Urs Winzenreid, Geneva, Switzerland, Since 2003

Urs has been a dear friend and supporter of all Mereon projects since 2004. As an entrepreneur, he learned first-hand how important it is to support and motivate employees as well as associates, and this sparked his interest in personal and performance issues with regard to leading.

A certified coach, Urs masterfully applies principles learned from several coaching schools and frameworks, his focus on inter-cultural perspectives and values work. His rich and diverse business biography is a major asset for his work.

"I always sensed, and am now convinced, that the challenge of creating sustainability, wellness and well being with a healthy profitability must be based on values awareness, change management, leadership, and continuous learning. Mentoring creates tremendous ‘added-value’ in achieving those goals and includes professional and personal life issues.

Coaching requires laser-sharp skills employed with respect. It demands openness, trust and the courage to move 'outside of the box'. I sometimes compare coaching to 'verbal acupuncture', the age-old wisdom and profession of activating the resources and inherent potential of an organism through minimal but precise and effective intervention. The key point is often nowhere near the area of pain, symptom or 'problem'."

After studying law and economics in Switzerland, Urs lived several years in Sydney, Australia.  He later spent more than 20 years in management and board positions in a Swiss-based family business (packaging, printing inks, real estate and construction). During building a pan-European direct-selling company, he focused more on including values and meaning in his approach.

As an ICF Professional Certified Coach, Facilitator and Mentor, Urs has spent the last decade working with a wide spectrum of clients, bridging cultures and industry sectors. He has applied his special interests in values-based team alignment and embodied leadership to manage change projects, support professional development and facilitate improved teamwork.

With a grown daughter at university in Switzerland, Urs and his wife reside in Geneva where he is currently working with clients, and numerous charities and projects.