Menu

Search form

Come and join us to experience a unique lifelong learning journey at the Alumni Forum in Geneva!

14 - 15 June 2019

Geneva

Contact Us

Leading With Purpose

14-15 June 2019, Geneva, Switzerland

The challenge of leadership has never been greater. On the one hand, business leaders are experiencing unprecedented shifts as they face new demands to take responsibility for the social and environmental impact of their organizations. On the other hand, meeting the demands of investors for sustained financial performance has become increasingly challenging with the widespread digital transformation of business and society.

The Alumni Forum Europe will consider how leaders today can rise to meet these challenges and seize the opportunities of this unique moment: What does it take to forge companies that not only deliver economic performance but also contribute to social and environmental progress? How can digital transformation complement the move to more mission-driven organizations? How do you lead your people in a way that inspires them, fosters the right mindset and infuses values that balance the company’s economic mission and broader societal goals? 

Torn between the dual challenge of contributing to social progress while delivering economic performance, senior executives navigating the dynamic global market need to answer the following question:

What does it take to lead today?

Programme

Friday 14 June 2019

13:00RegistrationFoyer
14:00

Welcome and Introduction

Andreas Jacobs MBA'90J, Chairman of the Board, INSEAD

Brigitte Reverdin MBA'81, Chair, Steering Committee

Alexander Wyss MBA'01D, President, INSEAD Alumni Association of Switzerland

Masters of Ceremony:

Peter Zemsky, Deputy Dean, INSEAD

Karine Genevey MBA'02J, Head of Investment Solutions, Pictet Bank

WI Ballroom
14:15

Leading with Purpose

Keynote address

Tidjane Thiam MBA'88J, Group CEO, Credit Suisse AG

 
14:30

CEO and Board Panel: What Does It Take To Lead Today?

Panel discussion

Company leaders face enormous challenges today: A rapidly shifting environment, new stakeholders, and ever increasing expectations. Our guests are Chairs of Boards and CEOs and will discuss how they lead amid the challenges and actively engage and lead their different stakeholders.

Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of the Board, Hublot

Katherine Garrett-Cox, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf International Bank (UK)

Gilbert Ghostine, CEO, Firmenich

Moderator: Peter Zemsky, Deputy Dean, INSEAD

 
15:30

Leadership Challenges in the Digital Age

Parallel faculty sessions:

  1. The Power of Informal Networks for Leadership in a Digital Age
  2. Couples That Work
  3. FC Barcelona Innovation Hub Goes Global
 
16:30Coffee breakFoyer
17:00

What is Hot in European VC in 2019?

Documents available

Panel discussion

This panel will explore current trends in VC financing, especially in Europe and the US. Emphasis will be on the early stage space since $100 million investment rounds are more PE than VC. Here are some of the topics we will visit:

  • Does every startup have to be able to become a “Unicorn”?
  • Can Angels make money in the VC space?
  • The perennial search for startup success criteria: what have we learned?

With:

Emile de Rijk, CEO and co-founder, SWISSto12

Michael Friedrich, CEO, DistalMotion SA

Coline Juin, CEO, Moona

Jean-Philippe Lallement, MBA'90J, Managing Director, EPFL Innovation Parc

Dominique Mégret, MBA'96D, Head, Swisscom Ventures

Jennifer Wu, CFO, ScanTrust

Moderator: Lucian Wagner, MBA’81, General Partner at EuroUS Ventures LLC

WI Ballroom
18:10

Keynote address

Staffan de Mistura, former UN Special Envoy to Syria

 
18:30Cocktail dinatoirePool terrace

 

Saturday 15 June 2019

8:00RegistrationFoyer
8:30

Welcome

Nida Januskis, Associate Dean, Advancement, INSEAD

Mina Draganova MAP'17May, President, INSEAD Alumni Association, Geneva Chapter

Philippe Mauron MBA’95J, Chair, Organising Committee

WI Ballroom
8:35

The Impact of Business on Society

Keynote address

André Hoffmann MBA'90D, Vice-Chairman, Roche; Chairman of the Advisory Board, HGIBS (INSEAD)

 
8:50

Business and Government in an Age of Disruption

Panel discussion

As we confront existential global challenges in a constantly changing society, needs and expectations for governments, international organizations and businesses have evolved. What are the challenges and opportunities to make a positive impact on societal progress?

