Beneath Zurich’s charming old world façade is a city shaped by tremendous economic activity, a fitting backdrop for the Zurich Global Alumni Forum, held at the Park Hyatt Hotel on June 29-30, 2007. The theme of the event similarly united old and new under the heading
“A Heritage of Innovation.”
Speakers at the forum in Zurich included business and government leaders such as Jacob Wallenberg, W’80, WG’81, chairman of Investor AB, Alex Gorsky, WG’96, Chief Executive Officer, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp., Jan-Michel Hessels, WG’69, Chairman of the Board, NYSE Euronext, Peter A. Wuffli, AM P’99, Group Chief Executive Officer, UBS AG, and Mohammed Sharaf, CEO of DP World.
Chaired by Marc O. Stöckli, WG’96, Managing Director of MOS Advisory Services GmbH, the organizing committee put together a robust slate of discussions and keynotes on critical innovation issues in traditional industries, finance, life sciences, and technology. In addition, three master classes were taught by Wharton professors Raphael “Raffi” Amit, Richard Herring, and Janice Bellace on emerging trends in private equity, the changing rules of international banking, international human rights, and company codes. More than 300 alumni and other business leaders attended.
On the second and final night of the forum, conference participants were whisked away by train to Rapperswil Castle, set on a hill on the east shore of Lake Zurich — an impressive finish to a spectacular weekend.
