"There's a lot of interest in our programmes"

Your Highness, what are your thoughts when you look back on the last 30 years of the Liechtenstein Academy?

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein: It started out with a simple idea, but it quickly developed into an institution that has more than proven its worth over the years. Today, it's hard to imagine LGT without it. 

From the very beginning, we wanted to go beyond purely financial and economic topics, and incorporate areas such as creativity and physical activity. That's not something you see very often - but it was a deliberate decision, because we believe these dimensions make an important contribution to a person's overall development.

Your Highness, what do you think the Academy's role is today?

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: The Liechtenstein Academy was originally founded for LGT employees. Today, it's a very tangible sign of the bank's - and our family's - commitment to supporting our people beyond just their professional roles. Its purpose hasn't changed over the last 30 years. But it has evolved in line with that purpose, and now it’s my job to carry it forward in that same spirit.

What does this long tradition mean to you?

Manuela Steiner: Thirty years is a real milestone. The fact that the Academy was given the time and space it needed to grow and become part of the corporate culture says a lot about LGT, and is quite unique.

What do you find most remarkable or important about the Liechtenstein Academy? What makes it stand out?

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein: The most important thing for me is that everyone meets on equal footing - regardless of titles or seniority; that the principle of "together for each other" really comes to life here; and that the topics covered are broad and varied. Not every topic will appeal to everyone equally, and that's fine. The aim is for each person to find inspiration during the seminars and to have the opportunity for meaningful encounters.

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: I think our strong focus on quality is very important. Our motto is: if we do something, we do it properly - or not at all. We invest in quality, and participants can feel that. Our programmes are primarily aimed at our employees, but we also have clients who attend our programmes, and even families, including our own.

Manuela Steiner: For me, it's a combination of two things. The first is the opportunity for personal development, which isn't something you can take for granted in this day and age and is greatly appreciated. The second is the quality of the relationships built in this environment, which is also extremely valuable in our day-to-day work at LGT. 

What, in your view, makes the Liechtenstein Academy special?

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein: For me, it was and remains the fact that people can interact freely regardless of their seniority. This allows them to connect in a completely different way. Information circulates much more readily and you're able to discuss things in a different environment.

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: Its lasting influence on our corporate culture. What's practised at the Academy sooner or later finds its way into the bank. That's been my experience in the five years I've been involved with the Liechtenstein Academy. It makes a very important contribution.

The Liechtenstein Academy started small and has evolved over time. Has it been a slow, steady evolution, or have there been defining moments?

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein: The first workshops were held in the UK and the US. Then in 1996, we moved to Freudenfels Castle. Suddenly, we weren't in anonymous conference hotels anymore. That was a major turning point - and it's something that everyone appreciates.

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: The main focus has always been the personal development of our employees - and that hasn't changed. But the world of work has evolved - of course - and so have the needs of our colleagues - from our young talents to our older employees. The programmes have been adapted accordingly. That's why we've introduced new programmes like Drive4mpact, which focuses on sustainability, and opened up some of our programmes to clients.

Manuela Steiner: In collaboration with LGT Private Banking's HR department, we’ve developed two leadership programmes in recent years to support Private Banking's talent management efforts. That was another important milestone. The format has also changed over the years. We started out with lectures that were a bit like university classes. Now, participants are much more actively involved.

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: LGT's growth begs the question of whether the Liechtenstein Academy should be expanded regionally. We introduced Be.Yourself in Bangkok last year to be closer to our Asian markets. This reduces the travel time for our employees in the region, is more sustainable and helps people connect across our now very diverse Asia-Pacific region.

Is there a long-term plan for the Liechtenstein Academy in Asia?

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: We launched the pilot last year and are taking a step-by-step approach to determine the best way forward. But one thing is clear: there's a lot of interest in our programmes.

Did the programmes need any major adjustments to meet the needs of LGT's employees in the Asia-Pacific region?

Manuela Steiner: We consulted with our colleagues in Asia beforehand and found that a similar setting to Freudenfels would work well there too. Only minor adjustments were needed in terms of the topics. But it goes without saying that we are working with local experts.