Looking at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), we will explore where businesses, international organizations and government can achieve ‘early wins’. Also, we will discuss what is really hard and where there is a need and room for multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Confirmed speakers:

Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance

Helen Hai TIEMBA11'Jan, Goodwill Ambassador, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

L. Nneka Mobisson, Executive Director, mDoc

Katell Le Goulven, Executive Director, Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, INSEAD

Moderator: Alexis Favre, Producer and Presenter, Radio Télévision Suisse

 
9:50Coffee break Foyer
10:30

Thinking Strategically about Impact

Slides available

Faculty lecture

Capitalism relies on a well-functioning market to allocate societal resources efficiently: producing goods and services society values, and in the process also creating jobs and wealth for people. However, market outcomes do not always align with societal objectives, such as on issues like environmental degradation or social inequality. We will argue that different kinds of organizations – such as non-profit vs. for-profit - are best seen as complementary means of pursuing societal progress. We as individuals need to identify important societal needs we care about, and contribute to these in a manner consistent with our personal goals as well as the unique advantages and constraints of the context in which we pursue these.

Jasjit Singh, Professor of Strategy, The Paul Dubrule Chaired Professor of Sustainable Development

WI Ballroom
11:30Stretch breakFoyer
11:40

Leadership advocacy (parallel sessions)

  1. Corporates Meet Social Entrepreneurs
  2. How to be a Successful Inclusive Leader
  3. Blockchain
WI Ballroom
12:40Networking lunchFoyer
14:00

Europe Launch of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index

Launched for the first time in 2013, the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) is an annual benchmarking report that measures the ability of countries to compete for talent. With this sixth edition addressing the theme of "Entrepreneurial Talent and Global Competitiveness", GTCI aims to advance the current debate around entrepreneurial talent, providing practical tools and approaches to leverage the full potential of individuals and teams as an engine and a basis for innovation, growth, and ultimately competitiveness.

L. Felipe Monteiro, Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy, INSEAD

Bruno Lanvin, Executive Director of Global Indices, INSEAD

WI Ballroom
14:30

Europe and Italy: Quo Vadis?

Fireside chat with Emma Marcegaglia, Chairman, ENI, facilitated by Beatrice Weder di Mauro, President, Centre for Economic Policy Research

 
15:00

Leadership challenges

Parallel sessions

  1. From the Lab to the Market
  2. What do Business Leaders Need to Know about AI?
  3. Sustainability and Governance
 
16:00Coffee breakFoyer
16:30

INSEAD: Present and Future

Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD

Peter Zemsky, Deputy Dean, Dean of Innovation

WI Ballroom
17:30

Alumni Recognition Awards

Sadia Khan MBA'95D, President, INSEAD Alumni Association

Nida Januskis, Associate Dean, Advancement, INSEAD

Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD

 
17:50End of the forum 
18:00

Dean's Leadership Cocktail

By invitation only.

Orion Terrace
20:00Gala eveningHotel restaurant du Parc des Eaux Vives

 

Speakers 

 

Pre-forum programme

Before the start of the official forum programme on Friday afternoon, a number of optional sessions have been organised, open to those interested. These sessions are free of charge and require a separate registration. Capacity is limited and seats will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

How to register?

If you have purchased your forum ticket, you will receive an e-mail that will allow you to register for the company visits and the parallel sessions in the programme below. To register for the random dinners and the Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption online programme, please follow the links provided below.

Thursday 13 June

 20:00

Random dinners organised by the INSEAD Alumni Association Switzerland

Register now!

Venues TBC 

Friday 14 June

8:00

Young Alumni Initiative breakfast

By invitation only

Hotel President Wilson

Neptune room

9:00

Company visits

Hotel lobby (meeting point)
10:30

Parallel sessions (details below)

 
 

Parallel session #1: Choose the professional future that suits you best

If you consider yourself to be in your mid career, you need to realize that you can choose among at least 7+1 alternative ways to pursue your career.

During this interactive, hands-on workshop, we will:

  • Cover the pros and cons of each one of the 7+1 alternatives
  • Provide your with recommendations if you choose to move into one of them
  • Help your master a methodology to identify your ultimate skills
  • Show you how you can implement the “Bridge and River” strategy of Julius Caesar (applied to your own career design and job hunting)

Facilitated by Daniel Porot, MBA'66, Founder, AGIR Porot & Partenaire

O Room
 

Parallel session #2: Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption

Brush up your core skills with ‘Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption’, led by Peter Zemsky, Professor of Strategy and Innovation and Deputy Dean. Learn online before the Forum, develop a strategic plan for your business (unit), supported by an INSEAD learning coach and come together on Friday June 14th before the official Forum starts for an exclusive live session with Peter Zemsky.

