Core Values & Key Principles

Arnold Von Winkelried is a legendary hero of Swiss history

From Caesar to the Mafia brings together his finest essays, roughly half of them never before published in the English language. Whether discussing the deep Italian roots of Julius Caesar, Casanova’s contribution to the art of living big, or Camillo Cavour’s contribution to a democratic as well as integrated nation,

The hero of all Swiss heroes is and remains, of course, William Tell, the bearded Alpine Adonis with hood and crossbow. He was an inner-Swiss freedom fighter who defied the regulations of the Habsburg rule, then as punishment had to shoot an apple from the head of his son Walter with his crossbow and finally shot the Habsburg bailiff Hermann Gessler with this very crossbow. William Tell even graces the 5-franc coin. William Tell- A Symbol of Switzerland Known Throughout the World

Land-of-myth-and-glory–Why-William-Tell-is-so-important-for-Switzerland

Nobody better represents the Swiss humanitarian values than Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, which to this day provides incredible humanitarian service around the world. He also founded the Geneva Convention and was honored for his lifelong fight against suffering as the first Nobel Peace Prize winner. A portrait of Henri Dunant

Prof. Dr. Bertrand Piccard, serial explorer, psychiatrist and pioneer of clean technology. He was born to achieve the impossible. With his  Solar Impulse project, the circumnavigation of the globe in an airplane powered solely by the sun, he wanted to demonstrate the enormous potential of renewable energy. Trained as a physician and researcher, Bertrand Piccard has become an influential voice for progressive thinking in the spirit of progress and sustainability. House of Switzerland- Bertrand-Piccard

Alfred Escher is one of the most important personalities of Swiss politics and economic history. He is considered the driving force behind the transformation of a backwards agricultural country into a nation renowned around the world for its financial and economic competence. In addition to founding Credit Suisse, Escher also had a hand in establishing the federal technical university ETH Zurich, pension provider Swiss Life, the reinsurance company Swiss Re and the Swiss Northeastern Railway, which was later integrated into the Swiss national railway system. With his contributions toward the construction of the Gotthard Tunnel, he also succeeded in laying another milestone in Switzerland’s structural development and freeing Switzerland from its economic isolation: Alfred Escher- the visionary

The Swiss (and later French) philosopher was born in the canton of Geneva. His political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution. His writings, particularly « Discourse on Inequality » and « The Social Contract », have left a strong legacy in today’s modern educational, political and social thought. Rousseau-Made-in-Switzerland

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He founded the idea of analytical psychology and was considered one of the founding members of modern psychology, along with famous psychologist Sigmund Freud. Jung created some of the best known psychological concepts, including extraversion, introversion and archetypes. New York Times Article about Jung and Switzerland

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi of Zurich was a pioneer in the field of education. His ideas could be described today as “holistic learning”. He wanted all children to receive an education, regardless of whether they were rich or poor, boys or girls. He espoused the theories of Jean Jacques Rousseau and developed them further. His ideas are based on the principle of learning with the “mind, heart and hands” and they have greatly influenced the educational systems in many countries: Pestalozzi-the Father of Modern Education

Paracelsus was a Swiss physician and the father of alternative medicine. He  pioneered the usage of chemicals and minerals in medicine and founded the discipline of toxicology. Modern psychology often credits him for being the first to note that some diseases are rooted in psychological illness. Because of the legacy Paracelsus created, Switzerland is the only country in the world that enshrines access to alternative medicine in its national constitution as a basic human right.

Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was a Swiss-American entrepreneur, race car driver, and mechanic. In 1909 Louis-Joseph Chevrolet opened a garage in Detroit, Michigan, where he began designing, testing, and building four and 6-cylinder automobile engines. Two years later, in 1911, he co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. Nowadays, the automobile company Chevrolet is known for producing high-quality and affordable cars and producing the legendary sportscar Corvette. Celebrating the Swiss Behind Chevrolet

César Ritz, often referred to as “the hotelier of kings and the king of hoteliers  » led the foundations of what would become known as luxury hospitality. Many of the touches that Ritz introduced to his hotels are still standard practice in today’s modern luxury hotels. It is César Ritz’s passion for luxury, excellence and customer service that has set the standard for hotels and restaurants throughout the world. César Ritz- the King of Hoteliers and the Hotelier of Kings

Henri Nestlé was a Swiss confectioner and the founder of the world’s largest beverage and food company, Nestlé. He was born in Germany but came to Switzerland in his 20’s. He became famous all over the world for having marketed an infant formula (Nestlé’s Milk Food). This was his first product, an infant cereal targeted at mothers who couldn’t breastfeed—the formula combined cow’s milk, wheat flour, and sugar. Henri Nestle- the Man Behind the Global Entreprise

Einstein is one of the most famous physicists of all time. Although Albert Einstein was not born in Switzerland, he lived there from 1895 to 1914 and acquired Swiss citizenship in 1901 while living in Bern. This is the city in which he published his famous Theory of Relativity. Einstein Tops List of Leading Swiss Personalities

His Nickname « Dutti » is known all over Switzerland. He is the legendary founder of the Migros food retail chain. In the early years, Duttweiler struggled to break cartels and high prices, and faced legal battles. During his career he was even branded « Public enemy number one. » His chain of food stores is now omnipresent in Switzerland and it is estimated that 90 percent of Swiss people visit a Migros store at least once a week. Duttweiler-le fondateur de la Migros

Einstein is one of the most famous physicists of all time. Although Albert Einstein was not born in Switzerland, he lived there from 1895 to 1914 and acquired Swiss citizenship in 1901 while living in Bern. This is the city in which he published his famous Theory of Relativity. Einstein Tops List of Leading Swiss Personalities

His Nickname « Dutti » is known all over Switzerland. He is the legendary founder of the Migros food retail chain. In the early years, Duttweiler struggled to break cartels and high prices, and faced legal battles. During his career he was even branded « Public enemy number one. » His chain of food stores is now omnipresent in Switzerland and it is estimated that 90 percent of Swiss people visit a Migros store at least once a week. Duttweiler-le fondateur de la Migros