24 April 2019. In the wake of digital, climatic and social change, the use of capital and resources has to be considered anew and in a future-oriented manner. On the occasion of the 49th St. Gallen Symposium, the student initiative is calling on present and future decision-makers to develop approaches against short-term profit fixation.

Programme

In the official programme of the Symposium, the speakers dealing with this issue include the following:

• Fatima Bhutto, Pakistani writer
• Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
• Prof. Niall Ferguson, historian and professor at Harvard University
• Arancha González, Executive Director, International Trade Center, Geneva
• Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance, Singapore
• Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany
• Freeman Shen, Founder and CEO of WM Motor
• Gundhild Stordalen, Founder & Executive Chair, EAT
• Martin Wolf, Chief Commentator, Financial Times

Purpose beyond Profit: how does the young generation tick?

In the joint study entitled "Leaders of Tomorrow 2019" of the Nürnberg Institut für Marktentscheidungen e.V. and the St. Gallen Symposium, more than 1,000 young people and young executives from more than 80 countries were interviewed about the topic "Purpose beyond Profit". The results of the study reveal that "Purpose beyond Profit" is an important criterion for people’s choice of jobs and is regarded as a competitive edge for companies in the field of human resources. In addition, the study provides answers to questions such as "How would the young generation define the purpose of a company that goes beyond profit?" or "How can companies measure success – apart from purely financial factors?" The complete results will be published from 3 May 2019 onwards and will be debated at the St. Gallen Symposium. The detailed programme and an updated list of speakers can be found at https://www.symposium.org/programme.

Plenary events via live stream

The plenary programmes of 9 and 10 May will be transmitted in a live stream on www.symposium.org.

National Bank chief on a public panle

On the Thursday and Friday afternoon of 9 and 10 May, the St. Gallen Symposium will stage public events in the Audimax for anyone who is interested. Topics will range from the question of trust in the media and information in the internet to the inclusion of a happiness index in the decision-making processes of an entire country and the discussion with Prof. Thomas Jordan about the balance sheet of the Swiss National Bank. The detailed programme can be downloaded from www.symposium.org/programme.

EcoOst St. Gallen Symposium

On 27 Mai 2019, the St. Gallen Symposium in cooperation with the St.Gallen-Appenzell and Thurgau Chambers of Commerce and the University of St.Gallen will stage a public panel discussion in the Executive Campus HSG. The aim is to place the insights from the St. Gallen Symposium into a regional context. Under the chairmanship of SRF moderator Arthur Honegger, entrepreneurs and academics will discuss the question as to how companies succeed in overcoming their short-term profit fixation. The audience will be able to ask questions. Admission is free – the number of seats is limited. Anyone who is interested can register with www.symposium.org/receptions.

The following people will take part in the event:

• Markus Bänziger, Director, St.Gallen-Appenzell Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Prof. Thomas Bieger, President of the University of St.Gallen and member of the St. Gallen Symposium Foundation Board
• Roger Dudler, Founder of Frontify, St.Gallen
• Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus, Founder of Reckhaus AG and Insect Respect
• Prof. Susan Müller, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of St.Gallen
• Moderation: Arthur Honegger, Swiss Radio and Television SRF