Price: EUR €900 EUR for INSEAD Alumni Association members, EUR €1500 for non-members and guests.

Learn more Register now!

WI Ballroom
 

Parallel session #3: INSEAD Women in Business Club - How do we reach out to the full potential of women and lead together with men

Register now!

At the INSEAD Women in Business Club, we « promote gender equality and support the INSEAD Alumni Women in Business through networking, sharing and best practices, education, as well as providing support and creating awareness and solutions to the issues of gender equality.” We do so by joining forces with like-minded men as we believe that by leading together, we will achieve the full potential of women in business and society.

In this panel, we will discuss in an interactive session what we have achieved so far, what we can do together going forward and why leading together matters for achieving our objectives. We look forward to seeing you at the panel discussion, and we especially welcome all men who would like to hear or contribute to this discussion.

Panel discussion organised by the INSEAD Women in Business Club, with:

Catarina Soares MBA'02D, President, IWIB Portugal

Mafalda Tenente MBA'06J, President, IWIB Zürich

Ghada Othman AMP'17J, Director, IWIB UAE

Steffen Raetzer MBA'02J, Building a sustainable and compassionate society

Moderator: Sophie Bertin MBA'02J, Founder & CEO, Parnima Consulting

L Room
 

Parallel session #4: Is Sustainable Measurable?

Register now!

In this forum, we are opening the floor to your ideas. You, the audience, are the experts and we want to hear what has worked and not worked for your businesses. How have you succeeded—or not—in dealing with your stakeholders to make Sustainability a valued driver to your business decisions?

We hope to provide a moment where you share your own concerns and solutions. If you would like to be an active part in the conversation, please kindly send a message to Gregoire Amigues MBA'95D, co-President of INDEVOR, who will facilitate the exchanges among participants.

Neptune Room
12:00

Volunteer appreciation brunch

By invitation only

Glowing

 

Steering Committee

Chair:

  • Brigitte Reverdin, MBA'81

    Founder, MARKETrends Family Office

Members:

  • Peter Zemsky

    Deputy Dean / Dean of Innovation, Professor of Strategy

  • Alexander Wyss, MBA'01D

    President, INSEAD Alumni Association of Switzerland

  • Rémy Best, MBA'93D

    Fondation Mondiale Chairman and Managing Partner, Pictet Group

Organising Committee

The Alumni Forum Europe 2019 is a joint project of INSEAD and the INSEAD Alumni Association of Switzerland:

Chair:

  • Philippe Mauron, MBA'95J

    Vice-president, INSEAD Alumni Association of Switzerland

Programme:

  • Pascal Ravery, MBA'84D

    Chair

  • Christina Pamberg, MBA'97D

    Member

Marketing:

  • Philippe Mauron, MBA'95J

    Chair

  • Reto Gygax, MBA'13D

    Member

  • Alessio Ascari, MBA'94J

    Member

  • Mina Draganova, MAP'17Jun

    Member

  • Marc Galin, MBA'99J

    Member

Sponsorship:

  • Julien Henri Firmenich, MBA'08J

    Chair

Logistics Committee:

  • Mina Draganova, MAP'17Jun

    Chair

  • Georges Kiener, MBA'82

    Member

  • Dimitri Vaharis, MBA'17J

    Member

INSEAD team:

  • Austin Tomlinson

    Director, Alumni Relations

  • Anne-Ev Enzmann, MBA'01J

    Director, Lifelong Learning

  • Jaume Gosalbez, MAP'18Feb

    Assistant Director, Alumni Relations

  • Perrine Wyplosz

    Coordinator Sponsorships and Corporate Relations, Events

  • Mylene Milenkovic

    Assistant Manager, Events

Who is attending

See who is attending the INSEAD Alumni Forum Europe 2019. For privacy reasons, the participant list is hosted in Yammer, the social network of the INSEAD alumni community. You can access Yammer with your INSEAD login and password. If you find that any of the details in the participant list is not accurate, please contact us.

Participant List

You can also update your personal details and contact your fellow alumni ahead of the event by signing in on MyINSEAD.

How can I access Yammer or MyINSEAD?

  • Your username is: [email protected]
  • Your password is: the one currently used for all INSEAD-related online services

How can I change MyINSEAD password (with my current credentials)?

How can I recover MyINSEAD password (with my username)?

If you do not know your credentials please contact the 24/7 service desk at [email protected]

We look forward to welcoming you in Geneva!

