Leaving the world a little better

Summit talks outside daily business

By stories of life

September 30^th, 2016

sustainability is a journey

He loves his job. The job meets his passion for change in society. He works sixty hours and more a week for the global player BOSCH. When he talks about daily business and his responsibility the big smile on his face reveals: Being at the right place with the right task gives you satisfaction and makes you happy - personally and as an employee of a company. Bernhard Schwager is Head of the Sustainability Office at BOSCH. And even though his schedule is very busy these three days every September are sacred to him. The date when Europe’s largest environmental initiative in the business sector - B.A.U.M. e.V. - invites thought leaders, pioneers and visionaries of sustainability to summit talks. Outside their daily business these drivers for change share experiences and develop ideas for collaboration projects while they are challenged by a hiking trail.

the world from above

This year’s B.A.U.M. summit talks led to the Dolomites in South Tyrol where mountains are 3.000 meters above sea level and even higher. Everyone who has an office job and sits in front of the computer for many hours a week may understand what it means to climb a summit this high. It is a challenge. Definitely. And one or the other participant of the tour compares it with the challenge he or she has to face when it comes to the implementation of sustainable solutions in business life. But once you see the world from above and watch the quickly changing scenery of clouds you know why you decided to take this path. The world offers you to act.

connected with people

Similarities connect people. So it is with the summit talks initiated by B.A.U.M. People working for the same agenda meet here. They are all committed to sustainable management to protect our environment for future generations. And they work on it. Every day. In their specific position.

Talks on the way

Most likely it is the informality that makes it worth for managers to take part in get-togethers like this. Even though the “UN Global Compact—Accenture Strategy Study 2016” draws an optimistic view by the world’s leading CEOs sustainability is still not common in core business of companies and requires overcoming significant challenges. Therefore activities towards corporate motivation in engaging with environmental, social and governance issues are matters that drive these people from the bottom of their heart in their daily business. Thus sharing visions and focusing concrete activities could not be done in a better surrounding than in pure nature. When being ambitious to make the world a little better it helps to connect with people and earth.

connected with the world

Outside of daily business. Almost 3.000 meters above sea level. Some people take this as a welcome opportunity to switch off. Others do not mind being reachable for the “outside” world. Today’s life at it’s best. Luckily everyone is free to decide what fits best for her or him. And regarding a sustainable perspective it is, of course, appreciating when calls are done with "Fairphone".

food for physical effort

An apple a day keeps the doctor away…

Listen to yourself

The day tour started with some wise affirmation by the guide: “The mountains are a perfect teacher for you entrepreneurs and managers. They force you to deal consciously with your energy. And they let you experience to not strictly follow your goals. Being aware of that you will keep the right path that leads you to success. Today or tomorrow or some time later.”. Having this in mind everyone made its own personal way reaching the summit. Some even took a via ferrata that brought them up to the highest peak of the day’s hiking trail, the Peitlerkofel.

Full of Ideas and Power

Talking while walking is something special when it is with Professor Dr. Maximilian Gege. He is co-founder and chairman of the board of The German Environmental Management Association (B.A.U.M. e.V.). The majority of people his age is far away from being involved in business and rather lives life in pension. Professor Gege is a family man. But he is also passionate about bringing sustainable issues into political discussion with decision makers. Still. Meetings with Federal Ministers as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel are one of the extraordinary benefits he offers members of B.A.U.M. in order to strengthen the importance of sustainable awareness in policies. And his curiosity for new ideas, innovations and change makers still continues. In high speed. For a better world. In real.

local specialities

Being away from home gives great opportunity to taste local specialities what by the way is also a matter for people driven by sustainable lifestyle. The home-made distilled enzian schnapps that was offered to us at a hut had its “own” taste. Nevertheless it cannot be denied that it was something special after eight hours of hiking.*

* Comment by the writer to prevent misunderstanding: No one had more than one shot ;-)

affirmations given by heart

His business has a story behind it. A story that touches you. It touches your heart when it is told. It is about the feeling that Patrick Kofler will never forget when the indigenous people in the rainforest said to him: “Mother Earth is bleeding. They let her bleed. If they do not stop they kill her.” With this they referred to the oil production in the area. Since then he has been following his vision to spread the idea of sustainability by emotions. He is convinced that only when we reach people emotionally change will take place. In accordance to that his agency is asked by companies and public services when sustainability needs to be communicated. Apart from that the helios GmbH is an expert for cities that aim to raise the number of inhabitants using bicycles in everyday life.

family run hut

It is special to be accommodated at the so called Gampen Alm hut. People working there not only serve their guests. It is noticeable that they do wholeheartedly. They care about their guests individually. And they do it with a smile on their face. The key to this well-caring atmosphere is most likely the family that has been running the hut since 1977. It is definitely worth to go up there, at least to have a coffee and some home-made cake. Or even spend a night there to experience the natural alarm clock of this region that starts around six in the morning. At that time the cattle are led to the mountain pasture and their cowbells can be heard all over the valley.

Succeeding...

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it takes your breath away

When living in Iceland and traveling to the Dolomites your eyes need some time to adopt to that kind of landscape. Jagged rocks, high peaks, steep trails. Luckily it does not take long as they quickly visualize elements of familiar environment like changing weather conditions within a few minutes or funny objects like a weather forecasting stone.

anniversary in 2017

In 2017 the B.A.U.M. summit talk will be held for the 10th time. On that occasion a group of highly interested people will take the opportunity to get to know the treasures of Iceland plus dive into sustainable questions that this country deals with. Icelandic companies that are driven by sustainable issues and interested to learn from good practices are welcome to get in touch with icelandworld.