KMU Swiss Podium 2018: How does Generation Y influence the working world of tomorrow?

Will everything be different for the "Generation next"? Around 300 participants eagerly awaited the answer at the anniversary edition of the KMU SWISS Podium on September 13, 2018 in the Campus Hall in Brugg-Windisch. From the perspective of Pascal Scherrer, Head of Journalism at Radio SRF3, Generation Y functions differently than all other generations. This requires an adjustment of the leadership style. "Generation Y is self-confident and impatient. It is important to find the right mix of encouraging and challenging," says Pascal Scherrer.

Generation Y

Born in the 80s to early 2000s, Generation Y is one of the first to grow up in the digital world, the so-called "digital natives". The letter Y ("Why") refers to. "This generation questions many things and wants to leave a footprint on the world," Pascal Scherrer explains further. For Armin Baumann, initiator of KMU SWISS, one thing is certain: "We cannot change the past, but we can act in the present and influence the future. The mentality of the next generation and also the resources will change. I see it as our duty to adapt our management style and business models accordingly."

Influence of Generation Y on cultural events

Nadja Hauser, founder and director of the largest circus festival in Switzerland, the "Interna-tional Circus Festival YOUNG STAGE Basel", predicts in her presentation: "Serious and entertaining culture will merge more and more. Generation Y has started to collaborate with other genres such as ballet, modern dance or opera. New formats are emerging. Content is becoming more substantial."

Innovation

Much innovation is also needed in the health insurance industry, as a presentation by Dr. Thomas J. Grichting, secretary general of Groupe Mutuel, shows. "We need innovative solutions because health insurance premiums are forecast to double by 2030." With their new innovation strategy, they are looking for new, fresh ideas and want to achieve one thing above all: a good, affordable healthcare system, regulated competition and no state medicine.

Artificial intelligence: What are humans capable of?

"The patient of the future wants to manage his or her own health and be involved in treatment decisions. Artificial intelligence (AI) could save our healthcare system," Grichting reported. Christian Fehrlin, CEO Deep Impact, illustrated how artificial intelligence will change the world in his presentation. "Many processes are being digitized and replaced by AI. Repetitive work in particular is affected. So the future is already a reality. But it will still take about four years until the computing power of AI reaches the performance of a brain." Eduardo Strauch Urioste showed in his impressive and emotionally charged presentation what a human being is capable of. He was one of the survivors of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes. "We survived 72 days at an altitude of 4,000 meters. During that time we had to make important and difficult decisions, stick together as a team and never lose hope. It's incredible what the human brain and body are capable of in such a situation."

Successful conclusion

The various presentations and also the panel discussion with Franz Grüter, National Councillor and VRP green.ch, Ronald Christen, CEO Loeb AG, Pascal Scherrer and Armin Baumann stimulated interesting discussions at the concluding flying dinner. The program was moderated by Tamara Sedmak. For the first time, the event was broadcast live on the KMU SWISS TV channel. However, the broadcast did not replace the numerous valuable discussions during the breaks and dinner as well as at the numerous booths.

Source and further information: SME Swiss