Our sponsors

Our strategy is to be a leading wealth manager, with strong investment banking capabilities. We seek to follow a balanced approach to wealth management, aiming to capitalize on both the large pool of wealth within mature markets as well as the significant growth in wealth in Asia Pacific and other emerging markets. Founded in 1856, we today have a global reach with operations in about 50 countries and 46,840 employees from over 170 different nations.
Pictet is an investment-led service company, offering wealth management, asset management and related services. We do not engage in investment banking, nor do we extend commercial loans. Our purpose is to build responsible partnerships with our clients, colleagues, communities and the companies in which we invest, in order to safeguard and transmit wealth, of all kinds, in the service of the real economy.
FIRMENICH IN A NUTSHELL
Firmenich is the world’s largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895. Operating an inclusive capitalism business model , the Group puts its science to work to address key societal challenges including Nutrition, Sanitation and Climate Change. With a Net Revenue of CHF 3.7 billion, Firmenich is the Number 1 Company in Fine Fragrance and in Fragrance & Flavor Ingredients worldwide. To be at the forefront of innovation, it invests 10% of its net revenue in Research every year. Present across 100+ Markets, with 7,600 employees, Firmenich offers equal opportunities to all as a globally-certified Gender Equality Employer.
Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA (UBP) was founded in 1969 by Edgar de Picciotto, whose vision from the outset was to offer investors a high-quality and innovative wealth and asset management service. This approach has guided the Bank through the decades and has led it to focus exclusively on the activities it excels at – global wealth management for private clients along with custom-made investment solutions for institutional clients. In its fifty-year history, not only has UBP maintained its independence – being mainly owned by the de Picciotto family – it has also achieved remarkable growth. Today, it stands among the leaders in the field of wealth management in Switzerland and continues to expand both in its home market and abroad, particularly in Asia, consistently stepping up its private banking activities and reinforcing its asset management capabilities. With a Tier 1 ratio of 26.6%, UBP ranks among the best-capitalised banks in Europe. It is based in Geneva, employs 1,781 people in over twenty locations worldwide, and held some CHF 126.8 billion in assets under management as at 31 December 2018.
Bruellan is a leading Swiss boutique investment firm founded in Geneva in 1991. The company has been providing a service of highly personalised and independent Multi-Family Office, Real Estate Services, Asset and Wealth Management. Today, Bruellan investment funds present opportune diversification due to their broad coverage of markets, active management and performance. Bruellan places human dynamics at the heart of its model and offers proximity to its clients thanks to its offices in Geneva, Lausanne, Crans-Montana and Verbier.
Nespresso is the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned coffee. For 28 years, the company has been building a global recycling scheme for its aluminium capsules which today covers 53 countries with more than 100,000 drop-off points. For the second year, Nespresso has collaborated with the iconic Swiss brand Caran d’Ache to create a limited edition pen made from recycled capsules. The award-winning design aims to inspire consumers to recycle by showing them the potential of aluminium, giving environmentally-conscious coffee fans something to write home about.


The L’OCCITANE Group is an international group, which manufactures and retails natural cosmetics and well-being products. Our products are rich in natural and organic ingredients and we offer new and extraordinary beauty experiences. Through our high quality products, we demonstrate our respect for nature, the environment and the people who surround it.
With more than 3000 outlets in more than 90 countries, L’OCCITANE Group commits to offer a worldwide beauty experience. Its 6 brands (L’OCCITANE en Provence, Melvita, Erborian, L’OCCITANE au Brésil, LimeLife by Alcone and Elemis) offer innovative and exclusive beauty experiences with premium ingredients.
Entrepreneurship, team spirit, exemplarity and authenticity are the key pillars of the Group. We commit to create a work environment both friendly and challenging that allows everyone to take initiatives, to innovate and surpass himself. Working in L’OCCITANE Group is sharing and promoting these values.

Leaving the warm water... 
Daniel Bloch, third generation CEO of the independent and family-owned chocolate company Chocolats Camille Bloch SA, sees creativity and passion as the key to success for small business. This is what allows us to compete at the forefront of the market. At the heart of his leadership style is building on the company's strengths, history and values, as well as being innovative in small touches that have a big impact. 
By sourcing as many functions as possible within the company, we become more independent, more competent and agile. This is what differentiates us from other chocolate manufacturers. 
Since it was founded, at the heart of a millenium-old vineyard, the Cave de Genève has opened its doors to invite you in to explore its range of wines, made from the finest grape varieties. Today, in between lake and mountains, we grow 24 different grape varieties together with our 65 winegrower families. The wines in each line bear names that refer to Geneva’s history; their aromas are subtle, the wines flavourful – flavours you can harvest year-round in the shop at La Cave de Genève in Satigny.
A leading European player in value-added IT services and software, Gfi Informatique is strategically positioned to differentiate between global operators and niche players. With its multi-specialist profile, the Group offers its customers a unique combination of proximity, sectoral organisation and industrial quality solutions. The Group, which has nearly19,000 employees, generated sales of €1,395 million in 2018.


