10 Break-Out Sessions

  • Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

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A Demographic Revolution: Young India Takes Charge (with All India Management Association)
Speaker
Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, OYO Rooms
Pranjal Sharma (Topic Leader), Economic Analyst, Advisor and Author, India

India is undergoing its economic, technological and demographic transition simultaneously. An old country is becoming youthful and adventurous with the passage of time. Young Indians like OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal are quietly taking charge of Indian ethos by becoming icons of audacious aspirations and tangible proofs of its potential, spawning startups that are becoming most valuable and famous than many legacy companies. How can young revolutionaries find ways to carry the older generation of investors, regulators, workers and consumers with them and what can other economies and founders learn from India’s momentous transition?

Collaborative Advantage Across Generations: Reflecting on the SGS Experience (ISC Alumni)
Speaker
Former Members of the International Students' Comittee
Christoph Loos (Topic Leader), Chief ­Executive ­Offi­cer, Hilti AG
Vivian Bernet (Topic Leader), Head of the Organising Committe, International Students' Comittee
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For over 50 years teams of student have volunteered to organise the St. Gallen Symposium. They have written countless invitations, met thousands of partners, and welcomed some of the most important personalities of their time on stage. Together with former members of the ISC we will reflect on the St. Gallen Symposium experience of cross-generational dialogue and collaboration, the lessons they have learned for their lives and on how the symposium has evolved. This session is organised together with ISC Alumni.

Collective Genius? Cultivating Creativity in the Arts and Beyond
Speaker
Susan Goldsworthy, Affiliate Professor of Leadership, Communications and Organizational Change, IMD Business School
Gerry Hofstetter, Light Artist & Film Producer Hofstetter Marketing
Javiera Estrada, Artist
Tatjana Rupp (Topic Leader), Member of the International Students' Committee

As the need for innovation is growing, the routinisation of well-structured creative processes within organizations is key for concurrent value creation. Prof. Susan Goldsworthy of IMD, this year's St. Gallen Symposium artist Javiera Estrada and Light Artist Gerry Hofstetter will discuss the role of collaboration in the creative process. Together, and in conversation with the audience, they’ll explore the way collaboration can drive creativity in various organisational contexts, and, on the other hand, the role of introversion and lone contemplation in creating something new.

Connecting Business with Purpose: The Potential of Skills-Based Volunteering
Speaker
Curdin Duschletta, Head Community Impact Switzerland & Foundations, UBS
Christopher Jarvis, Executive Director, RWInstitute
Prof. Amanda Shantz (Topic Leader), MBA Director and Professor of Management, University of St.Gallen

Many employee volunteering and giving programs are presented as an employee perk, similar to casual Fridays or a team-building event. But treating workplace giving and volunteering this way fails to fully capitalise on the great potential of such programs: to foster employee personal growth, and address key societal challenges. The panel will particularly explore the potential of skills-based volunteering, its benefits, and the unique challenges that arise when moving from merely transactional volunteering to something far more transformative.

Financing the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Speaker
Patrick Zhong, Founding Managing Partner, M31 Capital
Makram Azar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Full Circle Capital
Prof. Julia Binder (Topic Leader), Professor of Sustainable Innovation and Business Transformation, IMD Business School

The investment landscape over the next twenty years will be radically different from previous generations. While there appears to be greater access to capital, there also appears to be much more volatility and debt with no clear dominant financing mechanism. Entrepreneurs, VC, Private Equity, and banks will have to find new ways to work together to create growth and stimulate innovation. How can investors and entrepreneurs better collaborate and find mutually beneficial agreements that balance risk and return?

Hacking the Fashion & Luxury Watchmaking Industry towards more Sustainability (with Condé Nast College)
Speaker
Martina Bonnier, Editor-In-Chief, Vogue Scandinavia
Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO, Omega S.A
Carmen Jenny, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CLOTHESfriends AG
Johannes Reponen (Topic Leader), Director of Post-Graduate Programmes; Academic Affairs; Research & Knowledge Exchange, Condé Nast College

The fashion industry accounts for 10% of humanity’s annual carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. For long, the fashion and luxury watchmaking industry drove, together with the fashion media industry, unsustainable dynamics in the sector: generating more and more demand through an artificial cycle of new collections and seasonal trends. Businesses’ marketing, media as well as influencers thereby create a constant longing and demand for their products. How can designers, fashion houses and publishers exit this vicious cycle and, collaboratively, drive the transition towards more sustainable and ethical fashion and luxury watchmaking?

M100 Sanssouci Colloquium@St. Gallen: Media’s New Power: More Impact Through Collaborative Journalism
Speaker
Mathias Müller von Blumencron, Journalist, Member of the Board, Tagesanzeiger and Advisory Board Member M100 Sanssouci Colloquium
Joanna Krawczyk, Chairwoman, Leading European Newspaper Alliance
Paul Radu, Investigative Journalist, Co-Founder OCCRP
Astrid Frohloff (Topic Leader), TV Presenter and Journalist, Advisory Board Member M100 Sanssouci Colloquium

Media diversity, freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Europe are currently under threat. Journalists and independent media companies are increasingly joining forces across borders to respond to such challenges as well as to be able to continue to offer independent quality journalism in the future. This session will identify learnings from new media partnerships such as the Leading European Newspaper Alliance (LENA) and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to identify how media can most effectively work together.

