St. Gallen Symposium

A few days ago, we had the great pleasure of reuniting Leaders of Tomorrow from across Asia who have been part of the St. Gallen Symposium over the past decade. This gathering was more than just a meeting—it was an opportunity to broaden and deepen our connections with those who have long supported our initiative and enjoyed engaging discussions on how to turn ideas into action by leveraging the Symposium's global network of chapters from Japan to Hong Kong and Singapore.   If you are a graduate student or know a graduate student, who would like to become part of this vibrant community?  Join the St. Gallen Symposium's Global Essay Competition and don't miss the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Switzerland. Link to the competition can be found in the comments ✍️ Thank you for participating: Andreas Kuster, Calvin Chua, Calvin Heng, Emily Zhiyi Wang, Fabian Karst, Geoffrey See, Kah Boon Goh, Kaspar Koechli, Kathleen Yu, Krystal Choo, Kumar Ranjan, Larry Jyun-Jhe Du, Mohit Panchaly, Reigner Wayne B., Ryo Umezawa, Siwon Moon, Tommy K.S. Koh, Yasuo Iwako. Ka Ming Andre K.

In today's interconnected and rapidly evolving global landscape, businesses face an unprecedented mix of challenges: climate change, talent shortages, AI disruption, and geopolitical tensions. But how prepared are companies to navigate these complexities? In a compelling article, Nikolaus S. Lang discusses why developing geopolitical capabilities is no longer optional but essential for companies looking to thrive in this volatile era. From managing supply chain disruptions to planning for the unpredictable, Lang emphasizes the need for: 🔹 Scenario Planning: Anticipating multiple plausible futures 🔹 Investing in Expertise: Bringing geopolitical insights into the boardroom 🔹 Leadership in Uncertainty: Building resilience to face global challenges As highlighted by the St. Gallen Symposium, geopolitics is a key force shaping the business world. Is your organization ready to strengthen its geopolitical muscle? Read the full article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejgQJQfJ

We’re excited to announce several online sessions for the Global Essay Competition! These sessions are designed to answer your questions and help you succeed in the competition. Two of the sessions will feature special inputs from distinguished experts: Dr. Gunnar Hauptmann, who teaches academic writing at the University of St. Gallen, and Felix Rüdiger, who has in-depth expertise on this year’s essay topic and question. Here are the details: December 4, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (UTC +1) Online session with input from Felix Rüdiger on this year’s topic and essay question Meeting ID: 341 057 054 880 Passcode: UW5LgP December 11, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (UTC +1) Online session with input from Dr. Gunnar Hauptmann on "Academic Writing" (Dr. Hauptmann is a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen with extensive experience in helping students craft high-quality essays.) Meeting ID: 398 226 084 387 Passcode: xmNP7h December 17, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (UTC +1) Q&A session with Sandro Mathys, Malik Ourari, and Fabiola Günther (responsible for the Leaders of Tomorrow). Meeting-ID: 334 364 128 026 Passcode: kx4QxB Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your essay, ask questions, and connect with experts. We’re looking forward to seeing you there! Link to the essay competition in the comments. #GlobalEssayCompetition #LeadersOfTomorrow #AcademicExcellence #EssayWriting #StGallenSymposium

🌐 Business & Economics in a World of Shifting Global Power 🌐 As power dynamics evolve, the impact on global business and economic landscapes is undeniable. High inflation, price volatility and disrupted supply chains are direct consequences of a more volatile international environment. From supply chains to tech innovation, today’s shifting alliances and emerging markets challenge companies and economies to adapt like never before. This year’s St. Gallen Symposium theme, “Shifting Global Power,” invites us to explore questions that define the future: • How will new economic power centers influence global trade? • What role will emerging markets play in shaping growth? • How can businesses navigate increasing geopolitical risks? As businesses face these challenges, they also find unique opportunities—opportunities to innovate, invest in resilience, and rethink long-term strategies. This theme isn’t just about examining change; it’s about inspiring leaders to envision and shape a future where global influence is more collaborative, inclusive, and resilient.                                                                                     Join us as we gather global leaders, economists, and young visionaries to discuss the future of business and economics in a world of shifting power.💡 Participate in our Global Essay Competition to discuss how shifting global power will impact business and economics. This is your chance to be part of the conversation. Join through the link in the comments✍️

Our sincere congratulations to Daron Acemoglu on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics, an honor he shares with his esteemed colleagues, Prof. Simon Johnson and Prof. James A. Robinson. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Max Schmidheiny Foundation for their invaluable partnership, especially in supporting us with the selection of outstanding speakers who enrich the St. Gallen Symposium. Together, we are dedicated to fostering impactful dialogue and innovation, and we look forward to reaching the next milestones through our continued collaboration.