An alpine cheese par excellence, L’Etivaz AOP is a hard cheese made in mountain chalets, and ripened in a cooperative cellar. The cooperative brings together about 70 producers, who produce the 430 tonnes of L’Etivaz AOP (or 16,000 wheels) which find their way to display counters both in Switzerland and abroad.

The cheese is produced between 10 May and 10 October from local raw milk. More than 2,800 cows grazing on some 130 alpine pastures located at an altitude of between 1,000 and 2,000 metres, produce each day rich milk with a flowery bloom which is heated solely in copper cauldrons over a wood fire. The long ripening process brings out the rich, powerful aromas which come from the large amounts of herbs of which the cows have eaten their fill.

L’Etivaz AOP meets precise and exacting specifications, making it the first Swiss AOP.

Best booking flexibility with Swiss product and service quality at an attractive discount – offered to you by Swiss International Air Lines as Official Carrier for INSEAD Alumni Forum Europe 2019 in Geneva. As the Swiss national airline, we offer all participants up to 10% discount on the standard fares. Your stay in Switzerland starts on board our aircraft.

 

Practical Information

The venue

The INSEAD Alumni Forum Europe will be held at the Hotel President Wilson. Facing Lake Geneva and minutes away from the most beautiful parks and boutiques along the famous rue du Rhône, our iconic hotel is one of the most contemporary addresses in Geneva, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Mont-Blanc.

Address: Quai Wilson 47, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Accommodation

The room block at the President Wilson is unfortunately sold out. Alternatively, you can also book a room at one of the Manotel hotels nearby.

Official carrier

The official carrier of the Alumni Forum Europe 2019 is SWISS. Learn more about how to benefit from reduced fares when booking your flight to Geneva.

Dress code

The dress code for the Alumni Forum is business casual. The dress code for the gala evening on Saturday 15 June is black tie/cockatil dress.

Media, filming and photography

INSEAD may engage professional photographers for this event. All sessions will be filmed. We reserve the right to use any film and/or photography from the event in our print and digital marketing collateral. Delegates who do not wish to be filmed or recorded should contact the INSEAD Alumni Relations prior to the event.

Party venue

The gala evening on Saturday 15 June will be held at the Restaurant Hotel du Parc des Eaux-Vives. Surrounded by a sumptuous garden of centuries-old trees overlooking the Geneva Lake, the 18th century Manor House of Le Parc des Eaux-Vives benefits from unique scenery.

Address: Quai Gustave-Ador 82, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland

What to do in Geneva

If you are looking for suggestions, please visit this webpage.

Get our official event app,

Get the most out of the app and have a more productive experience!

1

NAVIGATE the event agenda and logistics, even without Wi-Fi or data. Access useful information like ridesharing and local attractions through the Community Board

2

NETWORK effectively. Plan whom to meet by exploring attendee profiles and sending out messages

3

PARTICIPATE in event activities through session likes, comments, ratings, live polling, tweeting, and more

For Blackberry or Windows Phone,Click here
For feature details, visit Whova

Thank you to our sponsors:

Eirini and Leonidas Los, MBA’75

 

 

 

Related Events

p

INSEAD Alumni Forum Europe

Date
23 - 24 Apr 2021
Venue
Munich, Germany

Come and join us to experience a unique lifelong learning journey at the Alumni Forum in Munich!

p

INSEAD Alumni Forum Asia 2018

Date
9 - 10 Nov 2018
Venue
Asia Campus & Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

p

Alumni Forum Europe 2018

Date
8 - 10 Jun 2018
Venue
The Netherlands

The Dutch Alumni Association is thrilled to invite you to join the 2018 INSEAD Alumni Forum Europe on 8 - 10 June in the Netherlands.

More information to come.

Back to Top

INSEAD Personalised Experience

icon

Relevant

icon

Save & Manage

icon

Connect

It is easy, simply log in:

Via Social

  • icons
  • icons
  • icons

Or

Use your email address