Martin Wipfli – member of the Board of Trustees since 2004
Why am I on the Board of Trustees of BPN?
Many of us live in an environment that only a few people in this world are allowed to live in. At the same time, our society is characterized by materialism and individualism. Shared values and the need for an intact social fabric take a back seat. BPN counters this by encouraging people in other countries to take responsibility for employees as entrepreneurs through value-based commitment. This lays the foundation for a self-reliant and self-determined social order. With my commitment, I want to enable BPN to achieve the goals it has set.
What is my role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees?
As Chairman of the Board of Trustees, I am responsible with the Board of Trustees to ensure that BPN pursues a coherent strategy that is in line with the founder's wishes. In this context, I prepare the Board of Trustees meetings, chair the meetings and am the interface for communication and cooperation with the operational management. At the same time, I am involved in the public image of BPN by connecting people and getting them excited about BPN.
Caroline Bärtschi – member of the Board of Trustees since 2019
BPN Foundation – Why do I get involved?
Last February, I took part in a trip to Nicaragua and was able to see first-hand the impact of BPN's work. It has confirmed to me once again that the goals that BPN has set itself – to support small and medium-sized enterprises in order to create and secure jobs – are not just fine words, but reality. We have visited entrepreneurs who have walked a path with BPN and are now in a different place than at the beginning of the journey with BPN.
The idea that jobs can be preserved and new ones created by supporting local entrepreneurs has excited me from the very beginning. The aspect of long-term cooperation also convinced me. It's not just about teaching entrepreneurs as much as possible in a course and then leaving them alone again. Rather, BPN is willing to work with them over a longer period of time, challenging and encouraging them again and again.
In discussions with entrepreneurs in Nicaragua and on a previous trip to Rwanda, I was very touched to hear that working with BPN has left its mark not only on my professional life, but also on my private life. The values that BPN conveys have reached the people in their roles as entrepreneurs and "private individuals" and are lived.
What is my role?
On the Board of Trustees, we work very well together as a team. There are no assigned roles – except that of the president – and each person can and should speak out on all issues. However, since my background is in human resources, I can give my subject-specific input on HR-related topics. For example, we have developed and implemented an HR strategy. For other topics, I see my role as taking a critical look and actively listening. With my commitment as a member of the Board of Trustees, I am happy to continue to contribute to ensuring that BPN can have a long-term and sustainable positive impact.