🌍 Planetary Health in Focus: NZZ x St. Gallen Symposium Session In collaboration with the St. Gallen Symposium, NZZ hosted an insightful session on planetary health featuring Dr. med. Eckart von Hirschhausen, founder of the “Stiftung Gesunde Erde Gesunde Menschen” foundation. Joined by our ISC team members Pablo Mattia Quilez and William Røkke, the discussion delved into the WHO’s urgent warning that climate change poses “the greatest health threat to humanity.” Rising temperatures, water and food shortages, and new disease threats are impacting populations around the globe, underscoring the essential link between a healthy planet and human health. In our  cross-generational dialogue, Dr. von Hirschhausen emphasised that health starts not with medication but with fundamental essentials: clean water, healthy food, fresh air, and stable living conditions. As he noted, “we don’t need to save the climate; we need to save ourselves.” This session offered an inspiring preview of our theme for the 54th St. Gallen Symposium, “Shifting Global Power,” by highlighting how climate change impacts all of us globally, shifting power dynamics and reshaping how we collaborate and set foreign policy in response to environmental challenges. For more on this year’s theme and the upcoming 54th St. Gallen Symposium, check out the link in the comments!👥 #SGSymposium #ShiftingGlobalPower #PlanetaryHealth #ClimateHealth #StiftungGesundeErdeGesundeMenschen #NZZLife #GlobalDialogue

Last week, we had the pleasure of spending three productive days with our entire team at the Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen in Andermatt. We organised a series of workshops and exchanges with different speakers from our partner network. During our time together, we explored several topics relating to this year’s theme “Shifting Global Power”   The Impact of Social Media on Business: We were honoured to engage with Joachim Stephan, Managing Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Switzerland, with whom we discussed how social media is transforming business operations and customer engagement. Consumers and Climate Change: Stephan Garvs, Spokesman of the management at PreZero Dual GmbH and representative of Schwarz Gruppe , led a compelling discussion on the crucial role consumers play in addressing climate change. Our discussion emphasised the importance of consumer awareness and responsibility in our sustainability initiatives. The Energy Transition and Protectionism: As we navigate the global energy transition, we confronted a vital question with Nora Teuwsen, Country Holding Officer at ABB Schweiz: Is the energy transition at risk of being hindered by protectionist industrial policies? This dialogue highlighted the need for collaboration and open dialogue to drive sustainable progress. Upholding Values Amid Challenges:  Sabine Heller, Managing Director at Lombard Odier Group , posed a critical question: How can we maintain our commitment to values and sustainability during challenging times while also addressing security needs? In our discussion served as a reminder of the delicate balance we must strive to achieve. The Concentration of Power in a Monopolised AI World: Together with Strategy & Consulting Lead Accenture Switzerland Miriam Dachsel, we explored the implications of a monopolised AI landscape, where a few dominant companies hold significant power. In the discussion we shared insights on how concentration raises concerns but also delivers opportunities to consumers. The Choice of Sustainable Products: Finally, we engaged with Prof. Dr. Johanna Gollnhofer on why consumers often prefer conventional products over sustainable alternatives, highlighting factors such as the perception of sustainability as a luxury and reluctance to pay more. This discussion emphasised the need for effective communication strategies to shift consumer mindsets and promote sustainable choices.   These discussions connected our topic Shifting Global Power with the global trends in innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. We extend our sincere gratitude to all our speakers and participants for contributing to the success of this gathering.

Have you ever aspired to engage in discussions on global challenges alongside Presidents and CEO’s?   Together with the University of Oxford we present you the Global Leadership Challenge 2024 https://lnkd.in/guK8HV-v Click the link above to Apply Now   What is in it for you? - You get the chance to connect to 100 participants and 20 Senior Advisors and speakers from 80+ countries and to develop action projects together. - The winning team gets invited to the 54th St. Gallen Symposium as Leaders of Tomorrow in an all expenses covered trip. - Receive an Official Certificate from the University of Oxford and the St. Gallen Symposium.   What is the Global Leadership Challenge? This year from 12 - 16 December, the Global Leadership Challenge convenes 100 emerging leaders from around the world to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time by integrating responsible leadership and practical actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the fully virtual formatted challenge, they engage in cross-generational dialogues with senior leaders, learn from a diverse group of peers, and develop a wide range of SDG action projects that directly impact their communities around the world.

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Ratan Tata, whom we will remember as an inspiring entrepreneur and outstanding leader.   Mr. Tata, who transformed Tata Group into a global powerhouse through his visionary leadership, was known for his commitment to innovation and social responsibility. His philanthropic efforts, particularly through the Tata Trusts, have significantly impacted education, healthcare, and rural development in India.    We fondly remember his visits to the St. Gallen Symposium and his dedication to fostering honest and open dialogue across generations. His enthusiastic participation and genuine interest in our community enriched our discussions and left a lasting impact on all who knew him.   Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.

In recent years and going forward, nations across Asia, Africa and Latin America are emerging as new centres of global power. This shift towards a multipolar world extends across several dimensions, incl. economic, political, technological, societal, cultural and demographic ones. Overall, it represents one of the fundamental trends today’s and tomorrow’s leaders need to grapple with and comprehend.    Global power is shifting. What’s your innovative idea to address a related risk or opportunity? BRIEFLY describe ONE specific risk or opportunity related to shifting power across world regions and nations in some specific field, including (but not limited to!) politics, business, economics, technology, sustainability or security Offer your innovative and concrete solution to address this development, i.e. how to deal with the risk or leverage the opportunity you’ve identified Be bold and think beyond the status quo, while being as specific as possible. Sign up here! https://lnkd.in/eAu2Ag2S