Believe it or not, we’re halfway through 2024 (almost!). And with that, we’re excited to introduce you to another inspiring woman for our ‘Entrepreneur of the Month’ feature in June. This time, we’re shining the spotlight on Philippa Dobrée-Carey. Philippa wears many hats; she works full-time at an international humanitarian organization and is the brains behind “From High School to Uni,” an Essential Guide for Students (and parents) navigating the transition from high school to university.
As a fellow parent—let’s call it like it is, a helicopter parent—I immediately connected with Philippa. It struck me how challenging the transition to university will be when my little one (who’s growing up too fast!) heads off. Chatting with her made me realize just how unprepared I am for this journey, especially as an expat mother—emotionally and practically. Keep reading as Philippa shares her journey and the creation of something as delightful and essential as her guide.
Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself
Originally from the South of England, I came to Switzerland over 30 years ago to initially work at CERN, just at the time the World Wide Web and electronic signatures were invented. Such an innovative place to work. I then worked for international humanitarian organizations in Geneva, including the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, where I still work full time.
I was a single mother for ten years, after going through a very acrimonious divorce in Geneva. When you can handle ten court cases in fluent French, you know you’ve nailed the language! Time and Project Management are child’s play for a single working mum. If you can juggle a full-time job with driving your kids to football, dance lessons and orthodontist appointments (while keeping the Hospital Emergency Room and school nurse on speed dial), you’re basically a modern-day organized superhero, like Marie Kondo or The Home Edit team!
I didn’t go to university. With an Air Search & Rescue pilot father and a sister in the Navy, I had the ambition of joining the British Royal Navy from the age of about 5 – which probably explains my military precision! Although I was commissioned straight out of school, I ultimately opted to pursue a more varied civilian life and, after graduating from a business college, I drove across the channel to Switzerland to start my international career. It was such an exciting time in my twenties, working in a multicultural environment during the week, and snowboarding and whitewater rafting over the weekends, and I have never looked back.
Tell us about your current business, what do you do?
When my eldest left for university in the UK, I was clueless about preparing her for the journey. Questions flooded my mind: How much money should I give her? Will she manage to live independently abroad? Schools don’t teach practical skills like budgeting or cooking. How will she handle bills, banking, groceries, and laundry?
After extensive research and helping my daughter settle in, I documented every step, creating checklists and tips, which proved invaluable for my children as they attended universities in three countries. The same principles apply wherever you go.
Wanting to assist others, I planned a summer camp for IB graduates, but COVID thwarted my plans. During lockdown, I refined my notes into a book—a guide for students to help them navigate the transition to university. Between you and me, I also wrote the book for helicopter parents like me who want to get organised in advance and help their child make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.
The book is not about applying to university; it’s the practical know-how, and step-by-step, hands-on advice every student needs from drawing up a budget to tips on choosing the right accommodation, house-sharing, cleaning a flat, and doing the laundry. The guide fills in all the gaps that kids don’t learn at school about real-life tasks and challenges!
I then launched a website, From High School to Uni, offering a membership package to complement the book with over 30 curated packing lists, planners, and tools to simplify the transition. It’s all about making life easier for students and parents alike.
Tell us your story, how did you decide to become an expert on student guidance in Switzerland?
I thought – if I am in the dark going through this stage in my child’s life – I bet there are tons of parents out there going through the same thing. So, I decided to help others by writing about it.
Why should parents and students spend hours scrolling through websites when you can find all the information you need on one website and one book? I wanted to create a one-stop-shop to guide students with a step-by-step roadmap into college or university, especially those planning to study abroad. With clear instructions, tools, and a ton of useful checklists to download, I’ve shared all our tips and insights to help avoid some of the mistakes and lessons we’ve learned along the way.
I now write regular blogs for students and advice for parents on my website, and am a guest writer for a number of sites, including the Know-it-all Passport (the bible for families in the Geneva/Vaud/neighbouring France region), International School Parents Magazine and Student Essentials, as well as being active on LinkedIn and social media.
What is a day like “in your heels”?
I divide my time between Geneva and Valais, where I have a lovely little mountain chalet, a garden, and a panoramic view of the Bernese Alps. I spend a lot of time writing while travelling up and down in the train, enjoying the picturesque backdrop of Lake Leman and the Alps behind it.
I work full-time for an international humanitarian organization, so my days are spent working on projects in challenging environments and with vulnerable populations, and channeling emergency funds to countries in crisis. Nights and weekends are usually spent typing furiously on my laptop, capturing content for future blogs and social media, and planning my next book.
I’m also currently working on a speaker programme for schools to give a masterclass on essential life skills to Year 13 students. So, if any readers think their school would be interested, please get in touch!
I’m always buzzing with ideas, especially on topics that I think would be useful and of interest to both students and parents. For example, how to motivate your student to clean their room, or money-saving tips. I try to capture these in my newsletters and on social media so that followers can try the ideas for themselves.
Would you like to give any specific advice to fellow entrepreneurs?
I’m still finding my feet as an entrepreneur, so I think it’s a bit presumptuous of me to advise others at this stage.
I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself. If you have an idea and can answer the question “so what?” then explore and develop your idea and don’t be deterred by setbacks. For example, I was so eager to get started that I published my first book and website before I really looked into branding and researched my target audience. It wasted time and money when I decided to stop and start again. However, I believe that every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve.
I’m proud of how much I’ve learned as a solopreneur, especially on the technical side of things. Who would have thought that at (er) over 50 I would be an author, blogger, content creator, and entrepreneur? I’m a big believer in not reinventing the wheel, and I think it’s a service to others to offer your knowledge and skills for their benefit.
Would you like to have an initial interaction with Philippa to explore the best approach to preparing for university? Sign up for her weekly email with tips, free guides, and informative blogs about student and university life here: https://www.fromhighschooltouni.com.
And get ready in advance by subscribing to a lifetime membership to prepare your student with precise packing checklists and useful guides including budget planner, travel and food guides, and more: https://www.fromhighschooltouni.com/student-bundles
Are you a Woman Entrepreneur/ Leader/ Content creator? Get featured on My Swiss Story !
We are constantly looking for women with fascinating stories and experiences; those who are passionate enough to make a difference, those who have built successful businesses, those who have paved the path for others, and those who have taken actions to overcome adversities.
Click here to apply.