You mentioned new modules such as Drive4Impact that aren't about personal development but sustainability. How does that fit in with the Liechtenstein Academy concept?

Manuela Steiner: LGT Private Banking has set ambitious sustainability targets - among other things for its investment activities. This means we need relationship managers who are committed and knowledgeable. That's where we come in.

We create a space where participants can really explore the various facets of sustainability in depth. They are given comprehensive background information, which is brought to life through practical examples. This combination of theory and practice enables them to reflect on how they themselves can contribute, both professionally and personally, to preserving global resources long term.

The response has been so positive that we now also offer a similar seminar to our clients - mainly business owners. This has led to the creation of a small community of around 90 entrepreneurs who are continuing the conversation. Clients greatly appreciate the opportunity engage on this topic at Freudenfels Castle, and we want to keep growing this community. 

Are any of the Liechtenstein Academy's programmes aimed specifically at clients or external groups?

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: Our primary focus is on LGT's employees. But if a relationship manager identifies a programme that could be of interest to a client, they'll get in touch with us. That's been the case for some time now - and actually began with our Be.Yourself personality development programmes, even before the launch of our sustainability module.

Looking ahead, how do you see the Liechtenstein Academy developing in the future?

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein: LGT is becoming more and more international, with particularly strong growth in regions outside Europe. As we expand globally, there is a natural risk that our shared culture could begin to drift apart. The Liechtenstein Academy plays a vital role in preventing this from happening.

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein: The Liechtenstein Academy is also something we highlight as a unique selling point when speaking to potential new hires. But if new employees then have to wait five years or more before they can attend one of our programmes, that's far from ideal. We need to explore how we can reach more employees without offering more programmes and growing the Liechtenstein Academy too quickly.

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein 

H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein studied history and social sciences at the universities of Bonn and Basle. From 1979 until his appointment as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of LGT Bank in 1981, Prince Philipp served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Liechtensteinische Landesbank in Vaduz. Since 2021 he is the Honorary Chairman of the LGT Group. He was appointed to the role Chairman of the LGT Group in 1990 until the end of 2020 and was responsible for setting Board agendas, identifying key strategic issues and communicating messages between the company and the organizations stakeholders. 

He was also one of the group's main spokespeople and ambassadors throughout its global operations. Prince Philipp is the Founder of the Liechtenstein Academy. He was appointed to the Chairman role until May 2021 and has since been a regular Board Member of the Liechtenstein Academy Foundation. He is also publisher of CREDO, the LGT Journal of Wealth Culture. He started his professional banking career at Hambros Bank & Trust Ltd., an established London based banking and trust company, before moving on to Banque Rothschild in Paris, a bank specializing in asset management. Prince Philipp is also a founding board member of the ECAEF, a Governor of the European Financial Forum in London, a Member of the Advisory Committee of the Brazzaville Foundation for Peace and Conservation (BFPC) London, a Member of the Foundation Board of ITC International Tax Centre Charitable Foundation Mauren/FL and a Member of the International Salzburg Association. 

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein 

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus von und zu Liechtenstein studied law and business administration at the University of Zurich and holds a Master's degree in E-Business Development from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona. H.S.H. Prince Hubertus worked for many years in the education industry. He was a co-founder of Triagonal, a company specializing in digital learning, where he served as CEO. He worked for several years at Laureate International Universities as Head of Marketing and Sales for the UK and Ireland, as well as for Sommet Education as Regional Director of Marketing and Sales for the DACH region, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.

H.S.H. Prince Hubertus is a member of the Foundation Board of LGT Group Foundation and Chairman of the Foundation Board of the Liechtenstein Academy.

Manuela Steiner

Manuela Steiner worked for various financial institutions here and abroad for many years, where she managed international projects and teams in human resources. Manuela Steiner has a business background and many years of experience in the development and support of educational programs. Her particular characteristics are her high-quality standards and a pronounced awareness of interpersonal processes. Manuela Steiner also involves herself voluntarily in projects aimed at integrating people with a migration background into the Swiss workforce.