“It is hard to believe that one person could have experienced so many lives and impacted so many people. #humbling and #inspiring”
“Remarkable keynote and inspiring workshops - Christoph truly enriched our event. Impressive examples of a life dedicated to humanitarian efforts with many valuable takeaways for daily business life!”
“Christoph shared his impressive experiences, crazy adventures for the good and insights in impactful leadership with our international management team. You could hear a pin fall in a room of 100 people. He left us thankful and proud to be leaders. He left us inspired and energized in showing what is possible. He left us optimistic and eager to move on.
I could not agree more: Be brave. Be kind. Be bold.”
Leading, Living and Thriving in a volatile world: Leadership in Extremes
Do you recall an experience in which you were pushed to your limits? What did you take away from this experience? Were you afraid? If so, what frightened you?
Whether via extreme personal or professional difficulties, you could achieve heights you never thought possible.
In this article I highlight some of the insights I shared during the YPO Global Impact Summit in Costa Rica in 2023.
“Christoph is a remarkable human. We were privileged to have Christoph share his journey with us - a room full of 150 impact-focused CEOs and business owners from around the world. Christoph told his story with great humility, vulnerability and a good dose of humour - not all easy things to incorporate into a life of such inspiring extremes.
Beyond principles grounded in action for more successful and impactful lives, Christoph gave our group a rare glimpse into what it means to be truly alive and serve our planet in a truly selfless way. It was moving but not surprising to see the audience leap to their feet in a standing ovation.
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““Chris is one of a kind. We had the chance to collaborate with him as an external speaker for prominent corporate consumer brands managers. His ability to draw from his incredible human experience around the world opens a window on valuable insights: an invite to better understand what it means to be human through struggle, survival, hope, and resilience. He is genuine, humble and full of empathy for others and has a sincere will to transfer experience and knowledge.””
“Christoph gave a powerful workshop to our leadership. Underlined with his wonderful photos and videos, his presentation was full of new insights on ‘leadership with purpose’. He spoke openly, honestly and with a great sense of humour about his experiences and leadership lessons in extreme situations. He is an exceptional person who serves mankind with his unique and action oriented approach. The time with him made the participants reflect and touched all of us. ”
“Christoph’s inspiring keynote at the ESSR (European Conference of Surgical Research) was very powerful. He did not only manage to translate his experiences into ‘lessons for a more successful life’ but also simply touched the participants with his love for humanity and his drive for adventure. He is an exceptional person and change maker.” ”
“Our students were absolutely blown away by Christoph’s insights and storytelling. We learnt so much from him!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We do not often meet such inspiring leaders who truly make a difference in the world. Christoph is a role model with values and passion. A leader that walks his talk! ”
“Christoph is a visionary leader with a passion for humanitarian work and a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.
His passion for his work was contagious, and his commitment to making a difference in the world was evident in every word he spoke. I found the keynote to be an incredibly enlightening and uplifting experience. I left the presentation feeling inspired and motivated to make a positive impact in the world.
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“WOW! What an inspirational session, I found Von Toggenberg’s humility almost as impressive as his experiences!
During the seminar I had a paper in front of me to take notes but was so engaged, that the only thing I wrote down was: “Never give up but know when to turn back”
Something that struck a chord with me: in the midst of crisis and despair, Christoph seemed to bring positivity and hope.
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“Leadership in Extremes - a heart-moving, mind-inspiring talk by Christoph. The adventure, authenticity and awareness Christoph brought to the audience from his personal experience were deeply educational, raw and honest. He left us with mountains of curiosity, perspectives, and the urge to always be better leaders in a more uncertain world.”
““Christoph explained with passion, positive energy and hooking enthusiasm how he, through his own passion for sports, managed to help people in need….””
“Christoph’s talk on ‘Leadership in Extremes’ was not only fascinating but deeply inspiring for the participants. ”
Podcast/Interview with Life Channel
On my personal stories of purpose, of what shaped my life filled with adventure, joy and love. (Please note: Podcast in Swiss German (;-)).
Wenn man seine bisherige Lebensgeschichte liest, kann man sich kaum vorstellen, dass dies alles eine einzige Person erlebt hat. Besonders, wenn dieser Mensch erst in der Mitte seines Lebens angekommen ist.
Christoph von Toggenburg ist eigentlich Kunstmaler, aber auch Fotograf und preisgekrönter Filmemacher. Er hat unter anderem Kunstwissenschaften und internationale Beziehungen studiert. Von Toggenburg ist ein Machertyp und Abenteurer mit Adelstitel, der sich ein Ziel gesetzt hat: Menschen in Not zu helfen, und zwar mit all seinem Wissen und all seinen Fähigkeiten.
Das bedeutete zum Beispiel, dass er zehn Jahre lang für das Rote Kreuz und UNO an der Kriegsfront vermittelte und humanitäre Einsätze leitete. Oder dass er ein halbes Jahr mit dem Fahrrad von Indien in die Schweiz radelte um Leprakranken auf der ganzen Welt mit gesammelten Spenden zu helfen durch seine Stiftung Colour the World.
Christoph von Toggenburg ist ein Mann der Extreme – mit extremem Einsatz für die Ärmsten der Welt.
