HSG Cooperative-Lab
Updates November 2012
What is the Cooperative-Lab?
The HSG Cooperative-Lab is a match-making platform between
scholars’ researches and practioners’ projects in the context of
SMEs in South America aiming at developing the
entrepreneurial behavior beyond the classroom.
2
Three main areas of action
• Professional Traineeships: Students apply for clearly
defined projects in SMEs or large companies with a high
intrapreneurial spirit, which vary from three to 8 months
and start before joining the company on site.
• Knowledge Exchange: Cooperation between partner
schools regarding a specific subjects of interest. In this
case, the final expected product is a joint publication.
• New Projects Development: For projects starting from
scratch. Following a shared idea, a group of students
and/or researchers form a consortium to write, propose
and implement a project. Such projects must be
conducted in partnership with SMEs, schools and
associations in target countries.
3
Traineeships
Traineeships’ Summary
SmartCaps, from August to November 2010, in Sao Paulo
(Brazil) company responsible: Lucas Fischer, Alumnus Mentor:
Immo Paul, Trainee Student: Philip Longoni, Main Project:
Guerrilla Marketing Strategy and Implementation
CooperCaju (Cashew-Nuts Cooperativa), from December 2010
to February 2011, in Serra do Mel (Brazil) and Germany,
company responsible: Terezinha de Oliveira, Alumnus Mentor,
Thierry Zysset, Trainee Student: Nicolas Nicklewicz, Main
Project: Preparation for FLO certification and negociations at
the Biofach
Swiss-Chilean Chamber of Commerce, from September 2011
to April 2012, in Santiago (Chile), company responsible: Ladina
Banicles, Alumnus Mentor:Martin Schmidig, Trainee Student:
Nevena Radovanovic, Main Project: Commercial strategy for
the Swiss Pavillon at the Expomin Fair.
5
Traineeships’ Summary
Rolex, from August 011 to March 012, in São Paulo (Brazil),
company responsible: Renata Kikuchi, Alumnus Mentor: Stephan
Meili, Trainee Student: Adrien Ramel, Main Project:
To develop key performance indicators for the accounting area.
Ecogeo, from September 2012 to January 2013, in São Paulo
(Brazil), company responsible: Ernesto Moeri, Alumna Mentor:
Michaela Rueda, Trainee Student: Estelle Tanner, Main Project:
Market survey about bioenergy potential in Brazil and to identy
and write-up a business case.
Coacipar (Orange Cooperative), from August to November
2012,in Parana (Brazil) and in Switzerland, company responsible:
Vanusa Toledo, Alumnus Mentor: Luiz Fernando Turatti, Trainee
Student:Simon Locher, Main Project: Support the cooperative
strategic position in face of a new large orange juice player which
acquired the FLO Certification.
6
Traineeships’ Summary
HSG Hub Office, from Sept 012 to January 013, in São Paulo
(Brazil), Company Responsible and Alumna Mentor: Angelica
Rotondaro, Trainee Student: Marc Maurer, Main Project:
To develop and implement a social media strategy and to
support writing a business case about Inclusive Business in Brazil.
HSG Hub Office, from Sept 012 to March 013, in São Paulo
(Brazil), company responsible: Angelica Rotondaro Alumnus
Mentor: Peter Probst, Trainee Student:Fabian Oppenheimer,
Main Project: To develop and implement a research platform
about Impact Investing.
Inventrade, from March to August 2013, in São Paulo (Brazil),
company responsible: Adriano Amui, Alumnus Mentor: tbd,
Trainee Student: Melanie Thevenaz, Main Project: to support
consultancy projects in the area of Trade Marketing.
7
New Positions
Sophie&Juliete is an online and door-to-door semi-precious
jewelry company. It was founded by a HSG Alumnus and
entrepreneur Ronald Beigl. The traineeship will be in the
company‘s trade marketing and communications area, for 2013.
For more information, please contact:
angelica.rotondaro@unisg.ch
8
How do the HSG CooperativeLab traineeships work?
The process from opening a position to the start-up meeting takes from three to six months, and the main
milestones include:
1. Identifying a traineeship positions based on the hub office network in the region, associate researchers
and the support of Alumni members.
2.Focus is given to SMEs, what in general requires that the trainee speaks the local language.
3.The position is clearly defined with the hosting company, including main project to be developed and a
first set of key performance indicators.
4.The position gets published in the CLS webpage, is informed to the CSC and sent by email to students that
have previously showed interest in participating in selection processes.
5.The trainee is selected together with the hosting company.
6.For the traineeship visa, housing, reception and integration to the local culture, the hub office works with
Aiesec.
7.A HSG Alumni mentor is assigned.
8.There are a minimum of three follow-up meetings with the trainee, the company, the mentor and the hub
office along the traineeship for defining expectations, following up performance and for adjustments if
needed.
