Alexander
Birken
Member
of the Board
Otto (GmbH & Co KG)
Member
of the Circle
of Benefactors since 1979
How do you benefit from the St.
Gallen Symposium?
The St. Gallen Symposium, with its outstanding
mix
of participants,
offers current and future decision makers from the world of business, politics and academia an ideal
forum for international
networking.
What motivates
you to renew your support for the St. Gallen Symposium every year?
I value the
annual exchange of opinions and ideas on topical economic and social issues at the highest intellectual
level. The open, international dialogue on the global challenges facing companies and communities is
for me both enriching and stimulating.
What
inspirations did you draw from the last St. Gallen Symposium in terms of your own values and standards?
The
last St. Gallen Symposium demonstraded the vital importance of responsible and sustainable economic
management in today's globally networked marketplace, at local and international level. It also highlighted
the need for close, reliable cooperation worldwide and the agreement of the international community
on internationally valid rules and standards.
How do you benefit from the St.
Gallen Symposium?
The St. Gallen Symposium offers an ideal
platform for exchanging ideas about a topic that concerns the entire world. But I would like to emphasise
one thing in particular: Without fail, the organisers of this symposium always succeed in leaving one
or two lasting impressions.
What
motivates you to renew your support for the St. Gallen Symposium every year?
Of
all the many events being held, the St. Gallen symposium stands out as a student-organised occasion
which is prepared and carried out with great commitment and passion. Their sole goal is to accomplish
something great. That deserves to be supported.
Which
remarkable people from past St. Gallen Symposia have been particularly inspiring to you in your day-to-day
work and why?
It is the wonderfully interesting blend of people at the St. Gallen
Symposium which I find so inspiring. From higly gifted students to international politicans, from intellectual
professors to hands-on managers, whether during the sessions or sipping a beer in the evening, this
"cocktail" of people sparks exciting discussions and brings about new ideas.
Dr.
Konrad Hummler
Managing Partner
Wegelin & Co. Private Bankers
Member
of the Circle
of Benefactors since 1983
How do you benefit from the St.
Gallen Symposium?
For me, the St. Gallen Symposium is the perfect
combination of the old and the new. You see many old acquaintances again, renew friendships and meet
new and interesting people, notably students from all over the world. The topic of the symposium is
often the motivation for coming, but that takes a back seat given the many networking and socialising
opportunities it offers.
What
motivates you to renew your support for the St. Gallen Symposium every year?
Since
the very beginning, the St. Gallen Symposium has always been a completely unique and independent student
initiative. I was involved in it once myself. It was a life-defining experience – everyone was very
goal-oriented but at the same time there was a strong sense of team spirit. It has stayed that way for
years, and that kind of attitude should be encouraged even if you are not involved in it anymore.
What did you learn during your time in the ISC that you
still apply to your professional life today?
That you can accomplish almost anything
if you put your mind to it, and the only person standing in your way is you. It would be wonderful to
be able to tackle every task with the same youthful vigour and confidence – without too many conventions
and preconceptions, without resignation and fatigue. Combined with the experience gathered over the
years, it would be the perfex mix.
Franziska
Tschudi
Delegate of the Board
Wicor Holding AG
Member
of the Circle
of Benefactors since 1997
How do you
benefit from the St.
Gallen Symposium?
Where else do you get that many opportunities in so short a time
to engage with new ideas and ways of thinking, to meet fascinating contemporary figures and to have
interesting discussions with like-minded people in laid-back surroundings?
What
motivates you to renew your support for the St. Gallen Symposium every year?
The
St. Gallen Symposium is a professionally organised event, but one which is realised with a great deal
of passion and enthusiasm. Whether I attend the symposium for the full two-and-a-half days or just for
an individual presentation or meeting, it never fails to impress me and is always a pleasure.
What
parallels exist between the St. Gallen Symposium and your family business?
Recognising
new trends at an early stage and making things happen with a close eye on feasibility. Also working
in a team to achieve something inspiring.
