This past Sunday, Silicon Valley International School (INTL) welcomed members of our community to our annual INTL Connect Networking Event. This year’s theme, “Connection Across Languages and Disciplines for Deeper Learning,” highlighted the importance of crossing linguistic, cultural, and professional boundaries to build understanding and broaden perspectives.
The event featured two speakers from the INTL community: alumna Sian Felsovanyi and alumni parent Olivier Crémel, who each shared personal experiences that demonstrated how multilingualism, multiculturalism, and curiosity can shape the way we connect with others and navigate the world.
Sian graduated from INTL in 8th Grade and went on to study International Relations at the University of California, Davis. For the past five years, she has worked at ICONIQ Capital, where she currently serves as an Executive Assistant. A great example of the multicultural and bilingual values at the heart of the INTL experience, Sian is trilingual and comes from a tricultural background. Her experiences offered a compelling perspective on how language can open doors to relationships and experiences that might otherwise remain inaccessible.
Reflecting on her own journey with language learning, Sian emphasized the importance of being willing to make mistakes. “I think that that really has turned itself from something really small that you wouldn't think is a big deal into being comfortable making mistakes when you are learning a language, and this is so important for your kids,”she shared. She encouraged students and families to embrace opportunities to communicate across languages, adding, “if you're traveling, really the best thing that you can do is try to speak the local language, make the mistakes.”
Sian also shared a memorable childhood experience that illustrated the power of communication beyond simply speaking the same language. While visiting family friends, she found herself communicating with children who spoke Italian while she spoke English. “And we cobbled together a little bit of Italian, a little bit of English, a little bit of French, and a little bit of Spanish,” she recalled.
“And I think we ended up talking the whole night. And it's one of my favorite memories.”
Olivier Crémel, a valued member of the INTL community for nearly a decade, brought another perspective to the theme. A current INTL parent and Principal Engineer at VMware, where he has worked in the technology field for the past ten years, Olivier has also been a dedicated supporter of the school through his involvement with the Soirée du Vin Committee, PTA, and numerous other community events.
Drawing on his family’s French and Chinese backgrounds, Olivier spoke about the unexpected connections between cultures.
“The French and Chinese system are actually very similar,” he explained, noting the historical influence of Chinese educational ideas on France and describing the shared outlook he discovered when exploring schools for his family. His experiences demonstrated how cultural connections can reveal common ground where differences might initially seem more apparent.
Olivier also reflected on the everyday power of personal connections to transcend larger geopolitical concerns. Speaking about his family’s travels, he observed, “Mostly, when you are talking with people, you are just okay. You happen to be from America. That's fine. I can be your friend and all that.” His message served as a powerful reminder that meaningful human relationships often begin with simple curiosity, openness, and a willingness to connect.
Together, Sian and Olivier embodied this year’s INTL Connect theme, demonstrating how languages, cultures, disciplines, and personal experiences can intersect to create deeper understanding. Their stories provided our community with meaningful examples of the global-mindedness that INTL seeks to foster in every student.
We are grateful to Sian and Olivier for sharing their experiences and insights, and to everyone who joined us for another INTL Connect Networking Event. The conversations made Sunday are a reflection of the diverse and interconnected community that makes INTL special.
