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Thursday, November 26, 2009
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volume 1
issue 3
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“a-connect challenges my work on a continuous basis, serving as an extremely valuable sparring
partner when I'm out on a project.” —D.G., IP since 2006
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"Voyage vers la Source"
A sensuous musical journey at the intimate Hirzen Pavillon in Basel
by Serge Stanek
On Friday, November 24, 2006 our Zürich office held a special event: a sensuous musical journey around the world that took place in the intimate Hirzen Pavillon in Riehen, near Basel. This musical journey led us from the rhythms of Hungary to Argentinean tango, to Bulgarian dances, performed by a truly inspiring Eastern European trio of independent musical talents.
The evening was a celebration of independent professionals, both in business and the arts. We at a-connect live in the world of IPs, and it's worth noting that in the realm of corporations IPs are relative newcomers. Increasingly, business leaders are discovering that there are ways to get talent into their corporations outside of the traditional channels, and that there are great advantages to organizing talent flexibly, around projects, instead of hierarchies. Hollywood movie studios have long recognized the value in organizing talent flexibly to bring feature film projects to life. As competition for scarce talent in business intensifies, we expect to see corporations adopt the “Hollywood” view of talent, and a-connect will be there to serve them, in Basel, throughout Europe, and around the world.
We were fortunate to have with us two certified a-connect independent professionals, IP Alfred Moeckli and IP Ian Mombru. Alfred is a native of Switzerland and among his many professional accomplishments he was co-founder and CEO of Swissquote, Switzerland's largest online bank, and also recently founded and launched an online broker, Tradejet. In addition, he has held several senior management positions at established banks, and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Alfred is currently working on a 10-month assignment with an a-connect global financial services client.
Ian Mombru was born in Spain and lived most of his life in the U.S. and U.K. He spent 13 years in consulting advising clients in the media sector, of which 8 were spent at McKinsey in Los Angeles, London, and Amsterdam. Ian succeed in establishing his own media practice during one of the worst advertising recessions of the last few decades in the U.K., and at the time was working on a six-month project for a-connect with a leading international media and advertising company.
Furthermore, we were very pleased to share the evening with two groups of IPs from the arts: the gastronomic, and the musical. Using teams of IPs—including chefs, waiters, hostesses, photographers, musicians, comedians, and even magicians—deployed precisely when and where he needs them caterer René Blattman—something of a magician himself—delivers luxurious events for 70, 700, or several thousand, with just 6 permanent employees.
Finally, the musical journey represented a unique collaboration between three world-class freelance musical talents. First, Hungarian cellist Mariann Hercegh, first cello and frequent soloist of the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra, narrated the program in German. Next, Romanian violinist Robert Dumitrescu, soloist with the St. Gallen Symphony. Last, Bulgarian pianist Belina Kostadinova, one of the very few “auslanders” granted “freelance musician” status by the Swiss authorities because of her extraordinary talent.
The artists gave a truly passionate performance followed by ardent applause and a heartfelt standing ovation. During the ensuing apéro the musicians mixed in with a crowd of diverse representatives of a-connect clients, IPs and team members from Zürich and Düsseldorf. Excited about the concert and the atmosphere of the Hirzen Pavillon, the talks and discussions lasted for hours. And significantly, the focus of discussion did not center on business; but rather music, culture and life!
The inspiration behind "Voyage vers la Source": (left to right) Mariann Hercegh (violoncello), Robert Dumitrescu (violin), and Belina Kostadinova (piano)
a-connect clients gather at the intimate Hirzen Pavillon in Riehen (Basel)
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Published by
Copyright © 2007 a-connect (group) ag. All rights reserved.
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a-connect (schweiz) ag
Seefeldstrasse 293
CH-8008 Zürich
Phone: +41 43 266 77 77
Fax: +41 43 266 77 27
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a-connect (US) Inc.
470 Atlantic Avenue
4th Floor
Boston, MA, 02110
Phone: +1 617 946 33 33
Fax: +1 617 956 07 01
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a-connect (China) Ltd.
18/F One International
Finance Centre
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Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2526 6766
Fax: +852 3006 2766 |
a-connect (deutschland) gmbh
Stadttor 1
D-40219 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 955 999 88
Fax: +49 211 955 999 80
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