This week, the WU Leadership Conversations welcomed the Swiss Ambassador in Austria, Salome Meyer.
In a thought-provoking conversation with Patricia Klarner, Ambassador Meyer shared insights on the critical role of leadership in diplomacy—particularly when navigating high-stakes negotiations with limited information. She emphasized the importance of neutrality in today’s complex geopolitical landscape and drew compelling parallels between diplomacy and business management. While both fields rely on similar core principles, Ambassador Meyer noted that diplomacy often demands a long-term perspective, whereas business decisions tend to prioritize short-term outcomes. Bridging these approaches, she suggested, could create valuable opportunities for resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.
Her advice for emerging leaders was succinct and powerful: “Don’t crowd but read the room.”
The WU Leadership Conversations is a platform for an intergenerational dialogue about the complex challenges that today's managers face and how to develop future leaders in modern organizations. It bridges research and practice , providing insights for executives as well as WU students who strive to become the leaders of tomorrow.