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A student-organized symposium brings leaders from different generations to the same table.
More than a thousand participants from over eighty countries – this year the St. Gallen Symposium is once again a magnet for politicians, managers and those who want to become one. The vision of the symposium is to bring together the leaders of today and tomorrow.
Students have a free hand in organization
While the mix at the event itself is important, the organization is left entirely to the students. This year’s 53rd edition is being put together by a 24-person student organizing team. They put their studies on hold for a year.
Only HSG students are allowed to take part – and only once. Except for those who take over the leadership for the next year, the organizing committee reconstitutes itself after each event.
According to Sophia Gampp, one of the co-leaders of the organizational team, this is very inefficient, but the steep learning curve of the new generation is also an essential part of the DNA of the St. Gallen Symposium.
The fact that the organizing committee is changed every year is incredibly inefficient.
There are also over 450 volunteers who pick up guests at the airport, clear tables or use social media channels during the symposium. It is a unique opportunity to be at such an event with personalities from all over the world, says a helper.
Guests such as Julia Navalnaja (widow of the late Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny), Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr and Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter travel to St. Gallen to exchange ideas with the next generation of managers.
The symposium is a particularly valuable occasion because the dialogue between the active and future leadership generations is something very special.
The Finance Minister considers the symposium to be very valuable. The dialogue between the active and the future leadership generation is something very special.
In the spirit of scarcity
While most of the organization of the event takes place behind the scenes, scarcity is discussed on stage – be it energy or food shortages, a shortage of skilled workers, climate change or a lack of security.
Defects are always opportunities for the business world.
According to Peter Voser, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Symposium and Chairman of ABB’s Board of Directors, the aim is to show that deficiencies do not necessarily have to be negative, but can also offer opportunities for the business world.
The St. Gallen Symposium will take place again next year – with a new organizing committee and new motto.