Bold Decisions and Clear Values: CEO Lunch with ABB

How do you lead ABB through times of upheaval without losing your composure? Nora Teuwsen, Chair of the Executive Board of ABB Switzerland, provided answers at the exclusive CEO Lunch and called for courage, equal opportunity, and honest leadership.

Numerous executives accepted the invitation from the ZRH Community - the employee network at The Circle and Zurich Airport - and the FRZ (Zurich Airport Region). The event was one of three exclusive CEO Lunches held as part of the ZRH Community’s nine annual business events. This time, at memox on the Novu Campus at The Circle, the focus was on the future of leadership, technology, and inclusion.

A key feature of the keynote was its format: Nora Teuwsen deliberately opted against a traditional keynote speech and instead invited participants to engage in an interactive dialogue. Attendees eagerly took the opportunity to ask direct questions throughout the session, leading to a dynamic, peer-to-peer debate.

Technology That Shapes Everyday Life

Right from the start, Nora Teuwsen highlighted how deeply rooted the company is in Switzerland and how much ABB technology shapes our daily lives. Whether in industry, building management, or infrastructure: “As a leading technology company in the fields of electrification and automation, ABB is omnipresent in our daily lives.” This became particularly tangible through a prominent example: The new Schilthorn cable car - featuring state-of-the-art drive technology, including energy recovery - relies on the expertise of this long-established Swiss company.

With Courage for Values and Equal Opportunity

At the heart of the presentation was a call for bold decisions and a clear commitment to values. “Courage, Care, Curiosity, and Collaboration” are not just the company’s values on paper, but its daily guiding principles. “Courage is my personal favorite value,” Teuwsen said candidly. “You have to give people the space to make mistakes so that they can continue to grow at all.” Teuwsen spoke with remarkable honesty about the pressing challenges facing the economy - from volatile markets to geopolitical uncertainties to structural hurdles.

Teuwsen was particularly reflective on the topic of women in STEM professions: With women currently making up 25 percent of ABB Switzerland’s workforce, the company is already performing very well by tech industry standards. Even more remarkable: ABB reports exactly the same 25 percent representation of women at the executive level - a sign of genuine inclusion in management. However, Teuwsen does not intend to rest on this success: “25 percent is, of course, far too low. We have to start at the grassroots level.” ABB is addressing this challenge with concrete initiatives, a strong commitment to networking, and a focus on promoting young talent. Anyone who wants sustainable change must have the courage to break down entrenched structures.

AI and Change: Bringing the Workforce Along

Teuwsen also did not shy away from uncomfortable truths when it came to artificial intelligence and automation. The audience pressed her critically on this point: The questions from those present focused primarily on how to successfully implement these changes in everyday practice and how to specifically address the workforce’s fears of job loss. Teuwsen commented: “This transformation requires empathy, transparency, and a culture that actively embraces learning from mistakes.”

C-Level Exchange in the Airport Region

Following the intensive Q&A session, the event transitioned into a lively “apéro riche” at the Iris Bar in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The CEOs and decision-makers in attendance took the opportunity to discuss the ideas and leadership insights in greater depth over food and drinks.

The event series demonstrates once again the added value that the initiatives of the ZRH Community and the FRZ Zurich Airport Region offer to the business community. They create valuable platforms for networking, knowledge exchange, and new ideas right on the doorstep of their offices.

The next and final CEO Lunch hosted by the ZRH Community this year is coming up soon: On October 29, Martin Nydegger, CEO of Switzerland Tourism, will be a guest at Restaurant Sablier at The Circle.

For all the details on the next CEO Lunch and other ZRH Community business events: Events