna Lianna Monnier - Maintaining Vitality under Pressure
About the Speaker
Anna Lianna-Monnier is an Ukrainian born psychologist and motivational speaker, based in Switzerland. She is also the founder of the Center for Emotional Health in Lausanne, worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva and has been speaking on the topics of Emotional Health and Cultural adjustment at the headquarters of Google (Zurich) and Mercy Ships NGO.
About the Topic
Our high-pressure world full of challenges often leaves us exhausted and depleted. Stress is becoming our everyday companion, burnout is real.
Discover how to navigate life's pressures by embracing a holistic approach to self-care. Learn to prioritise well-being, combat burnout, and foster resilience. Join us in exploring effective strategies for maintaining vitality amidst challenges.
28 Sept 2023
Melanie Moll - Women of Strength
Becoming a woman of strength and dignity
In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with expectations on our time, appearance, and performance. Trying to manage all the various demands we face as career women, partners, and even mothers can be dizzying, and can lead to exhaustion and depression. For some, trying to meet external expectations can cause anxiety and overwhelming fear of never getting out of the rut. But does it have to be this way? Come with us as we trace the historical and cultural development of the “perfect woman”, and determine what true strength and real dignity mean. We will share what some famous (and some not so famous) role models throughout history can teach us, and explore how to reset our own lives so we can smile at the future.
Proverbs 31:25 – She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she smiles at the future.
31 May 2023
Anne Bachle-Fifer - Apologize, forgive, reconcile: from messy relationships to peace
About the speaker
Melanie Moll is a Professor of Intercultural Studies at the Europäische Fernhochschule in Hamburg, and a researcher of Biblical and Cultural History. She has taught at Universities in the US and in Western Europe and conducts seminars in Intercultural Management, Intercultural Competence and Communication, as well as Biblical Apologetics. Melanie currently lives near St. Gallen with her husband.
About the topic
Scholars and the general public alike tend to approach the ancient Biblical stories not as scientific and historical narratives, but rather as simple literary tales. However, as archeologists continue to dig and uncover artifacts and ancient texts, a different story emerges. Come with us as we examine some of the most exciting scientific discoveries of the ancient world, specifically regarding the wanderings of a people referred to in hieroglyphics as the ‘nomads of Yahweh’. We will look at linguistic, historical, and archeological finds that will amaze you.
31 May 2023
Sarah Tesnjak - Mental Fitness
About the speaker
Sarah Tesnjak is a certified professional personal development coach and founder of True Voice Coaching. She grew up in Northern California and received her degree in Vocal Performance at Dominican University of California. She moved to Switzerland nearly 20 years ago with her husband and has 2 beautiful daughters. While in Zurich she has served as Director of Children’s Music at the International Protestant Church of Zurich as well as leading various other musical and study ministries.
About the topic
It is possible to exchange stress, fear, and exhaustion for empathy, creativity, and laser focused action? We all have dreams and goals we want to achieve, however there are times we are in our own way. Everyone possesses strengths, but not everyone is using them. Today Sarah Tesnjak will discuss how to move from surviving into thriving; how to build a resilience that will allow us to grow even in the midst of uncertainty and challenging times. You will learn how to intercept and recognise negative emotions and how to uncover self-sabotaging. When you strengthen your mental fitness you can shift those negative emotions to positive emotions. The result is a calmer state of mind that provides more compassion, joy, innovation, exploration, navigation and laser focused action. With anxieties out of the way, we have greater capacity for the love that makes all things possible!
31 May 2023
Kirsten Haglund - Silence the inner critic for good
About the speaker
Kirsten Haglund is an international speaker, mental health recovery coach and digital media marketing consultant. She serves as Director of Global Business Development and Digital Media for Eating Disorder Hope and as Founder and President of the Kirsten Haglund Foundation. She has contributed political and cultural analysis across television news networks and radio in the U.S., including on MSNBC, CNN International, Fox Business Network, and Fox News Channel. She served as Miss America 2008, graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Political Science, and is currently based in Zürich, Switzerland.
About the topic
Perfectionism is the enemy of contentment, peace, and well-being. But the constant drive to cultivate perfection in our lives, appearance, relationships, and the image we portray to the world comes not only from the culture, but inside our own heads. The voice of the inner critic can be loud and relentless. In this talk, we will take a hard look at the destructive effects of pursuing perfection, learn how to practice radical acceptance and how to change our thought patterns in order to build a truly meaningful life.
30 May 2023
Sally Johnston - Deep change, is it possible?
About the speaker
Sally Johnston is a professional counselor and worked as an adjunct therapist at Alsana Treatment Center for Eating Disorders in St. Louis, Missouri. While living in Zurich for 27 years, her professional career included working for UBS as a Vice President. Sally founded the DAY AWAY ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN in 1991 and was Executive Director until she moved back to the USA in 2010.
About the topic
Is deep change possible? There are many things we can change about ourselves - break bad habits, improve social skills or decide to de-clutter. However, other life-long patterns are entrenched. We tell ourselves: "Do not be so anxious, emotional, angry, needy, judgemental, impulsive..." We try to change, but it seems hopeless. Join us to explore how interpersonal experiences impact our neurobiology and how deep relationships stimulate transformational changes.
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