A Review of the American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference 2023

We live in a world, deeply interconnected, highly complex and dynamic. Looking at some of the drivers of change, we are faced with deepening disparities and a growing fragmented discourse, which altogether are putting democracies under pressure. In consequence, the importance of fostering exchange and mutual understanding cannot be overstated.

The American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference 2023 stands as an example of bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in thought-provoking conversations, share insights, and build relations as a means to shaping the next generation of leaders.

The American Swiss Foundation: A Legacy of Dialogue

Founded in 1945, the American Swiss Foundation (ASF) has a rich history of promoting exchange and collaboration between the United States and Switzerland. The organisation has played a pivotal role in cultivating strong ties between the two nations – the sister republics – fostering a spirit of cooperation across various fields. At the heart of the ASF’s initiatives is the Young Leaders Conference (YLC), an annual gathering that brings together talented individuals from diverse fields such as government, business, media, diplomacy and academia. The conference serves as a platform to exchange ideas thereby developing a joint understanding of the common challenges of this century.

Diverse Themes and Relationship Building

The 2023 YLC addressed a wide array of topics that are central to the current global discourse. How to make the world more resilient? How to build trust? How to overcome social divides and reunite nations?

From deep-dives on (re-)insurance matters and how these will further develop in a context of social inflation, to the understanding that coping with climate change requiring a concerted effort of technological advance as well as policy making, and the success factors of Switzerland’s dual-track education system – the themes and topics covered could not be more diverse. And beyond, the programme held its promise for further stimulating inputs: a tour of Parliament hosted by The Hon. Christa Markwalder, a fireside chat with On co-founder Caspar Coppetti, a tour of Pilaturs Aircraft Facility, and and a culinary workshop at K2 Fine Dining Restaurant.

On Wednesday afternoon, the 2023 YLC class also visited ETH Zürich which stands on a bedrock of true Swiss values: freedom and individual responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and open-mindedness. ETH dates back to 1855, and today even more, a big deal is about promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. The excursion was completed with presentations by ETH Pioneer Fellows.

The promise of lasting impact

At the beginning, the week felt as an eternity in time span. Eventually, it had passed as quickly as a blink of an eyelash, mainly because the format pushes for new perspectives and encourages active participation, empowering to engage in an ongoing global conversation. What remains are fond memories and the believe for that the 2023 class has managed to build bridges that last, supporting the emerging leaders to navigate the complexities of the modern world.