This article is written by Anamaria Bogdan, a WES 2025 student journalist and writer for Orange Magazines.
Simonetta Sommaruga, former President of Switzerland and a leader dedicated to social justice, equality, and environmental sustainability, recently spoke at the Warwick Economics Summit hosted in Warwick University, one of the world's top institutions for sustainability. Sommaruga served as a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2010 to 2022 and held the prestigious role of President of the Swiss Confederation in both 2015 and 2020. Her career is a testament to decisive leadership, having guided Switzerland through the 2015 refugee crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, while also pushing forward reforms in equal pay and female representation in corporate leadership. In addition to her political career, Sommaruga was recently appointed President of the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting equal pay for equal work.
A Call to Action: Sustainability and Diversity Require Bold Leadership
Sommaruga's speech touched on two urgent challenges of our time: environmental sustainability and diversity. Both issues, she argued, require the kind of bold, ethical leadership that is more crucial than ever. Her journey to the UK by train—rather than flying—was a personal example of the sustainable practices she advocates for, underscoring her commitment to the cause.
However, she noted that despite progress in these areas, we are witnessing a significant backlash against both sustainability and diversity. This resistance, she pointed out, has been particularly evident in recent global developments. The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and corporate giants like McDonald’s and Walmart scaling back their diversity initiatives are all signs of a troubling reversal. Even in the tech sector, where progressive leadership is often expected, Meta’s CEO has called for more "masculine energy" in companies, further stalling progress.
Resistance to Progress: A Historical Trend
While these setbacks are alarming, Sommaruga wasn’t surprised. History shows that major societal and economic shifts often trigger backlash. Fear of change, financial interests, and the tangible impacts of sustainability and diversity efforts only intensify resistance. As decarbonization and diversity measures start showing results, the opposition grows stronger.
The Economic Realities of Decarbonization
Sommaruga discussed how decarbonization affects every part of daily life—from the food people eat to the clothes they wear. She shared a poignant interaction with a gas station employee who expressed concern that the rise of electric vehicles would cost her job, highlighting a real-world challenge policymakers must address. Without thoughtful planning, those affected by these transitions might align themselves with forces opposing change.
She also underscored the political influence of the fossil fuel industry, pointing out that nearly 1,800 oil and gas lobbyists attended the latest UN climate conference to preserve their financial interests. However, the growing viability of clean energy solutions—such as affordable electric vehicles, alternative heating systems, and cheaper solar panels—poses a direct challenge to the status quo, which only fuels the industry's resistance.
The Struggle for Diversity and Gender Equality
The fight for diversity, particularly gender equality, faces similar resistance. As women and marginalized groups gain access to leadership positions, those who benefit from the status quo push back. Sommaruga highlighted the impact of women in leadership roles, citing research showing that boards with at least 30% women see shifts in decision-making processes, with more focus on environmental and governance issues.
Yet, resistance remains. Some men feel threatened by the increasing presence of women, as their self-worth is often tied to the traditional power structures. However, Sommaruga argued that diversity benefits everyone. Organizations perform better with inclusive leadership, and societies are stronger when all voices are heard.
Leadership for a Better Future
Sommaruga outlined three key leadership principles that future leaders, especially students, should follow to make meaningful progress:
Consistent Progress: Change takes time, persistence, and strategic effort. Success doesn’t happen overnight.
Learning from Defeats: Setbacks are inevitable. Rather than seeing them as failures, use them as opportunities for growth and learning.
Inclusive Leadership: Surround yourself with critical thinkers who challenge your ideas. Open debate strengthens decision-making and drives better outcomes.
Sommaruga stressed that today’s political climate, characterized by authoritarian leadership and divisiveness, makes the need for ethical, inclusive leadership more urgent. Societies are becoming increasingly polarized, and the consequences—social unrest, environmental degradation—are too great to ignore.
A Call to Future Leaders
In her concluding remarks, Sommaruga urged students to embrace these principles in their future leadership roles. The challenges of sustainability and diversity, she said, require not only commitment but resilience, strategy, and ethical decision-making. Leaders of the future must earn trust through credibility, honesty, and transparency.
She emphasized that leadership is not about imposing change overnight; it’s about fostering collaboration and learning from mistakes. In a time when regressive leadership styles threaten progress, Sommaruga called on students to rise as a new generation of leaders—leaders who unite rather than divide, who champion sustainable solutions, and who drive change with integrity and vision.
Simonetta Sommaruga’s speech stands as both a powerful inspiration and a call to action. As a leader from Switzerland—a country founded on values of neutrality, democracy, and dialogue—she demonstrated that true leadership involves listening, empathy, and ethical decision-making. Her commitment to sustainability and diversity, paired with her pragmatic approach to leadership, shows that meaningful change is possible, even in the face of resistance.
Her message is clear: leadership today requires vision, courage, and unwavering ethics. But this responsibility is not only for politicians or CEOs, it lies with all of us. Whether in business, governance, or our communities, we all have the potential to shape a more just, sustainable, and inclusive future. The real question is: will we step up to meet this challenge?
The views and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Warwick Economics Summit.