Peter Perutz: «ETH is a pillar of my life.»

What did you want to be when you were a kid ?

When a was a child, all the members of my family were on the run. The central word was “survival” for the first 10 years of my life. As a child I couldn’t have any wishes. I was often ill, and during the war my sister and I spent so much in cellars that my mother was afraid that we would go blind. So I couldn’t think of a career.

Then how did you get to ETH Zurich?

The second important word in my life was “learning”. As a young man I studied mechanics at the Technical University in Vienna and received my first diploma. One of my great-uncles, who lived in London, had studied at the ETH Zurich. He therefore recommended to the family that I move to Zurich. But I was never asked whether I wanted to become an engineer.

My father organised an apartment for me in Zurich, and I started my courses. In order to be accepted to ETH Zurich, I underwent a kind of preparatory year. Although I already had a degree. A new world opened up for me in Zurich : I experienced total security. For example, I was able to walk home alone without fear. In the restaurants and shops there was a large selection. Because of my childhood I was sick again and again, and for the first time I was able to be cared for in hospital. These were new experiences for me.

My whole life has been about languages. This has always opened the door to new jobs for me, even if I did not master them perfectly. I think this also opened the door to ETH Zurich for me: since I spoke fluent Russian, Hungarian as well as German. I was perceived as a representative of the East.

How did the ETH Zurich degree help you ?

After my diploma, I went to Paris, although I could have stayed in Zurich. But France was involved in the Algerian war, so there wasn’t much work. One morning I got a job offer in Milan. They needed someone who spoken German. And I had to be in Milan the next day. So I dovre off even though I had no idea about the products. At that moment my studies at he ETH Zurich helped me a lot. It was enough for my boss that I spoke German and had a diploma from ETH Zurich. He didn’t even ask in which subject I had graduated. I noticed one thing over and over again during my long career.

For me, the ETH Zurich is a pillar of my life : to stop, to support and to go on. The people I dealt with saw the ETH Zurich degree as a monument to quality and commitment. They knew that I was trained to act. Even though I didn’t know everything at the beginning.

There was, for example, the time when I was working as a coach. People thought I had to be a special person : an engineer at ETH Zurich who prepares people for public appearances. That opened many doors for me, which also paid off financially. Nevertheless, I never emphasised the ETH Zurich degree for selling myself. It was very much on my CV, but I never printed it on my business card nor did I boast about it.

What do you want to transmit to today’s students ?

Everything has changed seven times in my life. But I have remained true to myself throughout my life and have never lost hope. I had my goals, but I never searched, I was found. I never asked anyone for anything either. And I never ran away, I let it come to me.

I find the language skills, imperfect as they may be, always open doors. Sometimes we also believe that an initial education is enough to lead a life. I do not think that is true. You always have to continue educating yourself. I have specialised again and again, and in doing so I could live very well.