New bonds
New bonds
Marina and Steffen Meister first met during their studies. Now they’re often seen in and around ETH again – not only because their three sons are students here, but also thanks to their philanthropic efforts.
You both studied maths at ETH Zurich – how did that come about?
MARINA MEISTER – Raised in Stäfa on Lake Zurich, I went to ETH with the intention of becoming a maths teacher. I always wanted to start a family and thought that this would work well with a teaching profession.
STEFFEN MEISTER – I went to the Gymnasium in Wiedikon and was a lazy pupil. I coped reasonably easily with maths and physics. Choosing to study maths was a pragmatic decision.
What do you remember most about this time?
ST.M. – During the first semester break, a friend and I admitted to each other that we hadn’t understood much up until then, but that we found the programme exciting. So, putting our heads together, we managed to catch up. I enjoyed my years of study. In a way, it felt like solving Sudoku all day. We also played a lot of cards in the Polysnack canteen.
M.M. – I was used to being studious and had often worked ahead. At ETH, it was part of the concept that you didn’t fully understand some of the assignments until you were preparing for the exam. That was a good life lesson for me.
When did you meet?
M.M. – Within the first few weeks. Steffen’s friends were planning a trip to the cinema together. Someone asked me if I wanted to come along, and that’s how we came to meet.
ST.M. – Well, I’d already noticed her before! Marina made me take my studies more seriously – and I taught her to relax.
“It’s wonderful to have a top-tier university on your doorstep and be able to create opportunities for its young talent to develop.”
You both graduated in 1995.
M.M. – After that, I did actually teach for a while. But some friends of ours were working for a consulting firm, which looked so exciting that I ended up applying there too. The work suited me well – as did the opportunity to work abroad. Steffen was also abroad at the time, so we had a weekend relationship.
ST.M. – My professional career began during my studies, and all by chance: at the beginning of my fourth year, I got lost one day and came across a postdoc seminar on options theory talking about mathematical applications in the financial markets. I found it super interesting and asked if I could take part – they said I could. I later wrote my thesis in this field and applied to various banks, ending up at a Credit Suisse derivatives company in London. There I had to learn that the things I’d learnt in the postdoc seminar had nothing to do with the financial markets in practice (laughs).
After some time, you both returned to Switzerland.
ST.M. – Marina moved to Swiss Re in Zurich and I joined Partners Group, which was still a relatively small company at the time.
M.M. – We got married at the beginning of 2000 and our first son arrived at the end of the year.
Today your three sons study at ETH.
M.M. – Exactly. One’s doing mechanical engineering, another chose materials science and the third is doing maths.
ST.M. – What strikes me is how practice-oriented the study programmes of my two older boys are. From the first and second years, they’re already involved in monthslong projects building things like robots for specific applications or the like. Being able to experiment and refine ideas is incredibly cool.
As members of the ETH Foundation’s Escher Top 100 Circle, you’re actively involved in philanthropic activities that benefit ETH – what was it that inspired you to do so?
ST.M. – We have a strong affinity with ETH, which became even stronger with our three boys being such fans. This gave us the idea of giving something back and strengthening our bond with ETH. Regaining this closeness and doing things like having a cappuccino in Polysnack again gives me great pleasure. I also take note of the spin-offs that ETH generates – I feel that our funds are very well invested here.
M.M. – When the rankings came out a few years ago and I saw how high ETH was placed, I felt a little pride and great gratitude. It’s wonderful to have a top-tier university on your doorstep and be able to create opportunities for its young talent to develop and make the world a better place. At ETH Foundation events, I always think how happy I am to be able to play a small part in this.
ST.M. – ETH, along with EPFL, is a major technological hub, not only for Switzerland but also beyond. In my opinion, the university should act more like Roger Federer and serve as an ambassador for Switzerland. In Asia, for instance, it’s relatively unknown. This is a missed opportunity, as wherever partnerships are built, I feel a sense of enthusiasm. As a member of the ETH Foundation’s Board of Trustees, I’d like to help develop ETH’s international influence.
Active on many fronts
Marina Meister spent several years in management consultancy both in Switzerland and abroad. Starting in 1999, she led global projects at Swiss Re for twelve years. Today she is self-employed and, as initiator of “Lebensvorsorge Schweiz”, is working on a political project on social infrastructure. She is a member of the Board of Directors and a partner in the architecture firm Arndt Geiger Herrmann.
Steffen Meister first held roles at Swiss Re and in investment banking before joining the private markets firm Partners Group where he was CEO from 2005 to 2013. This was followed by a transition to executive functions on the Board of Directors, first as delegate and, since 2018, as chairman. Steffen Meister has been a member of the ETH Foundation Board of Trustees since 2023.
