Following the most senior woman at Migros

Day 1: Casino Bern, Migros Culture Percentage Classics

It's shortly before 8 p.m. on a Wednesday evening. The foyer of the Casino Bern is filling up. Outside, it's pouring with rain. Ursula Nold arrives exactly on time. She's looking forward to the concert by the Budapest Festival Orchestra, organised by Migros Culture Percentage Classics. This isn't a compulsory appointment for her, but precious time spent with her husband. Both of them love classical music.

At the age of 56, she has been Chairwoman of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives (FMC) since 2019. She is one half of the managerial duo at Migros, alongside President of the Executive Board Mario Irminger. In Migros' 100th year, Ursula Nold is travelling more than ever before. She shakes hands, smiles for the cameras and never tires of explaining how she wants to prepare Migros for the future.

It has often been written that no stone has been left unturned since she took office. She shakes her head vehemently: "Over the next five years, we'll be investing a total of CHF 2 billion to open 140 new stores and renovate 350 more. We will also be reducing the prices of our products by CHF 500 million a year."

That doesn't suit everyone. She sometimes has to listen to fierce criticism. The sale of Migros' speciality stores in particular is still reverberating. But that won't stop her. "We need to be positioned optimally so that we can continue to free up about CHF 140 million a year for social projects." That said, she slips through the back entrance to the stage. She wants to say hello to conductor Iván Fischer. He's visibly pleased and the two immediately strike up a conversation. She has repeatedly emphasised that cultural and social commitment are important to her.

The mother of four adult children rarely talks about her private life. The focus should be on Migros and its achievements. When asked what she is particularly good at, she answers without hesitation: "Persistently keeping an eye on strategic goals, while at the same time getting closer to people." Good qualities for uniting the ten regional Migros cooperatives.

Day 2: Migros store in Romanel-sur-Lausanne

The elderly lady doesn't realise that she has just asked the most senior employee at Migros where to find onions. Ursula Nold smiles and shows her. Given her orange and red Migros blouse, she admits that she could indeed pass for a sales assistant. She really likes these moments among her employees. This Monday in French-speaking Switzerland, she listens a lot and asks how the implementation of the new strategy is going. Her manner is also cordial in French.

She is clearly good with people. Ursula Nold is a Migros child. Her mother was a language teacher at the Club School. She too trained to become a teacher, then spent 16 years training headmasters before completing an Executive MBA at the University of St. Gallen. She has a deep connection to Migros. Her career began 30 years ago on the Migros Aare cooperative council.

During a coffee break, Ursula Nold talks about the pride felt by many of the Migros employees she has met in Lausanne. Many have been working for the cooperative for decades and even did their apprenticeship there. For instance, the two women who are responsible for baked goods; a job that they have been sharing since they became mothers. "The dedicated people who work for Migros mean a lot to me," she says, finishing her mineral water and heading off to the cheese dairy.

Day 3: Medbase surgery at Zurich main train station, 10 a.m.

It's still quiet at the Medbase surgery at Zurich main train station. Deputy Medical Director Barbara Oberholzer welcomes Ursula Nold to the emergency practice. The surgery, which is open 365 days a year, is part of the Medbase Group, which has been owned by Migros since 2010. What many people don't realise is that in just a few years, Migros has grown from a retailer to the largest provider of basic outpatient medical care in Switzerland. How does the medical division fit in with Migros, not least because it wants to become more streamlined?

"The fact that many people in this country will soon no longer be able to afford healthcare is something that needs to change," she says. Figures show that the care provided by general practices accounts for only about 8% of healthcare costs, but solves 90% of medical problems. She states that the Medbase Group aims to secure basic care by providing innovative healthcare services.

Today, Ursula Nold talks to the surgery's two managers about how exactly this can be achieved. There is talk of efficiency and that many women work at Medbase because it's easier to work part-time at a group practice. Before she sets off for her appointment at Migros Bank, we ask what values are important to her.

She finds all this at Migros. "We are one of the country's largest employers and spend billions domestically." That's why it's important to her to bear Migros' future as an institution in mind. Earlier that morning, she had said that she draws inspiration from a quote by American writer and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." With Ursula Nold, you get the feeling that she never forgets the people behind Migros.