Guest Blogs

Knowitall.ch often invites local experts in their field to contribute to their own blogs on our site. This means not only you will benefit from the useful recommendations that we make on our News pages, but you can also profit from some of the great advice and tips that these experts have to make on their favorite subjects. Whilst each of these bloggers has been recommended to us at some point during the evolution of Know-it-all passport and knowitall.ch, obviously we are not able to test out all the suggestions they make on their blogs, nor do we necessarily agree with all their opinions. So if you do find one of their tips useful (or not!), do let us know!

To make these blogs more accessible to you, we have now decided to group them altogether in one section, entitled Guest Blogs, accessible from our main menu bar. We will also post the most recent blogs on the home page of our site in the right hand column.

We are still building up this area of the site, and are looking for bloggers in a number of sections, including Your Home, Travel, and Leisure, so if you feel you have a useful contribution to make in either of these areas, and have the time to submit blog entries approximately every month, then please get in touch!

: Published: 07 May 2026

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com, Photo Geraldo Pestalozzi

Do the words “deliver a pitch” make your stomach drop?

You’re not alone. Pitching taps into a very human fear: being judged, rejected, or dismissed—especially by someone more senior. When your idea is turned down, it can feel personal, even when it isn’t.

Add to that the pressure of time—often just 3–4 minutes to be clear, compelling, and convincing—and it’s no surprise many people dread it.

But here’s the reality: pitching is a skill. And like any skill, it improves quickly with the right approach and practice.

At a recent workshop I led for the Geneva Communicators Network, I worked with professionals from international organisations, NGOs, companies and foundations on how to present ideas with clarity and impact. Over the years, I’ve helped teams pitch to donors, boards, and senior leadership—and the same principles apply every time.

Here are 13 practical ways to deliver a pitch that gets results:

: Published: 13 April 2026

chocpearcookiesCirieco

🍫🍐 Follow Lisa: Gooey Chocolate Cookies with Dried Pear - Belle Hélène

If you want a chocolaty chewy cookie that is decadent and delicious, then you have to give this one a try. Of course, you can substitute any dried fruit of your choice instead of the dried pears (buy these at Aligro) such as prunes, dried mango, etc. Or leave out the fruit and replace with walnuts or peanuts!

This recipe makes 18 cookies

40g flour (8 teaspoons) (or 50g gluten free flour)
50g unsweetened cocoa powder (10 teaspoons)
120g white sugar (1 cup)
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
120g dried pear, cut up (1 cup)
90g chocolate chips (3/4 cup)
1 egg
60g of melted butter (4 Tablespoons)

squares

: Published: 06 April 2026

tarte soleil 3

This is an easy recipe that anyone can make. AND it is very impressive... everyone will ask you how you did it!

Savory tart
2 round disks of puff pastry
1 egg or coffee cream or milk

Choose one of these savory ideas or invent your own
1. Cream cheese, tapenade, chorizo, sesame seeds (top)
2. Smoked salmon, Cantadou or Tartare or cream cheese, crispy fried onions (top)
3. Sun dried tomato spread, mozzarella, oregano (top)
4. Red pepper spread, cheddar cheese
5. Anchovie paste, artichoke paste, parmesan cheese (top)
6. Blue cheese, diced pear
7. Mayonnaise, sliced chicken, crispy bacon, sunflower seeds (top)

tarte soleil 1

: Published: 05 March 2026

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

I am not good with numbers. After all I make my living from words. I always need a second opinion about my finances.

I was delighted when a friend invited me along as a “plus one” to a presentation given by her private Swiss bank at a five-star Geneva hotel. We were both looking for reassurance that our life savings would not suddenly disappear.

It started off well with canapés, and champagne. Then the music began and the first of three very slick well-dressed bankers took to the stage.

Expectations were high. However, they quickly plummeted.

For the first hour, they spoke almost entirely about background and history—detail after detail that we simply didn’t need. What my friend and I really wanted to know was straightforward: will there be a financial apocalypse in 2026?

Unfortunately, that question wasn’t answered until the final five-rushed minutes. By then it was too late. People had already left. It was a perfect reminder that if you don’t focus on what matters to your audience from the start, even the most polished presentation can fall flat. They failed to understand the concerns of the audience – our worries about the impending financial cliff that we may be walking off this year.

: Published: 25 January 2026

By Claire Doole, www.doolecommunications.com

Organising an event should be like cooking a great meal: a careful balance of technical know-how and creative flair. Get the mix right and your guests leave satisfied, inspired, and possibly asking for seconds.

Get it wrong… and you’re serving up something bland, or overcooked
Sadly, many organisers fail to find the right ingredients. They over-season with PowerPoint presentations, dilute the panels with speakers who lack incisive insights, and wonder why the audience sneaks out before dessert.

But last year, the organisers of one of the most enjoyable events I moderated absolutely nailed the recipe. They served up the right blend of policy substance and creative flair.

So, let me share what made this event so deliciously satisfying.

The Dish: The ALMA Journey
The ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) journey celebrated the achievements of young people not in employment, education, or training who had taken part in a transformative European Commission programme, working for a short period in another European country.

In short: a meaningful initiative, a powerful story — and the perfect base ingredient.

Here, in 8 easy steps, is their recipe for success.