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World Authority on Competitiveness

Success in the New World of Competitiveness

The Implications for Nations, Companies and People.

Abstract of Presentation
New development: 'the globalization of vulnerability' – is it manageable?
Stéphane Garelli Stéphane Garelli Stéphane Garelli Stéphane Garelli Stéphane Garelli

A World Authority on Competitiveness

Stephane Garelli is a world authority on the competitiveness of nations and enterprises. He has pioneered research and theory in this field. Professor Emeritus at IMD (Institute of Management Development) Lausanne, where he continues to teach, he has founded the World Competitiveness Center. He is also Professor Emeritus of World Competitiveness and Strategy at the University of Lausanne.

Stephane Garelli was managing director of the World Economic Forum and the Davos Annual Meetings, the world's most important annual gathering of business and government leaders.

He was also Chairman of the Board of the FF Sandoz Financial and Banking Holding and a member of the Board of Directors of the Banque Edouard Constant. For 15 years, he served as Chairman of Le Temps, the leading French-language newspaper in Switzerland, and is a shareholder.

Stephane Garelli was a member of the International Olympic Commission on Sustainability and Legacy chaired by Prince Albert of Monaco. He is also a member of several international institutions and boards, and continues to advise governments.

He was also elected a member of the Constitutional Assembly of his local state of Vaud, Switzerland, from 1999 to 2002.

He has published two best-selling books: "Top Class Competitors - How Nations, Firms, and Individuals Succeed in the New World of Competitiveness" with Wiley and "Are You a Tiger, a Cat or a Dinosaur?".

His latest book: "World Competitiveness – Rewriting the Rules of Global Prosperity", published with Wiley (October 2025).

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IMD World Competitiveness Center
Founder of the IMD World Competitiveness Center.
IMD Business School
Professor Emeritus of World Competitiveness at IMD, one of the world's leading business schools where he continues to teach.
University of Lausanne
Professor Emeritus, Strategy and International Competitiveness.
World Economic Forum
Former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum and of the Annual Meetings in Davos, for 13 years.
International Olympic Committee
Former Member, International Olympic Commission on Sustainability and Legacy.
Business Leadership
Formerly, Chairman of "Le Temps," the leading French language Swiss newspaper, former chairman of FF Sandoz Financial and Banking Holding and member of the board of Banque Edouard Constant.

"Nostalgia Is Not a Strategy"

The New Rules of World Competitiveness in 2026, and Beyond

A Fractured World Economy

The economy remains global, but business rules no longer do. We are witnessing a clash of economic systems and the subjugation of economic decisions by major political powers.

Tariffs & Market Access

The proliferation of tariffs creates confusion among customs authorities, along trade routes, and in financial flows — translating into increased costs, risks, and delays.

The Affordability Crisis

Over the past five years, prices for basic goods have risen by 20 to 30 percent. This high cost of living shapes decisions about whether to trust businesses or governments.

Electricity Is the Game

The electrification of the economy is likely the greatest energy transformation of modern times. China produces 2.5 times more electricity than the United States.

The Company of Tomorrow

The company structure of tomorrow will be hybrid, combining the requirements of clients, employees and governments. If profit remains fundamental, it must be combined with societal goals.

A Mindset for Success

Winners will need to deal with more uncertainty. They should nurture imagination (why not?), energy (why not now?), and commitment (why not me?).

Abstract of Presentation with Slides

Trusted by leading organizations worldwide

He makes sense of today's global economic and competitiveness landscape better than anyone else. He answers the question "Competitiveness: So what?" for enterprises and individuals.

Conference Introduction
Standard speaker introduction

An exciting speaker who combines content and an entertaining approach to complex issues, supported by his trademark graphics.

Event Organizer
International conference

When Stéphane Garelli talks about competitiveness, economics is no longer a dismal science!

Conference Attendee
Global business forum

Books that define the field

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