Over the course of four days of “Special Week,” Class 3 students eagerly embraced the challenge of generating a business idea which would have a positive social or environmental impact. The objective was that at the end of the week, they would have to deliver a two-minute “pitch” to a panel of specialists and answer probing questions about the features of the product as well as the financial, marketing, and management strategy. With the incentive of a 1500CHF prize from Lichtenstein Global Trust to kickstart their project and the promise of coaching from their Project Management Team for the top three teams, our students set to work with enthusiasm and determination.  

Day one consisted of three workshops introducing students to socially responsible business factors, such as fair trade certification, social economy, and “green innovation.” Day two focused on market research as Roséens conducted surveys to gather insights from potential customers while team members on campus dealt with production costs, communication strategies, and profit allocation. Day three tested the students’ teamwork abilities as they worked on their pitch, prepared for the panel’s questions, and constructed their trade stands.  

The final day saw judges evaluating pitches and trade stands, including prominent UN specialists, LGT representatives, and three guest speakers. The winner was “Help Switzerland,” an app for facilitating and incentivizing donations to verified charities. The three finalist teams will receive continued support from LGT’s Project Management Team to bring their ideas to life. The judges were impressed by the student’s grasp of business and social responsibility issues and their commitment, ingenuity, and collaborative spirit.