June 8, 2026 · Events
Asian Nobel Peace Prize laureate visits HWZ
How can effective leadership be achieved in a world characterised by rapid change, uncertainty, and artificial intelligence? This question was the focus of the HWZ event “Mindful Leadership: Leading Effectively in Complex Times – Inspired by Bhutan”. The guest speaker was Dr Karma Phuntsho, one of Bhutan’s most prominent intellectuals, founder of the Loden Foundation, and recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, also known as the “Asian Nobel Peace Prize”.
Almost 100 guests gathered in the HWZ auditorium to engage with the principles of mindful and values-based leadership. The evening was hosted by Dr Hugo Bigi, head of theBhutan Entrepreneurship Education Programme (BEEP), who has had close ties with Bhutan for many years.
At the outset, he highlighted the potential significance of mindfulness within leadership and organisational contexts. Central to this are values such as self-reflection, compassion, and responsible action—qualities that are becoming increasingly important in an ever more complex and technology-driven world.
“Each of us carries the potential of a Buddha within.”
The highlight of the evening was the keynote conversation, “The Buddha as a Business Guru”. Hugo Bigi and Karma Phuntsho discussed together the insights that Buddhist philosophy can offer for leadership, entrepreneurship, and business practice.
For Karma Phuntsho, leadership always begins with one’s own attitude. Integrity, compassion and selflessness are not opposed to economic success; rather, they are essential prerequisites for making sustainable and responsible decisions.
He emphasised that compassion is not a weakness, but a strength. Every person fundamentally possesses the ability to act mindfully and responsibly. These potentials should be consciously developed and applied in everyday life. Or, as Karma Phuntsho put it: "There is a Buddha within each of us."
Equally important is a shift in perspective away from pure competition towards partnership, cooperation, and long-term added value for society and the environment.
Success means more than profit
A central topic of the evening was the question of how success is defined. The answer proved to be more nuanced than traditional business metrics might suggest. Professor Dr Claude Meier, head of the Centre for Research & Methods at HWZ, and Dr Tiziana Gaito, project manager for stakeholder engagement & sustainability at HWZ, contributed to this discussion. They presented initial findings from the HWZ-Bhutan study “Rethinking Entrepreneurship”. The study examines the motivations and concepts of success among entrepreneurs in Switzerland and Bhutan.
The results so far show that in both cultures, success is not measured solely by financial criteria. However, while Swiss entrepreneurs tend to assess success more often in terms of growth, profitability and other measurable indicators, Bhutanese entrepreneurs regard a positive contribution to society, community and well-being as an essential component of entrepreneurial success.
New from 2027: CAS Building Mindful Organisations
The topics discussed during the evening align seamlessly with HWZ’s educational philosophy. In his address, Rector Prof. Dr Brian Rüeger emphasised that mindfulness is far more than a personal trend. Rather, it is about shaping organisations so that they remain high-performing, people-oriented, and responsible in the long term. Against this backdrop, HWZ will launch the new CAS Building Mindful Organizations in April 2027.
This degree programme is aimed at executives, decision-makers and managers who wish to combine values-based leadership with entrepreneurial thinking. The focus is on mindfulness, sustainability, self-leadership and long-term organisational development. A particular highlight is the Bhutan Field Experience, during which participants travel to Bhutan and engage directly with Bhutanese entrepreneurs, leaders and organisations.
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Mindful Business Club: Exchange for Values-Based Leadership
Also new is theMindful Business Clubat HWZ. This curated, non-commercial platform is aimed at organisations and leaders who wish to actively help shape a people-centred, values-based and future-oriented approach to business. HWZ acts as host, providing space for inspiration, exchange and new perspectives. Exclusive offerings include, among others, a Bhutan Business Retreat.
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The club offers:
inspiring events and networking formats
Insights on mindfulness, leadership and new work
Networking with leaders from business, education and society
practical perspectives for sustainable and human-centred business
An evening full of inspiration and encounters
During the subsequent apéro riche, conversations were deepened and new contacts established. The event clearly demonstrated that mindfulness, compassion and responsible entrepreneurship are not at odds with economic success, but are in fact essential prerequisites for sustainable leadership in an increasingly complex world.
HWZ would like to thank Dr Karma Phuntsho, Dr Hugo Bigi, our event partners, the Loden Foundation and the Society Switzerland–Bhutan and to the many guests for their interest and the inspiring exchange.