TEDxZurich

Value driven living

As a strategist on Wall Street, I had to learn what it meant when people were purely money driven, thinking of nothing but how to make money. After the second year in Greenwich I got sick driving through the posh neighbourhood. When my boss called me up on the trading floor to offer me a pay rise in the middle of he financial crisis, I knew it was time to go and start a value driven approach to live and work. Today, I manage a small company that is dedicated to innovate and create beautiful things to the benefit of humanity.

Benedikt Germanier, CEO at zai
In the summer of 2009, Benedikt was appointed CEO by the zai Investor Board. Since then, he also teaches economics at the University of Applied Sciences in Chur and Rapperswil. Before taking on his new roles, Benedikt lived in the USA and worked as a leading strategist for UBS Investment Bank. He studied in Zurich while working as ski and tennis instructor, promoting courses in sports and Feldenkrais therapy. Benedikt is married and has four children.

Web: zai.ch

Leading through Language

What is the difference between a good company and a great one? Language, argues Thomas Zweifel, an accomplished leadership coach. In his interactive talk, he will set out to prove to the TEDxZurich audience that communication is the most important leadership tool of all.

Thomas D. Zweifel
Thomas D. Zweifel is the Chairman of Swiss Consulting Group and a consultant for Insigniam Performance. Since 1984, living on four continents, he has helped top and senior managers develop leadership in the action of meeting strategic objectives. Dr. Zweifel is the author of six co-leadership books, including Communicate or Die, Culture Clash, and The Rabbi and the CEO. Since 2000, he has taught leadership at Columbia University and St. Gallen University. Dr. Zweifel often appears in the media, including ABC News, Bloomberg TV, and CNN. He lives in Zurich with his wife and two daughters.

Web: thomaszweifel.com – Twitter: @thomas_zweifel