Advisory Board Spotlight

Carolina Müller-Möhl, founder and president of the Müller-Möhl Group and the Müller-Möhl Foundation, at the EqualVoice Summit in Zurich on 18 November 2025

Carolina Müller-Möhl looking back on the EqualVoice Summit 2025

You moderated a discussion on an open stage for the first time at the EqualVoice Summit in Zurich – what was personally the biggest surprise about this “first time” for you?

It was less a surprise than a confirmation that the best conversations emerge when you surrender to the natural flow of the dialogue. And, of course, when you yourself understand something about the subject matter… As an interview partner, it annoys me every time when the moderator rigidly sticks to a list of questions, leaves no room for spontaneity, and thus also loses the humour along the way.

What insight from your exchange with Silvana Koch-Mehrin particularly sticks with you – professionally and personally?

There is no free lunch. Nothing comes from nothing. And a lot comes from a lot. From a lot of commitment, a lot of strength, a lot of courage, a lot of conviction, and a lot of work!

Looking at the global upheavals: Which one leadership quality will be crucial in 2026?

I don’t think that only one leadership quality is needed for successful leadership in 2026. Leadership today is more complex. Anyone in a leadership position in 2026 should adopt a connecting attitude, develop things together with others instead of dictating them alone. The leader should think progressively and act agilely at the same time. Always be ready for change.

What do you take away from the atmosphere of the EqualVoice Summit and the feedback from the guests as the strongest impetus for your own work with taskforce4women and the Foundation? What are your most important projects for 2026?

Especially when the wind is blowing strongly, it is crucial that we connect with like-minded people. That we strengthen each other, exchange ideas, and collectively develop the power to keep going. For 2026, we have a whole series of exciting projects in the pipeline – each of them important, each associated with great anticipation. And I am equally looking forward to the many collaborations with strong partner organisations, because we know: Faster alone – further together.

One issue is particularly close to my heart: the vote on March 8th on the introduction of individual taxation. It is a decisive step for more fairness, economic participation, and genuine equality. Because: Fairness begins when working pays off for everyone!

Many diversity initiatives are experiencing a backlash and cuts in funding. How should people who want to remain committed, both within and outside of companies, react?

Be engaged, be engaged, be engaged. Go vote. Participate. Think along. Contribute. Simply stay on the ball. Giving up is never an option in my view. Historically, change has always required a lot of effort. Nothing that brought progress came about incidentally. Just think of new technologies: How much conviction, how much persistence it took until they prevailed. And today? We have them everywhere, even in bed. (I mean the mobile phone, of course.)

Interview: Stefan Mair, December, 2025