9.At the end of the project, the trainee writes a report about his/her experiences along to the project
development as well as the key learnings about the different cultural realities in the business and in the
daily life.
HSG Alumni Mentors
What is expected from a HSG Alumni member?
• To act as mentors in the intercultural process of living and working in
South America, as well as for bridging academia and practice.
• Support the development of traineeship opportunities, being them in
SMEs or not.
• Give access to opportunities through individual networks.
• Alumni’s involvement supports the professional development of future
colleagues as well as the building the HSG reputation and awareness in
the region.
11
Interview with a HSG Alumni mentor
Alumnus Stephan Meili,
who mentored Adrien
Ramel during his 7
months traineeship in
Sao Paulo.
What has motivated you to mentor a HSG trainee in Brazil?
We were searching for a trainee to develop a project in our financial
department, which would involve the development of strategic indicators
for our company. The trainee integration worked very well and, at the
same time, gave us the possibility to actively contribute to the
development of this HSG Alumni initiative in Brazil.
Was there any situation when you had to guide the trainee in relation to
cultural differences in the way of living in Sao Paulo?
The trainee cultural integration is fundamental for the company as well as
a personal development opportunity for the trainee. In our case, the
trainee good language level and self-motivation promoted his fast and
good integration.
What do you consider to be the most interesting point in your
experience as a mentor?
The experience as a mentor is very rewarding, and it also allowed me to
get in touch with an updated version of some well know HSG methods.
12
HSG CooperativeLab – Alumni Mentors
Alumna Michaela Rueda, who is
mentoring Estelle Tanners during
her 5 months traineeship in Sao
Paulo.
Alumnus Peter Probst, who is the
mentoring Fabian Oppenheimer
during the start-up of the Impact
Investing Platform.
Alumnus Martin Schmidig, who
mentored Nevena Radovanovic
along her project at the SwissChilean Chamber of Commerce
Alumnus Stephan Meili,
who mentored Adrien
Ramel during his 7 months
traineeship in Sao Paulo.
Alumnus Thierry Zysset, who
mentored Nicolas Nicklewicz in a
agricultural SME in the Northeast
of Brazil
Alumna Angelica Rotondaro who
is mentoring Marc Maurer along
his traineeship at the HSG Hub
Office in Sao Paulo
Alumni Lukas Fischer and Immo
Paul, from Smart Life, who hosted
the first Cooperative-Lab trainee,
Philip Longoni, in their company
Alumnus Luiz Fernando Turatti,
who mentored Simon Locher in a
agricultural SME in the South of
Brazil
Key stakeholders’ statements about the HSG CoopLab
What else can better symbolize a school’s good reputation and sense of identity between its
students, than its Alumni involvement with the Alma-Mater? The Coop-Lab is a good
example of a life-long care and sense of belonging which connects the Alumni among each
other and to the University of St. Gallen.
Wolfgang Reichenberger, Alumni Council member and Cooperative-Lab local delegate.
By participating in such projects, students are able to have an in-site experience as consultants
of small enterprises in the business context of Latin America and can bring HSG knowledge to
local companies. The Coop-Lab also reinforces the already existing long-term presence of the
University of St. Gallen in the region.
Yvette Sánchez, HSG, CLS Director.
The Cooperative-Lab is a learn-by-doing experience which will support the development of
the next generation of people who will lead; people with not only technical knowledge but
also a strong sense of corporate citizenship.
Jürgen Brücker, Dean External Relations & Development, CEMS Academic Director
The Cooperative-Lab is the leading program of the HSG Hub in South America. Through it
we integrate research and practice, in a very entrepreneurial mode.
Angélica Rotondaro, representative HSG Hub Office South America, and Cooperative-Lab
Program Manager.
14
HSG Hub Office in Sao Paulo
Established in July 2010, the HSG Hub in São Paulo aims at strengthening the relationships and network in
South America by having a established office with a long term view and respect for the
local culture and knowledge.
In the hub office SP we aim at developing grass roots research, meaning knowledge that is generated by
being effectively in the field, and in collaboration with long established companies, the communities and
partner universities.
Through the CooperativeLab,the aim is nourishing entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow by a set of handson traineeships in SMEs in South America.
The main Sao Paulo hub office research areas include:
– Family Business & Governance
– Trends in Impact Investing
– Inclusive Business
– Leadership and Intercultural Management
For this the hub office works together with the following partners:
– Partner Universities in Latin America< Swiss Chambers of Commerce, Swiss Hub, Corporate Partners
– HSG Alumni Group : formed by approx. 80 members in South America
For more information…
Angélica Rotondaro (HSG SP Hub Managing Director)
Email: angelica.rotondaro@unisg.ch
Phone: 55-11-98010-2299
Skype: angelica.rotondaro
16