Ascona as a stage for a special debut
Lake Maggiore glistens in the late summer light, the horses become restless, and the guests appear in the finest elegance. The social highlight on the shores of the lake, the Polo Cup Ascona, opens its doors for a weekend full of sport, style and international flair. This year, however, a new name is in the spotlight: Markus Oldenburger, founder of the ME Business Group
. He enters the stage as a sponsor and combines his first major appearance with a message that radiates far beyond the polo pitch: entrepreneurial courage and social responsibility are inseparable.
The Styger Children's Foundation in the spotlight
At the heart of the commitment is the Styger Children's Foundation, which is committed to helping disadvantaged children with passion and energy. It creates spaces for education, integration and prospects where there was previously only a shortage. Oldenburger uses his debut to give this work a new visibility. Tickets for a good cause are sold on site, the proceeds of which go directly to the foundation. The large auction becomes an emotional climax, in which joy, excitement and helpfulness merge into a lively togetherness. In this way, the Polo Cup will not only be a tournament, but a stage on which hope takes shape. Polo as a metaphor for leadership
Polo is a sport full of elegance, dynamism and precision. But off the pitch, he also talks about qualities that shape modern leadership: strategic thinking, trust in the team, clear communication and the ability to take responsibility at crucial moments. This is exactly where Oldenburger sees the connection to his own start-up. While rider and horse merge into a unit, an image emerges that can be transferred to companies: Success is not achieved by lone wolves, but by team spirit and harmony.
The ME Business Group – a start-up with attitude
The ME Business Group
is young, ambitious and different. It sees itself as a start-up that not only picks up on digital trends, but also focuses on people and values. With practical training for managers, an innovative learning platform and forward-looking concepts for modern recruiting, the company offers solutions that have grown from experience and are visionary at the same time. Markus Oldenburger brings his international career from aviation to the table and uses it to form an offer that rethinks leadership: clear, empathetic, effective.
Equestrian sport and leadership as a symbiosis
At first glance, equestrian sports and leadership development are far apart. But a closer look reveals that both worlds share the same principles. In the polo game, it is the interaction between horse, rider and team that decides on victory or defeat. In companies, it is the balance between manager, employee and common mission that makes the difference. Oldenburger deliberately uses this parallel to make it clear: If you want to lead, you have to listen, understand and act in unison. The Polo Cup thus becomes a living symbol of the philosophy of his start-up.
Indulgence, style and "Feel the Spirit of Vinyac"
In addition to excitement and elegance, enjoyment is not to be missed. The support of the ME Business Group in the culinary sector ensures this special aspect: Together with Strauch Destillaten, it is bringing the premium line "Feel the Spirit of Vinyac" to Ascona. The exquisite wines stand for quality, craftsmanship and joie de vivre. While guests follow the horses on the pitch, they enjoy a moment of pause in the VIP area – a glass of vinyac that captures the spirit of style, conviviality and fine culture.
A start that sets standards.
Markus Oldenburger's debut at the Polo Cup Ascona impressively shows that a young company does not have to think small. With the ME Business Group, he brings a breath of fresh air into the world of entrepreneurship and combines business with meaning from the very beginning. The support of the Styger Children's Foundation, the charity auction, the enjoyment of fine distillates and the symbolic power of polo create an overall experience that sets standards. Ascona thus becomes the backdrop for a story that tells of courage, responsibility and elegance – and carries the message: success means attitude.
Photo: Kathrin Gralla