Women in Leadership is an EHL initiative with a focus on projects regarding women, and on a wider scale the initiative aims to promote leadership, culture, and policies that foster diverse, balanced, and people-focused environments. It strives so that our students, faculty, staff, and alumni can lead fulfilled professional and personal lives.
Given the substantial untapped female leadership potential across the world, we believe that women aspiring to create a positive impact in organizations and society should be empowered to attain their vision and contribute to leadership diversity.
The WIL Initiative Promotes
INFORMATION: by raising awareness, disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge, debating ‘off-limits’ topics and sharing experiences and best practices
ACTION: by accompany promising individuals for growth, expanding network and opportunities for development, developing tailored solutions for companies, and creating innovative women-related projects
Themes Covered
Leadership diversity and inclusion
Women in hospitality, women and entrepreneurship
Networking, mentoring, coaching, championing women
Flexible work arrangements, managing work and family, parenthood
Associate professor at EHL Founder of WIL Initiative
Nationality: Korean
Dr. Sowon Kim is an Associate Professor at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and a founding member of the Women in Leadership (WIL) Initiative launched in 2018. She teaches in bachelor's, master's and executive education programs fields of leadership and intercultural management. Dr. Kim’s research focuses on personality, networking, work-family, and leadership diversity. She has published in diverse outlets such as Journal of Vocational Behavior, Personality and Individual Differences, Journal of Environmental Psychology, and Harvard Deusto Business Review. Dr. Kim holds a PhD from the University of Geneva, was a Visiting Scholar at IESE Business School and INSEAD Fontainebleau (both funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation) and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Geneva. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Kim gained substantial business experience in the consumer goods, high-tech, broadcasting, and jewelry industries. Dr. Kim speaks four languages and lived in eight countries before settling in Martigny (Switzerland) with her family.
Meloney BRAZZOLA
Director of Communication at EHL
Nationality: American / Swiss
Meloney Brazzola is Director of Communication at EHL where she has worked since 2014. She is an experienced Communications professional with an international background in marketing and corporate communications. Before joining EHL, she was Associate Director - Business Management at HSBC Private Bank Switzerland where she oversaw the international marketing strategy and corporate client communications. Prior to that, Meloney had the chance to work in Switzerland and Dubai with Hyatt Hotels International and was Director of Marketing for South West Asia. Of American and Swiss nationality, Meloney is a wife and mother of two, and has joined the Women in Leadership (WIL) initiative at EHL as a founding member in 2018 to support successful career development and family life balance for colleagues and students.
Valérie DE CORTE
Global Alliance & Partnership Director
Nationality: Belgian
Valérie De Corte graduated from the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in 1998 and also holds an MBA from Bocconi University in Milan. She started a career in hospitality management by working for groups like Accor and Louvre Hotels for nearly 10 years as Banqueting Manager, Director Sales & Marketing, and General Manager. In 2007, she became an entrepreneur, and took over a hotel in Piemonte (Italy) which used to be the Olivetti family’s hotel. Completely refurbished, the 4* hotel welcomes today tourists and business clients looking for a unique experience. In 2012, she came back to the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne as Alumni & Industry Relations Director. She manages the 25,000+ EHL alumni network around the world, the 96% employability objective for recent graduates, and relations with EHL partners/sponsors. Valerie de Corte is passionate about gastronomy, travelling and golfing.
Alexia MUTEKE CEPPI
Senior Consultant at EHL Advisory
Nationality: Kenyan
Alexia Muteke Ceppi is a Senior Consultant at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Advisory Services. She has a proven track record in leading projects from inception to completion and delivering shareholder value through change and innovation. She has worked with governments, private sector and education institutions acquiring extensive knowledge in working with diverse cultures from Europe, India, Brazil, UAE, Mexico, China, Saudi Arabia and Africa. Alexia Muteke Ceppi has developed the Leadership Programs for EHL Executive Education and has delivered the first Women Leadership Program in 2010. She is a founding member of Association Esthéticiennes sans frontiers, a project founded in 2007 in line with the UN Millennial Development Goals to assist women to be self-reliant in Benin. She holds a BA from Kenyatta University (Nairobi), an EMBA from Business School Lausanne, and executive education certificates from EHL, INSEAD Fontainebleau, and Columbia Business School. She is a certified trainer of Insights® Discovery.
WIL Ambassadors
WIL Ambassadors are industry professionals who support our initiative and whose mindset, attitude, behaviors and actions in their own respective companies reflect the values of WIL.
WIL Projects
Our Sexual Harassment Prevention (SHP) initiative spearheaded in collaboration with Student Affairs (STA) aims to educate, protect, and empower our students and employees on sexual harassment.
Events
The WIL initiative at EHL organizes regular expert conferences and workshops on the Lausanne campus for its students, faculty, and staff. We also welcome our alumni and industry professionals.
Program 2019 - 2020
June 8, 2020 at 3 pm CET – WIL Webinar Expert Series Women, finances, and investment: Preparing your future Guest speaker: Sonia Rüegger, Director, Wealth Management, UBS Switzerland
Did you know that only 1 out of 10 married couples make long-term financial decisions together (in Switzerland)? Most decisions are made by just one of the partners – usually the man – and this is linked to the assumption that the male spouse knows more about financial issues than the female spouse. It’s never too early (or late) to think about your financial future. Thinking ahead about your financial wealth is as important as discovering your passion, developing your skills with a lifelong learning mindset, and broadening your career perspectives, because they are all part of preparing your future filled with uncertainties. Our wealth management expert, Director Sonia Rüegger of UBS Switzerland will share valuable insights into this topic and provide sound advice on women, finances, and investment.
