CANCELLED: Corporate Crisis Competence – learning from COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine

Update 21.3: We are very sorry to inform you that we have to cancel at short notice. Our keynote speaker is ill and not able to speak tonight. Our sincere apologies.

Summary

Many companies have been surprised twice by crisis in a very short time period: first COVID-19 and now the war in Ukraine. What do we know about corporate crisis competence?

Does the financial strength of companies matter, or rather issues like corporate social responsibility and sustainability (ESG scores)? What role do governance and internal risk management play? How about the soft skills of business leaders? To provide some insights on these questions, Prof. Wagner draws on research on COVID-19 and first results on the financial market responses to the war in Ukraine.

In general there are no easy fixes for crises. But rigorous research can help companies and managers prepare and thus act calmly and with confidence when the time comes.

Presenters

Alexander Wagner balances two passions: the thrill of seeking knowledge about fundamentals of human behavior for knowledge’s sake, and the desire to apply insights in the real world and to improve the workings of markets and organizations. As Senior Chair of the Swiss Finance Institute and a professor at the University of Zurich’s Department of Banking and Finance, Wagner has taught corporate finance to thousands of eager students and hundreds of motivated executives, and he has helped shape governance systems of companies large and small. He is co-initiator of the UZH Center for Crisis Competence and Chairman of the Executive Education UZH. He has served as chairman of a proxy advisor and as an independent counsel for PwC. His research focuses on corporate governance, behavioral economics, and sustainable finance. He obtained his PhD in Political Economy from Harvard University. In his hometown Linz, Austria, he completed studies in economics and law.

Swiss Risk Dinner

Combine education and networking with a relaxing dinner: The evening starts with a cocktail and is followed by a keynote speech and a 3-course-dinner, drinks included.

Agenda

18:00 Arriving and networking cocktail
​18:30 Welcome and appetizers
​19:00 Introduction and Keynote speech
19:30 Questions & Answers ​
19:45 Main course served, networking
21:00 End