Saying yes to opportunity: Sara's EF journey
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25 years | 10 roles | 6 products | 3 locations
Sara Dahlström's EF journey spans over 25 years and has taken her to many corners of the world. She's held 10 roles across various EF (Education First) divisions and today, she's the Senior Vice President of Global Recruitment & Employee Development, based in Zürich.
In this Q&A, she reflects on her journey and what has kept her inspired for more than two decades.
How did you first find out about EF, and how did you end up working here?
At a career fair at Gothenburg University. I got an interview the day after I graduated and got the job!
What did you study in school? Is that related in any way to what you're doing today?
I studied Business and Spanish and got my Master's from Gothenburg Business School. So, in the end, very relevant to what I do!
Can you tell us a little bit about your career trajectory? Where did you start, and how did you get to where you are today?
I have spent the majority of my career working in operations, especially in contracting and negotiations which I love. EF was my first job after school and I started in 2000 in the Stockholm office as Area Manager for southern Spain for EF Educational Tours. That meant that I was part of our Spanish team, which oversaw all production (operations, negotiations, invoices, safety, and quality), and I was specifically responsible for southern Spain.
I then moved vertically to bigger areas (like Madrid), then to higher titles such as Senior Area Manager, and in the end, to Regional Director. In the meantime, our head office had moved from Stockholm to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam to Lucerne. In my next role as Director of Operations, I was responsible for a few different areas, such as transportation, and a wider range of locations, like France, Spain, and Costa Rica. While we were expanding in Costa Rica, I had my first baby and went on maternity leave in Amsterdam. A few months later, I was asked to take a role in Amsterdam as Finance Manager for
After a few years in that role, I was faced with a dilemma. I was asked to return to my old stomping grounds in EF Educational Tours, in Switzerland, or to go to London to work with Language Travel production. I chose to go back to Switzerland, and I'll never know if that was the right decision. A real sliding doors moment! I then took on the role of Vice President of Operations and carried a big portion of operations across various locations, including France, Spain, the UK, and other Central European countries. For a lot of my time in operations, I traveled around the world to connect with our local operations teams and meet suppliers for contracting and quality checks. I did that for many years. It was a wonderful time, and we opened many new offices in countries like Australia, China, Japan, Peru, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama. The last project I worked on before leaving EF Educational Tours was to consolidate our Latin American operations in a small new office in Panama, which is a big office today!
After EF Educational Tours, I was asked to start EF Gap Year
together with two colleagues from the Boston office. It was a super fun project, going from managing a team of 60 to a team of 2. So fun and creative! Then at the beginning of 2020, I was asked to take over Safety and Incident Response for the Tours group, on top of EF Gap Year, and I, of course, said yes. Little did I know what was going to happen in March 2020! During Covid, I looked after the Safety and Incident Response team, and we fielded questions like, "Which countries can we open?", "What are our protocols for Covid?" or "What happens if someone gets sick?". When we got out of the most intense Covid time, I did a short stint in Travel, focusing on the customer journey. Then, an opportunity in Global Recruitment & Employee Development came up, and I was asked to take it, and I did! How have job opportunities happened for you during your time at EF?
By focusing on my current position and trying to do the best job I could there, while, of course, always trying to improve and embodying the entrepreneurial spirit. And if you can see an overall business need that overlaps with your passion and interest, focus on that!
Looking back over your time at EF, what are some pivotal moments that shaped your career path?
Saying yes to something that you are not 100% sure of. When we moved from Amsterdam to Lucerne, my then-boyfriend (today husband of 20 years) could not move with me. I was very torn about the situation, but ended up giving Switzerland a shot. Today, I'm very grateful for it. It led to loads and loads of more opportunities! Is there a specific moment or project that’s stood out as the most rewarding in your career?
Opening the new offices in Latin America was very rewarding, mainly because I was part of the full journey from idea, to putting it into practice. And at the same time, these actions led to saving money and higher customer satisfaction! My many years in operations were all about this, and it's something I love. The year we started EF Gap Year was also very special because it was a completely new angle of business. What is the best part of your job?
My team is the best part of my job. They are strong, independent, intelligent, and kind. To see what they do every day is amazing. And I really love talking to young people about EF, so when we go to universities and we get a chance to interact with the students there, I love that. What is the most challenging part of your job?
Working in a global, central team gives you a very different and interesting view that I appreciate. But some of the projects move at a different speed, due to the size or the buy-in needed. That can be frustrating sometimes. Throughout your career and across multiple offices and divisions, what keeps you passionate about working at EF?
The people, the mission, and the endless opportunities. Out of the countries you have lived in, which has been your favorite and why?
I have to say that each country was perfect for the life stage I was in. To grow up in Sweden is amazing, to have your early career and young years in Amsterdam can't be better, and it was great to have my own family here in Switzerland. What does work-life balance mean to you? How have you been able to find that at EF?
I don't think there is something you get daily called "balance". If you look for balance, you actually will probably do all things half and half. I have found a way that works for me and my family. It includes not missing major events for the kids when they were small, including them in my travels by telling them all about the countries I visited, buying souvenirs, minimizing weekend travel, and being very, very present when I am home. Now that the kids are older I take every call from them, even if I am busy. What makes working at EF different from other companies?
There are so many opportunities with new projects, different functions, other divisions, or new countries. The unknown is appealing to me. Any advice for someone navigating their own career?
Say yes. And always do good work, it will get noticed. __________________ About EF journey stories 
No two EF careers are the same. People switch products, explore new functions, move across continents, or choose to stay and grow in the same area for decades. We’re purpose built to encourage entrepreneurialism, which means there’s always something new and exciting to work on—and you can do it all while staying within the same company. There are limitless opportunities. You’re free to steer your own course, and go as far and as high as your talent will take you. These are just some of those stories.