Democratizing Access to the next Generation of Technology and Innovation: Communities and Radical Transformation
Speaker
Gina Loften, Member of the Board of Trustees, TIAA
Luzius Meisser, Chairman, Bitcoin Suisse
Tycho Onnasch, General Manager, Trust Machines
Shuo Chen (Topic Leader), General Partner, IOVC

Technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship are key drivers of the modern economy and social mobility. Given their importance, we should strive to improve accessibility to tech, education and entrepreneurship across all backgrounds. Creating open and inclusive communities, especially with tech is important to accomplishing this goal, but it is easier said that done. Simultaneously, a third iteration of the internet – Web3 – has the potential to radically transform the internet of things and reduce barriers to access. How can these forces be effectively harnessed and directed for the benefit of all people and move the world forward?

Varieties of Tech Capitalism: Europe's Approach to Innovation and Regulation in a Global Context
Speaker
Julian Teicke, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, wefox
Lisa-Marie Fassl, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Female Founders
Christoph Keese (Topic Leader), Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, hy

Over the past decades, the tech sector, especially the internet of things, has become a central component of modern economies. Trying to catch up with the exponential pace of technological development, the US, China, and Europe are crafting rules of the game on digital markets. What are the emerging characteristic differences between regulatory regimes of digital markets, in the US, Europe and beyond, and how do they balance innovation and regulation? In light of strategic competition over tech dominance between the US and China, what are the opportunities and challenges for Europe in particular?

Changed for Good? Engaging with the New World of Work
Speaker
Petra von Strombeck, Chief Executive Officer, New Work SE
Jean-Christophe Deslarzes, Chair of the Board, Adecco Group
Nat Ware, Founder & CEO Forte
Prof. Heike Bruch (Topic Leader), Director, Institute for Leadership and Human Resources Management, University of St. Gallen
Watch Here

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world of work forever. The fast and widespread adoption of remote work and an ever-increasing concern of employees with purpose and meaning on their job have intensified the war for talents. Reaching out to and concurrently engaging employees is key for businesses across sectors and regions. What learnings can be drawn from the pandemic as regards our approach to work? Has the world of work changed for the better? And what role does leadership culture and a new approach to hiring play going forward?

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Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award

At the ISC Alumni Celebration on the weekend after the 51st St. Gallen Symposium, Monika & Wolfgang Schürer were honoured for their unparalleled commitment and enduring support for intergenerational dialogue.

As part of the ceremony, the Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award was established to recognize their selfless dedication.

The Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award is an annual USD 10’000 prize that will be awarded at the St. Gallen Symposium over the next nine years to an organisation or project committed to maintaining and promoting intergenerational dialogue.

The award is made possible through the support of the St. Gallen Symposium, the University of St.Gallen, its student union, and the HSG Alumni Association. The Foundation for International Studies Board of Trustees forms the foundation’s awarding body. Applications to be considered for the prize are open until January.

Nominate now

About Monika & Wolfgang Schürer

In 1968 worldwide protests arose against capitalism, the economic and political elite, racism, and the Vietnam War. Moved by these protests, five students initiated the first symposium. One of those students was Wolfgang Schürer, who later met his future wife Monika at the International Students´ Committee. Since their first meeting, the couple has tirelessly committed themselves to the St. Gallen Symposium for over 50 years and enabled the generational dialogue that still takes place today in St. Gallen and throughout the world.

History

Sal Khan wins first
Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award 2023

Sal Khan, founder of the Khan Academy, has been recognized for his unwavering dedication to cross-generational dialogue with the Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award. The award was presented to Khan during the 52nd St. Gallen Symposium in recognition of his commitment to promoting intergenerational dialogue through education. As the recipient of this annual USD 10,000 prize, Khan’s work with the Khan Academy exemplifies the ideals of the award by providing free, world-class education for students of all ages and backgrounds. Through his tireless efforts to bridge the gap between generations, Sal Khan has truly made a difference in the lives of countless individuals around the world.

About the Khan Academy

The unique art piece by Alex Hanimann

Renowned Artist Alex Hanimann Creates Unique Art Piece for Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award.

Each year, the Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award is presented with a unique art piece created by regional St. Gallen artist, Alex Hanimann. Hanimann, who has previously designed two dialogue sculptures for Monika and Wolfgang Schürer, has now created an abstract art sculpture as the award. His work reflects the spirit of the award, which is dedicated to fostering intergenerational dialogue and supporting organisations committed to maintaining and promoting it. Through his artistry, Hanimann has helped to create a lasting legacy for the Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award, and his contributions have made a significant impact on the St. Gallen Symposium.

About Alex Hanimann

“Alex Hanimann’s art piece perfectly captures the spirit of the Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award. Through his creativity and talent, he has created a lasting symbol of our dedication to promoting dialogue between generations and supporting organisations that share our vision.”

– Beat Ulrich, CEO of the St. Gallen Symposium during the handover of the artworks in the studio of Alex Hanimann.

Recommend an organisation or a project for the Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award

If you know of an organisation or project working tirelessly to foster intergenerational dialogue and could benefit from the funding, please
do not hesitate to contact us! Whether a long-established organisation or a young student project, we are open to any idea that promotes
dialogue between the generations.

Applications and recommendations must be submitted by 31 January 2024.

Nominate now

Formal Information

  • Ideas & projects must be submitted to the St. Gallen Symposium by 31 January 2024.
  • The prize is endowed with USD 10’000 and must be used in the same year for the submitted idea.
  • The awarding body reserves the right to discuss the final decision with the applicants in advance.
  • The idea must unmistakably serve the intergenerational dialogue!

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Nominate now
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Apply or recommend an organisation for the
Monika & Wolfgang Schürer Award

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