NZZ Academy and army launch joint crisis management training
The NZZ Academy and the Swiss Armed Forces are launching a joint training program in crisis management. The Crisis Leadership Training program, which begins in December 2025, is aimed at executives from the business sector, government, and organizations who bear responsibility in crisis situations. The goal is to combine strategic thinking with operational decision-making skills.
During the one-and-a-half to two-day training course, experts from the NZZ Academy first analyze current risk situations - for example in the areas of geopolitics, technology or the environment - and establish the connection to the Swiss economy. The participants then train under the guidance of coaches from the Swiss Armed Forces in structured action in simulated crisis scenarios such as cyber attacks, power outages or natural disasters.
Three elements are at the heart of the program: the civilian and military proven "5+2" crisis management process, leadership in crisis teams and crisis communication. The combination of an analytical perspective and practical military experience should help participants to act clearly even in exceptional situations.
"Crises are no longer exceptions - they are part of our reality," says Manuel P. Nappo, Director of the NZZ Academy. "If you want to lead, you have to think clearly under pressure and manage your team safely. This is exactly what we train together with the Swiss Armed Forces."
Colonel i Gst Niklaus Jäger, Commander of the Armed Forces Command and Communications Training, also emphasizes the practical relevance: "Our training units are not traditional courses, but realistic simulations. These experiences make all the difference when simulation games turn into real crises."
The Crisis Leadership Training will be offered several times a year in future. The first event will take place on December 2 and 3, 2025. Further information can be found on nzz-academy.com available.
