"Fresh ideas and strong encounters"
The Swiss Quality Day will take place again in Bern on May 13, 2025. Andrea Vetsch will be hosting the event again this year.
Andrea Vetsch has been the face of Swiss Quality Day (TSQ) for many years and brings people and topics together as a presenter. In an interview with Prisca Zammaretti, Managing Director of SAQ, she talks about her view of quality, the challenges of presenting and her personal highlights.
Prisca Zammaretti: Andrea, the term "quality" often sounds abstract. What does it mean to you - professionally and privately?
Andrea Vetsch: For me, quality in my work is synonymous with care, correctness and accuracy. At Tagesschau, every word has to be right, which is why we work according to the 6-eyes principle. Two other people - the producer and the "correction service" - check the content and language of the presentations. In my private life, health is my top priority - for me, that is the ultimate quality in life.
You've been hosting Swiss Quality Day for several years now. What do you always find exciting about this task?
For me, every moderation is like further training. I learn an incredible amount - be it about the circular economy, new work or creativity techniques. It's also exciting to see what topics other companies are working on. This diversity is great fun!
How do you prepare for moderation? Do you have certain rituals?
I phone everyone I'm going to have longer conversations with on stage beforehand - that creates trust and a good basis. On the day itself, I try to be well rested and am grateful that someone takes care of my hair and make-up. That way I can concentrate fully on the content of the presentation.
A whole day at the congress - how do you stay calm and confident?
The biggest challenge is to maintain concentration and freshness throughout the day. Arriving well-rested is essential. Good preparation creates security. I have found that short breaks in the fresh air are particularly good for me.
What makes a good moderator for you, especially when it comes to a complex topic like quality?
A good moderator takes people along with them and addresses the questions that arise in the audience. It is varied - sometimes serious, sometimes humorous - and manages to look behind the facade of the other person. The most important thing is to create a genuine exchange, something that touches and moves.
Is there a moment on stage that you particularly remember?
At the last TSQ, neuroscientist Barbara Studer showed us how liberating it is to leave your comfort zone - so much so that we spontaneously sang "Blowing in the Wind" together on stage. Kathrin Lehmann, former top athlete and entrepreneur, also impressed us with her down-to-earth attitude and approachability. Her message about the importance of celebrating success left a lasting impression on me.
This year, the motto of the TSQ is "Take off with vision". What does that mean for you personally?
This year, I'm taking my vision to heart: in April, I'm going on a month-long trip to gain new perspectives and recharge my batteries. I will reflect on what is important to me and what goals I still want to achieve.
The topic of AI is omnipresent. What role does it play in your work as a presenter and media professional?
To be honest, I'm "old school" in this respect: I've never used tools like ChatGPT or similar before.
Finally, why should you not miss out on the TSQ?
The TSQ provides new impetus, takes you out of your bubble and offers the opportunity to meet inspiring people and projects. And of course: networking!
These are exciting insights, Andrea. It's impressive how you live quality on and off the stage and enrich the Swiss Quality Day. Thank you very much for the inspiring interview!
About the person
Andrea Vetsch studied German language and literature, journalism and social pedagogy in Zurich. She has presented the Tagesschau since 2005, with stints on "Schweizweit" and "10vor10". After a break, she has been the face of the Tagesschau main edition again since 2020. She has been the presenter of Swiss Quality Day since 2021.
Swiss Quality Day
The Swiss Quality Day was launched in 2008 by the SAQ Swiss Association for Quality. The aim of the event is to promote a cross-industry exchange on the topic of quality as one of the cornerstones of the Swiss economy. The annual congress is organized by the SAQ Swiss Association for Quality in collaboration with Shift Switzerland.
This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/frische-ideen-und-starke-begegnungen/
