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Preface Every year in May, a group of diverse and eminent personali- ties from all over the world embark on a journey to the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Here, the International Students’ Committee (ISC) seeks to realise its vision of a top- level intergenerational and interdisciplinary exchange of ideas by bringing together the global élite of entrepreneurs, business leaders, politicians and scientists with a cross- Dr. Josef Ackermann Chairman of the section of gifted young students at the St. Gallen Symposium. Board of Trustees St. Gallen Foundation for International During the “3 Days in May”, today’s leaders and those of the Studies future are invited to savour the “St. Gallen Spirit” by discours- ing and interacting with their peers, mentors and successors from around the globe, by expounding or hearing uncon- ventional ideas in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere that stimulates mutual trust with the common objective of considering and developing solutions to the key issues of our time. Over the past years, it has been my privilege to be involved in the evolution and growing success of this distinguished and unique initiative. It is with great pleasure that I encourage you to join me in constructive debate and open dialogue at the St. Gallen Symposium. “The entire event, which attracts top business leaders for three days in May each year, is not only put together and run by students. It has also become an occasion for propagating entrepreneurial ideals and boosting the morale of Europe’s businessmen.” The Wall Street Journal “It is a very powerful way of putting forward and introducing ideas.” BBC “The Swiss St. Gallen Symposium in May, the first management conference organised by students: an event with a special character.” The Economist “The neutral university setting allows partici- pants to abandon the formality normally imposed by their titles, and encourages an open- ness usually reserved for private discussions.” Newsweek 1 2 A Unique Idea What are the long-term challenges confronting entrepre- neurs, top managers and leaders in politics and civil society from around the world? What are the duties of those who assume positions of responsibility and influence today? What are the issues that students, as future decision-makers, worry about? What concerns do they raise for those who make the fundamental decisions of today? Every year, at the St. Gallen Symposium, these two perspec- tives come together in a global context. 600 leaders from around the world enter into an inspiring, multidisciplinary exchange of ideas with 200 exceptional students. With the campus of the University of St. Gallen as a backdrop, the participants discuss the pressing issues faced not only by business in dealing with its economic, political and social environment, but also by government and society as a whole. Christine Lagarde and Prof. Amartya Sen Franz Fehrenbach, Robert Bosch GmbH, during a Work Session The St. Gallen Symposium is an initiative of the International Students’ Committee (ISC) at the University of St. Gallen. For more than three decades, the ISC has been promoting a “I really enjoyed the special atmosphere and “The mix of the participants, different gener- discussion about the burning issues associated with global spirit at this perfectly organised Symposium. ations of public and private life, is a remark- development and has staked out an entrepreneurial, liberal and optimistic position. This stance forms the foundation for Hearing and discussing so many different and able feature of this Symposium. This way of the openness, intellectual stimulation and dynamics experi- inspiring viewpoints is of crucial importance exchange is very valuable for organisations enced at the Symposium. Internationally, the St. Gallen in these times.” like NATO.” Symposium is unique – both as a student initiative and as a meeting place for dialogue between the decision-makers of Thierry Moulonguet Jaap de Hoop Scheffer today and tomorrow. Renault S.A. NATO “I am very impressed by the superb level of organisation and the vision and imagination shown in getting people together.” Prof. Amartya Sen Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Thierry Moulonguet 3 4 The St. Gallen Spirit The participants in the St. Gallen Symposium do more than “One of the things that makes the St. Gallen “The St. Gallen Symposium has a unique discuss issues with their peers. Whoever participates is also Symposium special is the dialogue between atmosphere. challenged, and must address the opinions of others. The international exchange between top executives and students the generations. Leaders from the worlds of is shaped by a high degree of cultural sensitivity and great business, politics and science are given the First, it is located in this excellent university, intellectual openness to other experiences and backgrounds. opportunity to discuss ideas not just between in the old city of St. Gallen. Within such a setting, the discussion opens up broad access themselves, but also with people who may be to new ideas, findings and solutions. in their positions ten, twenty or thirty years Second, it is an occasion which brings together Careful selection of participants and speakers as well as a from now. It is a genuine dialogue, not just people from very different backgrounds: eco- thoughtfully prepared thematic framework foster a focused, a one-way street where the managers give nomics, management, science, government, critical and action-oriented exchange of ideas at a very high Ernesto Bertarelli, Serono International SA, and the late Augustinus O. Praem. speeches and the students ask the odd critical foreign affairs, law, psychology, even religion. level. The student participants qualify for participation at Heinrich Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck in a discussion about “Science Between Goals and Limits” the Symposium through one of the largest essay competi- question.” It also brings together different generations. tions in the world, and thus undertake important intellec- It brings together decision-makers in the tual groundwork that paves the way for intensive debate. Neue Zürcher Zeitung fields of business, academia, foreign affairs Different formats – from the keynote presentation to work and the military in order to discuss the fu- sessions in small groups – guarantee the depth of the subject ture with the current generation of students. matter and a genuine dialogue that is continued by the par- “Not that the most important ingredient of ticipants on an informal basis. this now world-famous annual meeting of Third, it is a dialogue across countries. The students and decision-makers from the worlds The stimulating environment and relaxed intimate speakers come from many countries, as do atmosphere on the university campus have played a large of politics, religion, academia and business is the participants and the students. part in bringing the St. Gallen Symposium international quantitative. Rather, it is qualitative: the pri- recognition as an exclusive melting pot of different views, ority is quality of debate, participants, organi- approaches and value systems. The personal initiative and Dr. Thilo Bode, Greenpeace International, and Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Nestlé Fourth, this is a unique conference because extraordinary commitment of the ISC members, who con- S.A., discussing the subject of “The New Balance of Power Between Business, sation and outcome.” Politics and NGOs” of the unique role the students play in its ceive, plan and organise the Symposium, are important ingredients of the characteristic “St. Gallen Spirit”. South China Morning Post organisation. It is their conference.” Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach Goldman Sachs International Winners of the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award: panel under the topic “Pushing Limits – Questioning Goals” 5 6 A Top Faculty A distinguished faculty of eminent international personalities explores and develops its views on present and long-term issues in business, politics and society with the focus on eco- nomic processes within their relevant environments. Contributions from leading business figures, politicians, aca- demics and practitioners of civil society promote a lively discussion at the St. Gallen Symposium, and in turn are challenged by the wide-ranging opinions put forward by the participants. Individual presentations and broad-based panel discussions are complemented by work sessions. Here, international leaders enter into intensive discussion with between 20 and 40 participants, acquire a mutual understanding, and develop new approaches to concrete issues. The 60–80 speak- ers also immerse themselves in discussions and informal conversations with other participants throughout the Symposium, thereby contributing significantly to the crea- tion of the very particular St. Gallen atmosphere. Dr. Mathias Döpfner, Axel Springer AG N.R. Narayana Murthy, Infosys Technologies Ltd. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Fiat S.p.A. Over its 35-year history, the St. Gallen Symposium can look back on many ground-breaking and visionary debates that have played their part in fostering the Symposium’s world- wide reputation as a cradle of ideas and a place where theory meets practice at the highest level. Fujio Cho, Toyota Motor Corporation Prof. Dr. Danuta Hübner, European Commission Martin Wolf, The Financial Times 7 8 Past Speakers Jack Ma Carlo Maria Cardinal Prof. Noreena Hertz Dr. Philipp Hildebrand Lord Marshall of S.B. Mittal Dr. Ulf M. Schneider Yoji Ohashi Sergio Marchionne Joschka