June 10, 2022. Zurich, Switzerland – CEIBS Switzerland was delighted to welcome members of our Swiss alumni chapter to our Zurich campus yesterday and today for a special workshop on Building and Leading High-Performance Teams and Cultures. CEIBS Zurich Campus CEO Dr. Robert Straw was the host of the two-day event, which included 20 participants from the CEIBS Swiss Chapter and the General Alumni Association (GAA) Club.

Following introductions and self-reflection on day one, the group took part in a challenging team-building game which highlighted the importance of leadership and communication. There were plenty of learnings and observations and the game sparked lots of conversations about the need for leadership, various leadership styles, and the importance of clear communications when working in a team.

Dr. Straw was joined by Lisa Bevill, Director of the Center for Health, Well-Being & Happiness at IE, who challenged participants to reflect on what factors can impact and improve their well-being and how these influence their leadership style.

“It was a pleasure meeting our alumni again at the workshop and it was great to see that we quickly create a safe space for sharing ideas, challenges, and advice. We saw people reflecting, giving each other advice, and making friends,” said Dr. Straw.

With participants working in fields such as fintech, engineering, and consulting, the group’s diverse backgrounds made for a rich and interesting session as people shared their successes and challenges with one another.

Following day one of the workshop, the group was joined by more members of the Swiss alumni chapter and the GAA Club for an animated dinner. With some alumni visiting the Zurich campus for the first time, everyone was delighted to be together in person and to welcome new members from the CEIBS MBA 2022 cohort.

On day two, the group continued their learning with another game, as well as a peer-to-peer ‘walk and talk,’ which saw alumni head out along the lake for a stroll whilst discussing and advising each other on some of the biggest challenges they are facing in their lives and careers.

“The walk and talk is a simple yet effective way to get people reflecting on their professional lives. The fact that they are walking and talking changes the atmosphere from a face-to-face meeting in an office space or meeting room and encourages people to open up. What is great is that our workshop participants can easily introduce this communication method to their teams when they return to their office, giving them a new way to discuss the issues of the day with their colleagues,” Dr. Straw explained.

The second day wrapped up with many reflecting on what they would like to change going forward, how they will adjust their work/life balance and, of course, promises to meet up again soon.

The Building and Leading High-Performance Teams and Cultures workshop series makes its final stop in Paris on September 30 and October 1. The workshop is open to all CEIBS alumni, regardless of which chapter or country they are located in. For more information about upcoming workshops or other CEIBS events, click here. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Alumni and Partnerships Manager for Europe, Georgina Childs at cgeorgina@ceibs.edu.