May 4, 2020 at 3 pm CET - WIL Webinar Panel Series - co-organized with EPS Corporate culture and innovation in times of crisis Panelists: Louise Byrne, VP Global Talent, IHG; Thomas Mielke, Managing Director, AETHOS Consulting Group; Eugenio Pirri, Chief People & Culture Officer, Dorchester Collection; Veronica Soares, Executive Committee Member, Pestana Hotel group
In a matter of a few days, the coronavirus outbreak has redefined the way we work. How are companies navigating, responding, and anticipating recovery in times of crisis via their corporate culture and innovation? Our distinguished panelists will share their insights for a stimulating exchange on leading organizations in times of crisis.
You can now access the recorded webinar “Corporate Culture and Innovation in Times of Crisis”by clicking here.
Oct. 22, 2019 at 4.15 pm and 6.30pm - WIL Expert Workshop Series Let’s talk about Sexual Harassment Guest speaker: Ivana Busljeta, Director of Global Education, Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVP)
The workshop is designed to help you understand what sexual harassment is and provide you with tools that enable you to prevent or cope with such a situation. What does it take to start talking about it? What does it take to stand up for yourself even when you think you can't? What does it take to have the courage to protect and stand up for others…even when you’re all alone? Not easy questions to answer, but still questions that we need to start answering. Let's explore together.
Oct 14, 2019 at 4.30pm – supported by WIL Workshop Series Realities of the Labor Market
The Women’s Business Society (WBS) in collaboration with the Women in Leadership initiative (WIL) presents a workshop on the realities of the labor market. The workshop is animated by OtherWise9 certified coaches. How to navigate in the professional world? Come discover employability 4.0 and learn some tips and tricks..
Program 2018 - 2019
June 3, 2019 at 5.30 pm - WIL Panel Series (co-organized with EPS) Women-led Businesses: Getting the Female Founder's Perspective Panelists: Laurence Stoll, Founder & CEO of Marquise Technologies, Johanna Roussel Co-founder & CEO of Skwoll, and Magda Oltean, Co-founder & Account Director of Minthical
Increasingly, women are creating their start-ups, owning businesses, and turning them into successful companies. Yet, diving into entrepreneurship is a trajectory filled with challenges. What are the toughest trials and how to cope with them? How to build on past success to attain an exponential effect? What are the key lessons learned? Based on their experiences, our panelists will share their insights and advice in leading businesses.
May 25, 2019 at 6 pm. - WIL Expert Series Human Trafficking and the Hotel Industry: How to Combat this Crime Against Women Guest speaker: Prof. Dr Maureen Brookes, Associate Prof. at Oxford School of Hospitality Management, Oxford Brookes University
Human trafficking is a rapidly growing criminal activity. The Global Slavery Index (2018) identifies that there are 40.3 million global victims of modern slavery and that 71% of these victims are women. The hotel industry is increasingly recognized as being vulnerable to human traffickers and therefore as having a role to play in combatting this heinous crime. Drawing on European Commission funded research, this presentation is designed to help industry professionals, educators and students to understand why hotels are vulnerable to human trafficking and to identify the critical intervention points within hotels where signs of trafficking can be spotted and barriers erected. It will introduce a range of resources that hoteliers and educators can use to take a lead role in combatting human trafficking in order to protect their business and support victims
May 2, 2019 at 6.30 pm - WIL Expert Series (co-organized with EHL Presents) Leadership Diversity at Accor Guest speaker: Maud Bailly, Chief Digital Officer of Accor
“Diversity is a powerful driver of collective performance: it is important to involve women & men, seniors and juniors, people from different backgrounds and managers at the highest level to set an example. Promoting gender diversity is everyone’s duty regardless of their own gender. And this is the main ambition of the RiiSE, our internal diversity network at Accor.” (M. Bailly)
Jan 15, 2019 at 4.30 pm - WIL Workshop Series Expanding Your Influence Workshop Guest speaker: Alexia Muteke-Ceppi, Senior Consultant at EHL Advisory Services
The workshop is designed to share tips and techniques that enables you to learn how to build your influence by applying these principles to any number of (business) interactions, from managing, mentoring and negotiating to conversations, writing and presentations.
Nov 13, 2018 at 12 pm - WIL Workshop Series Building Self-Confidence Workshop Guest speaker: Dr Paul Vanderbroeck, Executive Consultant, Visiting Professor at EHL and LUISS Business School Rome The workshop is designed to provide insights into what being a confident and authentic leader means recognizing that each individual is different and using it to one's advantage.
WIL Alumni Award
On Nov 4, 2019, the EHL Alumni Network (AEHL) gathered at Chaplin’s World in Vevey for the 7th Annual AEHL Award Ceremony to celebrate the achievements of our alumni across the world.
This year’s event saw the first bestowal of the Woman in Leadership Award. Speaking at the event, Valérie de Corte, Global Alliance & Partnership Director, said: “As an active member of the EHL Women in Leadership initiative, I am particularly proud to introduce this new award which we hope will inspire future generations of students and alumni”.
