stars Switzerland symposium 2026
Unknown Unknowns: Prepare for resilience!
4-7 September 2026
Wolfsberg, Ermatingen

Key details:

  • Date: 4 September (starting at 15.30) – 7 September 2026 (finishing at 12.00)
  • Venue: Wolfsberg, Wolfsbergstrasse 15, 8272 Ermatingen  
  • Participants: 100 Leaders of the Next Generation, representing about 30 nationalities
  • Programme
  • Participation fee: CHF 6‘000.- (including accommodation, meals, local transportation and site visits – see our terms and conditions)
  • Deadline: Please have your talent register online as soon as possible but no later than 31 March 2026

Objectives:

  • Broaden the mindset to better understand major global trends which will impact business and society over the next couple of years, like Disruptive Technological Developments, AI-Innovation, Geopolitics and Geoeconomics, Circular Economy, Health and Leadership
  • Engage in interdisciplinary dialogue across geographies, cultures and industries
  • Contribute to the personal development to drive responsible and sustainable actions

Nomination criteria for “Leaders of the Next Generation”:

  • They hold a senior leadership role within their organization, typically one or two levels below C-level, with the potential to move up to C-level, or similar
  • They are committed to participate for the entire duration of the symposium

Confirmed speakers include (being updated ongoing):

  • Philipp AEBY, Co-Founder and CEO, RepRisk, Zurich, Switzerland
  • John R. ALLEN, Strategic Advisor, Microsoft; Four-Star General (Ret.), United States Marine Corps; Member, stars Global Advisory Panel, Washington DC, United States
  • Countess Bettina BERNADOTTE AF WISBORG and Count Björn BERNADOTTE AF WISBORG, stars Alumni, Mainau Island, Germany
  • Martin BOSSHARDT, CEO, Anapaya Systems; Member, stars Scientific Board, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Pelayo COVARRUBIAS, President, Fundación País Digital; Director, Universidad del Desarrollo; stars Alumnus, Santiago, Chile
  • Catrin HINKEL, Corporate Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Gordana KIERANS, Circular Economy Consultant, Managing Director MGT OPEN; Supervisory Board Member, Circle Economy Amsterdam; President, stars South-East Europe Alumni Chapter, Grižane, Croatia
  • LIM Siong Guan, Former Group President, GIC; Former Head of Singapore Civil Service; Member, stars International Board, Singapore
  • Peter MAURER, President, Basel Institute on Governance; Former President, International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC; Member, stars Global Advisory Panel, Berne, Switzerland
  • Volker PERTHES, Senior Advisor, German Institute for International and Security Affairs; Former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations; Member, stars Scientific Board, Berlin, Germany
  • Fabian RUPPRECHT, CEO, Helvetia Baloise Group, St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • Jie YU, Senior Research Fellow on China, Asia-Pacific Programme, Chatham House, London, United Kingdom

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact franziska.glauser@the-stars.ch

We look forward to welcoming your talent to the stars Switzerland symposium 2026.

Best regards

Toni Schoenenberger
Founder and Executive Chairman

 

About stars

  • stars Vision: Founded in 2008, stars develops better leaders of the next generation and wants to be the premier platform for these future leaders.
  • stars brings together renowned global experts and business leaders with talents who are typically 1-2 levels below C-level, nominated by their top management and have the potential to move up to C-level in the next few years. The participants come from all over the world and from different sectors, mainly from business but also from science, politics, culture, NGOs and the media.
  • stars organizes three annual symposia in Switzerland, Singapore and China. For a complete overview of upcoming symposia click here.
  • During the highly interactive events, participants team up to scan the horizon and explore trends and challenges that will inevitably impact society and business in the next few years.
  • As of 2026, the stars alumni network comprises over 2’500 former stars participants from over 100 countries and it grows by 200 alumni every year. Over 1000 alumni have moved up to C-level or similar position. There are 20 regional stars alumni chapters all over the world and stars alumni study tours explore particularly interesting countries and regions.
  • stars hosts the following online format: stars Webinars provide food for thought from top business leaders and experts about future-oriented topics such as leadership, geopolitics, technology, climate change and health. stars Webinars are open to the public.
  • stars regularly publishes stars insights, which are exclusive contributions by business leaders and experts who scan the horizon to discuss geopolitical, economic, technological and further trends and developments which will impact society and business in the next few years.
  • Globally leading companies and institutions are our partners: Hilti, Holcim, PSA, PwC, Roche, Sika, Temasek, UBS as well as Thomas Abegg Foundation.
  • A study of the University of St. Gallen found that stars is unique worldwide regarding the target group, i.e. participants of 1-2 levels below C-level, and strategic focus, i.e. horizon scanning.
  • stars is a neutral, independent, not-for-profit organization registered in Switzerland. More information about stars can be found in our brochure stars at a glance or on www.the-stars.ch.

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