"We fathers want to be more present"

m&k Marco Ancora, a post of yours on LinkedIn has gone viral in recent weeks. You talked about your daughter who waited in vain for "dad to get changed and then come swimming". Unfortunately, dad was in a work meeting and couldn't be there for the family swim day. You come across as vulnerable in this post, open up and let your community in on the stretch between family and work. Finally, you write that constant availability should be questioned so that fathers can also set an example of reliability in their private lives. What prompted you to post these thoughts on the LinkedIn business platform?

Marco Ancora I always try to be transparent - even when it comes to personal issues. In this case, it was about a very private moment: our daughter is at daycare on the days my wife works. The weekends belong to her. On this Saturday, however, a graduation ceremony was on the agenda, the date of which I had known for a long time. For me, it was a compulsory professional event, for her it was a day when Dad was supposed to be there. When I left, she was crying. I was particularly struck by the fact that she told friends at the swimming pool that I would just quickly put on my swimming trunks and be right there - a sentence that I had slipped out in an attempt to calm her down. I don't consciously lie to my daughter, but it happened at that moment. I wanted to share this moment because it reflects a dilemma that many people know: Success at work and being a present father - the two often seem almost impossible to reconcile. This is exactly what we should talk about.

Did you expect so much feedback? And what was the tenor of the comments?

To be honest, no. The response was overwhelming - mostly approval and sympathy. Many people recognized themselves in the story. There were also critical voices: I was accused of having written the article to arouse sympathy or to make a name for myself. I accept such criticism and reflect on it. But the overwhelming majority of reactions have shown: This area of tension is a real pain point for many.

What can change in the family/work context in order to improve the structure?

There needs to be more awareness that time with the family is not a "nice to have", but a social necessity. Employers should create clear framework conditions to enable parents to plan family time - and parents should consciously demand it.

As Managing Director of the Swiss Marketing Association, you are in close contact with your regional clubs - how is this topic reflected there?

We discuss it at various levels. In the clubs, balancing work, family and volunteer work is a particular challenge because club work is done on a voluntary basis. Many feel how difficult it is to reconcile these three areas.

Where can Swiss Marketing take up the cudgels?

We can promote discussion, make best practices visible and motivate companies to create family-friendly structures. As an association, we have a platform to spread the topic with decision-makers from marketing and sales.

As a father, what do you wish for the future of the working world?

Family first - and still have a focused career. There is a quote that I find very apt: "The only people who remember your overtime are your wife and, above all, your children." I would like to see a working world in which the value of the family is once again recognized as a social priority. Parents should be able to accompany their children as they grow up - in a healthy balance between work and private life.

What needs do you sense among men in your environment in terms of work-life balance?

Many of my friends - regardless of industry - are actively looking for ways to be more present as fathers. It's not just about working fewer hours, but about making conscious decisions: Does this appointment really have to be outside of working hours? Do we really need this business trip abroad?

Do you think Switzerland is on the right track?

Progress has been made, for example with more flexible working models. But major construction sites remain: Daycare costs are still a massive burden in many places, and the reality that many families can no longer get by on one income remains unresolved. I deliberately ask the question: why is this the case?

What conclusions do you draw from the great response to your post?

The topic moves us - and many of us. The post showed that we need to talk about how we as a society are rethinking work and family. For me, it was confirmation that personal stories on a business platform like LinkedIn can provide valuable impetus.

Marco Ancora has been Managing Director of the Swiss Marketing Association since 2025. Swiss Marketing is the professional and trade association for specialists in the fields of marketing and sales. It brings together the expertise of around 2,000 specialists and managers from various sectors. Swiss Marketing also organizes the professional and advanced professional examinations for marketing and sales. Swiss Marketing is represented and firmly anchored throughout Switzerland: experience and knowledge transfer at management and specialist level takes place in around 20 regional clubs, the nuclei of the association. Swiss Marketing Clubs organize various regional events on current issues relating to marketing and sales. Swiss Marketing has been chaired by Chris Pozzoli since 2025.

"There needs to be more awareness that time with the family is not a "nice to have", but a social necessity."