Benoît Balet, Owner & Founder, ASK BEN

In order to help current students and recent graduates to find their way in the working world, many of our alumni shared their career story. Here the story of Benoît Balet, Owner & Founder at ASK BEN based in Zurich (CH). USI Degree: 4 years degree in Communication, 2001.

How did you start your career?

My first job after USI was with Swiss Olympic Associaton. I was portal & content manager of esport.ch the first online swiss sport portal. It was the dream job for me because a mix between communication as leader of the French editorial team and IT as leader of the technology department.

What motivated you to found your own company?

After almost 20 years in corporate in the communication and marketing department of big companies like DHL, Cembra or Swiss Medical I decided to start my own business ASK BEN GmbH.

What is your current role/duties?

The past 8 years I was mostly consulting customers in communications, marketing, digital transformation and AI. 2025 I started a switch from consulting and operations to teaching and training. Starting this year I stopped taking mandates in consulting and focus and training and teaching only. Focus is on entrepreneurship, digital transformation and AI.

As mentioned, today I work as an entrepreneur, consultant, trainer, lecturer and coach across all three Swiss linguistic regions. I train individuals and companies on AI, digital transformation, marketing, communication and entrepreneurship. I believe technology only makes sense when it serves people. I’m a certified AI trainer, Board Member and Section Manager for French-speaking Switzerland at swissAI, and cofounder of DigitalCoffee, a nationwide community connecting professionals around digital transformation and innovation.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at ASK BEN?

The broad knowledge and vision that i started building up at USI! A mix of communication, marketing, management and IT. The fact that I’m fluent in English and our 3 most important national languages is a huge plus.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

Exactly what I just wrote above.
The broad knowledge over classical and specialized studies and the fact that you need 4 languages to follow all USI lectures.

What competences and skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

Actually everything. The program was so complete!

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

Never stop learning as you will be outdated very fast of you don’t! Especially in the times of artificial intelligence, you’re not allowed to miss the train! Focus on networking at all costs! It’s time intensive but brings you so much for your career! It’s all about who you know! And travel as much as you can to open your mind and discover new cultures!

Technology is just a tool. Humanity is always the purpose.