9. St. Galler Diversity & Inclusion Week

Prof. Dr. Gudrun Sander and Caroline Creven Fourrier

10:00 – 10:30 | online

The topics of diversity, inclusion, fairness, belonging and health have rarely been discussed as controversially as in recent months. Despite the existence of clear empirical evidence, emotionally charged topics frequently encounter difficulties.

• How do companies deal with these challenges?
• Where do they hold on to values?
• Which topics remain, which are pushed into the background?
• How do they convince and communicate internally and externally?

These questions will be addressed by Caroline Creven Fourrier, PhD, Chief Inclusion and Belonging Officer, Roche Group, and Prof. Dr. Gudrun Sander at the kick-off event of the 9th DE&I Week.

Prof. Dr. Gudrun Sander and Sebastian Kubik

10:30 – 11:30 | online

Women-only programmes are often controversial. It is argued that they are not inclusive because they exclude men and portray women as particularly in need of development. However, women-only programmes can also be effective and increase inclusion and well-being in the workplace. Together with Bühler Uzwil, we look at the conditions under which women’s programmes can be useful and what needs to be considered when implementing them.

Prof. Dr. Jamie Gloor and Eugenia Bajet Mestre

14:00 – 15:00 | online

How do physiological changes (menstruation, maternity, and menopause) across a woman’s life impact teams, careers, and leadership?

Why are common life transitions like menopause still taboo in modern workplaces—and how can leaders fix it?

What can you do to better support through women’s health transitions and unlock their full professional potential?

Monika Hessemer

Workshop | 10:30 – 12:00 | German

How can we create working environments in which different ways of thinking are not only accepted but also valued? What structures do we need to recognise potential instead of deficits? Can we use mindfulness to build bridges?

Dr. Anna Brzycky, Sandra Cesna, Dr. Nora Keller, Prof. Dr. Gudrun Sander, Dr. Damiano Urbinello and Elisabeth Vey

Workshop | 10:30 – 12:00 | English

•  How many people are affected by infertility?
• What misconceptions around (in)fertility and fertility treatments are out there?
• Is it employer responsibility to counteract fertility gap and support family planning, fertility, and career advancement?
• What does it mean to undergo a fertility treatment? How does it affect work ability and psychological well-being?

Christian Pierce

Workshop | 10:30 – 12:00 | English

How do you build real trust in teams without forcing closeness? How can respecting boundaries actually strengthen collaboration? And what does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teach us about leadership, inclusion, and feedback?

Drawing on insights from martial arts and organizational research, this interactive session explores how the values of trust, respect, and continuous learning can help leaders “lead like a black belt” on and off the mat.

Prof. Dr. Rolf Becker

Keynote | 13:30 – 14:30 | German

Despite the expansion of educational opportunities in Switzerland over recent decades, access to education remains unequally distributed. Socioeconomic background continues to play a significant role. This keynote addresses the following questions:

• Has the expansion of education and economic modernisation led to improved career prospects and greater upward occupational mobility?

• Has the distribution of returns to education (income, occupational prestige) in the labour market become more meritocratic?

• Or do parental background and family influences still affect professional careers, in addition to individual effort and achievement?

Drawing on over 75 years of educational development in Switzerland, this presentation examines how access to education has evolved and how changes in education, employment, and the economy have shaped the professional lives of men and women today.

Christoph Breier and Jérémy Fleury

Workshop | 14:45 – 16:15 | German

In order to anchor diversity and inclusion sustainably, structures are needed that enable fair opportunities. HSG Diversity Benchmarking and Equal Pay Analysis offer organisations intuitive tools for visualisation and analysis. Recognise structural inequalities, understand talent movements and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the EU Pay Transparency Rules. Together we will visualise where change is needed – and how you can take informed action.

Dr. Anna-Katrin Heydenreich

Workshop | 14:45 – 16:15  | German

Andrea Borzatta and Christina Fischer

09:00 – 09:30 | online 

The transition to parenthood represents a particularly vulnerable period with regard to mental health. Up to 20% of mothers and 10% of fathers are affected, around 24,000 individuals per year in Switzerland, the majority of whom are employed. Nevertheless, this issue receives little attention in the Swiss world of work. A study conducted by Periparto provides insights into this topic and clearly indicates a need for action. But what is required?

Dr. Gabriele Schambach and Martin Speer

10:15 – 11:45 | online

Managers are (co-)responsible for Wellbeing & Health in their area of responsibility, but

• what understanding of this do (predominantly) male managers actually have?
• what can be done if the male-dominated image of leadership is (still) characterised more by toughness and perseverance than by (self-)care and well-being?
• how can (male) managers specifically shape wellbeing & health in the working environment and overcome (inner) blockages?

Prof. Dr. Susanne Fischer

14:00 – 15:00 | online

Immingrants are significantly more frequently affected by mental health problems. This online session will shed light on the underlying mechanisms and outline how social safeness at the workplace can prevent these health disparities.

Dr. Christina Henkel

9:00 – 9:30 | online

This session offers personal insights from my experience as a leader — before and after my transition from male to female. This had a substantial impact on my personal leadership journey and how I further developed my leadership model. It was frightening to recognize my own unconscious biases.

By being true to myself, I not only enhanced my own wellbeing but also had a significant positive impact on my environment. My energy and happiness in being myself generated demand from organisations to work with me and made me a more effective leader.

Dr. Mahshid Khademi

10:15 – 11:15 | online

How do employees decide whether, when, and how to disclose their invisible health impairments at work?

What proactive measures can leaders take to support employees with invisible health impairments?

How can leaders foster a psychologically safe environment where employees feel comfortable speaking openly about health-related challenges?

Dr. Florian Krause

14:00 – 15:00 | online

Working from home is here to stay – and offers enormous potential for inclusion and wellbeing. But how can we make the most of these opportunities and actively manage potential risks? This session will focus on the following questions:
How can remote working specifically promote inclusion and well-being? What challenges – from the digital divide to mental health – are likely to arise? And what strategies can help to create a supportive and fair working environment for everyone?

Michel Rudin and Stefan Gal

9:00 – 9:30 | online

The following questions will be discussed in this input session:

• What does “wellbeing” actually mean?
• What impact does the fast-paced world of work and increasing pressure have on people and therefore on hole teams?
• Why is inclusion so important for mental health?
• How can diverse teams positively influence the resilience of individual employees?
• What practical examples are there?

Tarek Carls

10:15 – 11:15 | online

• What does inclusion mean, and why is it critical for organizational success?
• How can fostering inclusion positively impact individual well-being, performance, and talent retention?
• What concrete steps can leaders and organizations take to build a sustainable culture of inclusion over time?

Join our session to explore evidence-based insights from the Inclusion Journey project and discover actionable strategies to foster a culture of inclusion in your organization.