Two St Andrews students among 100 leaders of the future in St. Gallen, Switzerland
Two St Andrews students were among the 100 student leaders of the future, selected to attend the St. Gallen Symposium at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Robert Harms (MLitt International Business student, Business School) and Hannah Hassani (PhD student, School of History) both responded to the essay question “Global power is shifting. What’s your innovative idea?” From thousands of entries, Hannah and Robert were invited to attend the week-long activities and international conference, which brings together the leaders of tomorrow and the leaders of today, including several Heads of State, government ministers, business leaders and NGO founders. In addition, Hannah’s essay, MicroFinTech to Solve Failing Multilateral Aid from the West, was selected as one of the twenty-five best essays and published on the Symposium webpage. Building on Hannah’s longstanding interests in international affairs and economics, Hannah’s essay proposes an innovative and direct approach to economics developmen aid.
Robert said, “From world leaders to founders and activists, everyone was genuinely open to engaging in cross-generational dialogue and debating the most pressing, and often controversial, issues of our time. A truly fantastic experience I wouldn’t have wanted to miss, and one whose conversations and insights will stay with me for a long time.
During the main conference, I was truly overwhelmed by the range and calibre of speakers. With sessions featuring several Head of States, high ranking politicians, C-level executives, founders, and activists, it was hard to choose. My favourite sessions were an Oxford Union-style debate about Europe’s future; the keynote by Ndaba Goalathe (Vice-President of Botswana and Minister of Finance) and a small private session with Nabeel Al-Amudi, former Saudi Minister of Transport (2017–2019) and now CEO of Olayan Financing Company.
My food highlight was a dinner event with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Heng Swee Keat. The evening began with a wonderful three-course meal, accompanied by speeches on Singapore and Switzerland, and their shared roles as small but strategic nations in the global order. Towards the end, guests stood to honour Singapore’s 25-year tradition of sending high-ranking officials to the Symposium, as the Singaporean anthem was performed by the St. Gallen Alumni Orchestra. While the food itself was excellent, the true highlight was the quality of conversations and people present, including a chance to speak with Ndaba Goalathe, the Vice President of Botswana.”
Hannah said, “The trip was as fabulous as one would expect from Swiss hosts. Immaculate organization and communication, well thought-out sessions with impressive speakers from around the world, and an all-around largesse that gave me a profound gratitude to the student organisers. The aspect that most left an impression on me was meeting the other Leaders of Tomorrow. One hundred of us were selected through the Global Essay Contest; another hundred through the ‘Knowledge Pool’, entrepreneurs also under thirty years of age who were leaders in social impact fields. The combination of the student and entrepreneurial Leaders of Tomorrow was brilliant. I met dozens of other young people who shared my drive for a more equitable world, but who approached this goal in their myriad unique ways.
At the Symposium I saw the youthful face of the new international community: one that is solving problems today. Starting with virtually no resources beyond their human capital and drive to do something, these under-thirties have developed solutions for their communities that can easily be scaled to address issues that have haunted us for decades. I left Switzerland feeling more hopeful about the future than about the present, which is, it seems to me, the right order of optimism.”
The St. Gallen Symposium is held annually and is organised by the International Students’ Committee, an independent student initiative at the University of St.Gallen. You can sign up for updates about the next essay competition. There will also be a further blogpost here, giving insight into the essay competition, with insights from Hannah and Robert. Selected participants are offered travel expenses, accommodation, conference meals and public transport around St. Gallen.