Delivering great service with great people: Simon's EF journey
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14 years | 9 roles | 4 locations | 1 division
Simon Cunningham’s EF journey started with a summer role in Brighton—and turned into a career spanning cities, continents, and functions. What began as a job alongside university quickly grew into something more, as he followed opportunities from the UK to Hong Kong and Zürich, taking on roles across activities, operations, sales, and quality. From large-scale events early in his career to leading teams focused on delivering exceptional student experiences, his journey reflects the value of networking, adaptability, and long-term thinking.
In this Q&A, Simon shares how his career evolved from those early summer days, the moments that helped shape his path, and why it’s the people at EF that have kept him engaged every step of the way.
What did you study in school? How does that relate to what you're doing today?
Biochemistry—other than a bit of analytics, not so much!
How did you first find out about EF, and how did you start working here?
I was studying at the University of Sussex in Brighton. One summer, my housemate was working as an Activity Leader at EF Brighton’s summer school. I met some of her colleagues and immediately got on really well with them. It made me think that if the work was as enjoyable as the people, it would be the perfect place for me. So, I applied for a role as an Activity Leader too—and got the job. The rest is history!
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 started in Brighton, working summer roles as an Activity Leader and then Activities Manager from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, I moved to London as a Global Village and Activities Coordinator until 2014, before relocating to Hong Kong to work as a Project Manager and Sales Manager from 2014 to 2017. I returned to London in 2017 as a Senior Operations Manager until 2021, then briefly went back to Brighton in 2021 as Senior Operations Manager and Interim School Director. Later that year, I moved to Zürich as a Sales Manager until 2023, and since then I have been working in Zürich as Director of Quality.
How have job opportunities happened for you during your time at EF?
Networking at EF is so important. Our business is not complicated, yet there are many moving parts, so knowing who to turn to for a specific question and support only helps you in your role and ultimately allows your abilities to shine. That helps you to deliver on the expectations that your manager has for you, thereby helping you progress in your career
Looking back over your time at EF, what are some pivotal moments that shaped your career path?
Being involved in several high-profile events. One example is when I helped support our UK summer festival, Summeranza, for 3 years. This was early on in my career and allowed me to meet a lot of senior management and show what I could do.
For some of my roles, I was also in the right place at the right time. I ran our Course Leader trainings in Asia in 2014 and met the team there at the same time we were opening our hub in Hong Kong. Getting to know them better in person helped me to be on the radar for future roles in Asia.
Is there a specific moment or project that stood out as the most rewarding in your career?
Working with fantastic teams who deliver amazing results has been a defining part of my career. From the schools I’ve had the fortune to be part of—delivering outstanding student experiences reflected in excellent feedback—to our sales teams reaching record-breaking results, my most rewarding moments have always been shaped by the people I’ve worked with.
What is the best part of your job?
Working with most teams that make up the division EF Language Abroad. I enjoy being involved in many aspects of the student experience and am passionate about delivering quality.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Accepting that we can't do everything that we want to do now. We're extremely ambitious with projects that will help make our team's lives easier and the overall student experience better. But there are only so many hours in the day and days of the year.
Throughout your career and across multiple roles, what keeps you passionate about working at EF?
Easy. It's the people I work with. You will find EF people in every corner of the globe who share a similar outlook on life, a similar ethos at work, and, importantly, a passion for what we do. It makes it so easy to make friends across the company.
Out of the countries you have lived in, which has been your favorite?
Hong Kong is a special place and very close to my heart. The energy, the people, and the food of the city are second to none. With all the great places you can get to easily from there, it's hard not to put it as my favorite place in the world!
What does work-life balance mean to you? How have you been able to find that at EF?
Knowing what is urgent and what is not. Our student and team safety is number one, so if anything were to affect that, it's important to act regardless of the hour. Then, for non-urgent yet important tasks, it's assessing how much that task can help make someone else's life easier if I just spend a little more time finishing it.
The Eisenhower Matrix is the best way to ensure you know how to prioritize. And then outside of work, it's important to know what gives you energy. I'm an extrovert, so I get my energy from surrounding myself with people.
What makes working at EF different from other companies?
Our positive outlook—you can make a mistake, yet you should learn from it. And our belief that we can move mountains when we work together as a team. Lastly, our likemindedness—it's easy to see your colleagues as friends.
Any advice for someone navigating their own career?
Be flexible, network, and importantly, know that when you deliver, good things are around the corner. But be patient, as it might take time for those opportunities to present themselves, but they will come.
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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.