Programme overview
The Women Back to Business (WBB) programme is a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Management designed for women who would like to return to the workforce after a personal or family break, or reposition themselves professionally. Participants receive updates on the latest concepts and insights on the most relevant management topics. The programme includes core and elective modules, skills workshops, development trainings, individual coaching, WBB partner company visits and networking opportunities.
Consultation
Learn more about this programme in a personal conversation.
Kristin FuchsKristin Fuchs Senior Acquisition Manager
Programme management
Luiza Bold Programme Manager Women Back to Business
Programme details
Programme type
Format
Language
Number of ECTS credits
Duration
Location
Price
Next date
| Start date: | 05.05.2025 | |
| places available | ||
Target Audience & Application Criteria
Your Benefits
Our aim is to help women succeed professionally. You will benefit from the WBB programme in the following ways:
Certificate in Management
You will be updated on the latest concepts of the most relevant management topics and develop a good understanding of the current challenges
Flexible Structure
Given the programme’s modular structure, preparatory work and transfer tasks can be smoothly integrated into your schedule
Career Support
You will receive professional support for your career transition through individual coaching
Self-Reflection
You will have the opportunity to consciously and methodically reflect on how to meet the challenges inherent in a career relaunch
Networking
You will broaden your professional network with partner company representatives and with other highly qualified, motivated women with similar professional objectives
Professional Exposure
Your visibility among potential employers will increase
Course Design
Next Steps
Next Start Date
Online Info Events
Are you interested in the WBB programme? Please join us for an online info event to find out more about WBB and if it is the right programme for you on your career journey.
Personal Conversation
If a personal conversation suits you better, please contact us and we will be happy to talk with you about your individual needs and interests.
Learning Journey & Modules
6 Core Modules and 2 Workshops
12 May 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
13 June 2025
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This module addresses the basic challenges and questions of managing a complex organization based on the St. Gallen Management Model.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the most important principles of management
- Learn to deal with complexity and uncertainty in an organization
- Understand what a management model is and how it can be used
- Learn how to cope with different processes on a strategic as well as operational level
- Apply the principles of management to organizational development
- Understand how strategic management, organizational development, change management and process management are linked
26 May 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
5 June 2025
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This workshop focuses on how to find and get a job. It will provide you with highly practical tips regarding your job search, networking approach, application process and CV optimization. You will prepare for and practice answering tricky interview questions during mock interviews with other participants and give and receive feedback on the questions and answers. Self-branding, storytelling, your elevator pitch, market biases and LinkedIn will be discussed.
Learning Objectives
- Gain useful tips regarding the job search and application process, interviewing and optimizing your CV
- Develop solid interview skills through hands-on practice
- Gain increased confidence by developing and optimizing your personal marketing, storytelling and elevator pitch
10 June 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
TBD June 2025
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This module offers an update on the most current tools and instruments used in controlling and finance such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, cash flow statements and financial key performance indicators.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the most important financial data used to analyse company performance
- Learn to interpret financial data
- Understand how financial key performance indicators (KPI) are linked to the business model
2 September 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
16 September 2025
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This module provides an introduction to the Swiss legal system. It makes a deep-dive into Swiss contract law with an emphasis on employment law. It will address topics such as conclusion of an employment agreement, rights and obligations (e.g. salary, liability), issues around termination including settlement, and include a view on special protection provisions related to women (e.g., maternity, gender equality).
Learning Objectives
- Gain an overview of the Swiss legal systems and its sources of law
- Understand the basic elements of Swiss contract and labor law
- Apply Swiss law to case studies
10 November 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
TBD November 2025
8:30-12:00
Online Transfer Session
In this module you will learn how to develop and implement a strategy and explore in-depth international strategy and cross-cultural management.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the meaning of strategy
- Differentiate between corporate strategy, competitive strategy, and international strategy
- Recognize the biggest challenges in mergers & acquisitions
- Understand international market entry
- Identify the challenges in cross-cultural management
1 December 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
TBD December 2025
8:30-12:00
Online Transfer Session
This workshop focuses on how to keep a job. It provides you with the most up-to-date knowledge of today’s work environment. Topics including agility, successful team collaboration, effective professional communication, stakeholder management and digital savviness are addressed in this workshop. You will have the opportunity to reflect on and practice the elements of successful collaboration.
Learning Objectives
- Explore new ways of working
- Gain solid knowledge of and develop skills for successful communication and collaboration in the workplace
- Become familiar with the digital environment and update your digital skills
TBD March 2026
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
TBD March 2026
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This module explores contemporary theories and practices in people management, and how their application fosters a positive organizational culture and enhances employee engagement.
Learning Objectives
- Learn about positive people management theories and practices
- Learn about effective practices of current HR management, training and development
- Learn about your own strengths and how you can successfully employ them in the workplace
Dr. Meike Wiemann-Hügler
TBD March 2026
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
TBD March/April 2026
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This module is designed to provide an overview over contemporary leadership but more importantly should invite reflection and introspection about the characteristics of human nature on- and off work.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how leadership can contribute to both joy and performance (at work)
- Understand how to identify and work with different kinds of human motivation
- Reflect upon your own values and behavioral patterns and how they relate to your approach to leadership
1 Elective Module out of 2 Options
22 September 2025
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
6 October 2025
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
This module sheds light on the multifaceted history, diverse use cases, and multiple social, economic, and political implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a ground-breaking set of technologies. It includes discussion on the advantages and limits of machine learning, algorithmic bias, diversity in the tech sector, as well as ethical considerations. The module will equip you with the concept of “code capital”, a framework that enables you to better understand and evaluate how AI applications are changing business and leadership, its relevance for numerous sectors, and how you can actively shape its potential.
