Jacqueline Tanzer

Champions Trust Regional Representative for Europe 


When did you know that your skill lit a spark in you that other professions didn't?
I always loved being creative, it’s what led me to follow a career in graphic design. I always liked this profession, but I only started to love it when I set up my own business, because then I realized all the opportunities there are for self-development. What I found in being a self-employed graphic designer is that it gives you infinite possibilities and challenges that allow you to grow, develop your skills, and discover it from different perspectives over and over. 

What is your favourite WorldSkills memory?
My favourite memory is the people I have met over the years. This is not really a specific memory but thinking of WorldSkills I find it impossible to choose only one favourite. From being part of Team Austria, when I competed at WorldSkills Sao Paolo in 2015, to finding the most incredible friends on the Champions Trust, and the whole WorldSkills family around it. I can't choose a single memory, because I’ve made countless memories that are happy, emotional, inspiring, and the reason why I am still involved with WorldSkills in every possible way.

Why is being part of WorldSkills important after your Competition is over?
Competing at WorldSkills is a life-changing experience and a big part of your life for weeks, months, maybe years. It sparks something in you, and all the passion, energy, and experiences are incredibly valuable for bringing the movement forward. Not only the Champions benefit from staying involved and sharing their story, but everyone who gets to hear it, learn from it, and be inspired by it. 

What would you tell your 12-year-old self about your future?
The advice I would give my 12-year-old self – I often find hard to follow – is about making the decision about what you want to become and do in life. Often you feel like you have only one chance to choose the right skill, job, career, and that you’ll be stuck with this thing forever. But no matter what you choose, you’ll probably end up in a completely different profession or position than you initially thought you’d end up in. And that is great, because it means you change and grow, towards a future you could probably not even have imagined when you were 12. I decided to become a graphic designer, today I am also an entrepreneur, and maybe one day I’ll be something completely different, and I am looking forward to this journey.

What do you want senior policy makers to know about skilled jobs and skilled professionals?
A career in skills takes as much hard work, dedication, talent, and brain power as an academic career does. It should therefore be valued as much, which should reflect in support, recognition in society, salary, and everything else that makes a career in skills a first choice.