Learning Objectives
- Get an overview of the interdisciplinary history and interpretations of AI
- Understand the central techniques and applications of AI in business, politics, and social life
- Learn to assess the contributing factors of an AI system’s potential impact
- Learn to evaluate the relevance of AI for individual business needs
19 January 2026
8:30-18:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
2 February 2026
8:30-12:00
Online via Zoom
Environmental and social sustainability—such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, social justice, and equality, and more—represent one of the biggest challenges for businesses today. Sustainability affects all aspects of corporate strategy and therefore affects everything from leadership, governance and disclosure, supply chains, partnerships, innovation, marketing, communications, and stakeholder to shareholder relations. In this short module, participants will gain an introduction to sustainability and sustainability strategy in business.
Learning Objectives
- Introduce key concepts in corporate sustainability management.
- Gain an understanding of sustainability, in particular climate change, biodiversity loss, and social sustainability themes using frameworks like the Planetary Boundaries and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Show how sustainability represents sources of risks and opportunities for business.
- Explore basic tools, frameworks, and solutions of sustainability strategy in businesses.
- Gain brief insight of key sustainability regulations and corporate governance/disclosure standards.
- Explore how companies create value from sustainability.
- Conduct a deep dive into circular economy.
Prof. Dr. Judith Louise Walls
4 Development Trainings
TBD June 2025
9:00-12:00
Weiterbildungs-Zentrum (WBZ) St.Gallen
TBD June 2025
9:00-11:00
Online via Zoom
Learning Objectives
TBD August 2025
9:00-12:00
Online via Zoom
TBD September 2025
9:00-11:00
Online via Zoom
Learning Objectives
What others perceive of us and how they understand us depends largely on the impact we make. This interactive personal development training enables you to consciously create your impact.
- Become familiar with the communication media (nonverbal, paraverbal, verbal)
- Compare your self-perception with the perception of others and reflect on your impact
- Improve your presentation skills
Marisa Waldburger
TBD October 2025
9:00-12:00
Online via Zoom
TBD October 2025
9:00-11:00
Online via Zoom
This personal development training offers an introduction to the St.Galler Startup Navigator. It explores profiling/prototyping and a problem/solution fit. Customer decision making, the value proposition and a pitching framework will be addressed.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the basics of the St.Galler Startup Navigator
- Become familiar with problem solving and customer decision making
- Practice ‘’Idea Pitching”
TBD January 2026
9:00-12:00
Online via Zoom
TBD January 2026
9:00-11:00
Online via Zoom
3 Personal Career Support Sessions
Partner Companies
Partner companies receive exclusive access to a pool of highly qualified, motivated female talent.
Are you interested in becoming a partner?
Please get in touch with us.
Kristin Fuchs
Senior Aquisition Manager
Our Partners
Success Stories & Testimonials
Click on image to read the success story
Priya Gupta
Workforce Manager at Cognizant
Elisa Sadakhom
Operational Sustainability Consultant at Zurich Insurance
Judith Mey
Senior Marketing Manager Open Programmes at Executive School of the University of St.Gallen
Juliana Landmann
Gemmological Trainer
Denise Kurmann
Senior Key Relationships Officer Switzerland and US at Medair
Maria Andrianaki
Risk Modeller at Swiss Re
The coaching and the contact with other women who all wanted to work helped me. I had a wonderful coach; she helped me regain my confidence. I really needed this. The course curriculum was also exciting and of a high standard, and gave me the confidence to be able to learn and implement new things quickly. You need the courage to be imaginative. Because there is no right way to proceed in such situations.
Raquel Delgado Moreira, HISTORIANWBB helped me personally to learn more about business thinking patterns. Everything today is economized and structured in clear schemes. If I want to describe an idea and wish to be understood, I have to talk about opportunities and risks or about the degree of public awareness and effort required. Before, I would have talked in long sentences and spoken using flowery language. I knew much of the economic vocabulary. Each woman must discover what she can contribute and must follow her own path.
Donata Gianesi, ART HISTORIAN
Your Faculty
Click on image to get more information about your faculty
Dr. Lüder Tockenbürger
Founder and Managing Partner at PRO4S & Partner GmbH
Dr. Thorsten Truijens
Managing Partner at Controlling Partner St. Gallen AG
Prof. Dr. Bruno Mascello
Director at the Executive School of the University of St. Gallen
Dr. Léa Steinacker
Founder & Chief Operations Officer at ada
Dr. Meike Wiemann-Hügler
Head of Executive Teaching Programmes at the Institute of Work and Employment Research (FAA-HSG)
Maria Luisa Fuchs
Chair for Entrepreneurship at ITEM-HSG
Prof. Dr. Judith Walls
Professor & Chair of Sustainability Management at the Institute and Director at the Economy and the Environment (IWÖ-HSG)
Prof. Dr. Winfried Ruigrok
Dean of Executive School at University of St.Gallen
Marisa Waldburger
Lecturer and Coach
Dr. Mike J. Widmer, MBA
Founder and CEO at Aalto AG
Dr. Katharina Rege
Lecturer and Leadership Consultant at JENEWEIN
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Events
Do you require further information?
I am gladly available for you and look forward to hearing from you.
Luiza Bold Programme Manager Women Back to Business
Why University of St.Gallen
At the University of St. Gallen (HSG), you can choose from one of the largest executive education portfolios in the German speaking region – the right programme for your needs and career objectives. The renowned quality and practical relevance of the learning experience convinces more than 6000 participants per year. Profit from an Executive Degree from St.Gallen – the best business school in the German-speaking world – and get ahead in your career!
