Who Are We?

The Three Pillars of EHLsmile

EHLsmile is built on three strong pillars: our dedicated Board of Directors, the dynamic Student Committee, and our passionate network of Volunteers. Together, we work hand in hand to co-create impactful projects that promote sustainable hospitality and education across the globe.

Board of Directors

The EHLsmile Board of Directors brings together experienced professionals and passionate individuals dedicated to the association’s mission. Each board member contributes their unique expertise to support the committee, guide strategic decisions, and ensure impactful outcomes for our global projects.

I have been involved with EHLsmile since 2019, drawn from the beginning by the association’s meaningful and hands-on mission. Today, I serve as President, a role I carry with pride, alongside a dedicated and supportive team.

My interest in impactful projects in developing countries took shape during a mission in Senegal. I spent a year and a half there, working on a Swiss cooperation project that supported agricultural schools across the country. Being on the ground gave me a clear view of how thoughtful support can truly improve the lives of families. It made a lasting impression — the idea that sometimes, a small push can change everything.

This is exactly what EHLsmile makes possible: by supporting vocational training initiatives in underprivileged regions, we help create opportunities where there are far too few. Each project we carry out, each young person we see grow and develop, is a powerful reminder of why this commitment matters.

This mission speaks to me deeply, and I am fully committed to helping it grow in a way that remains concrete, lasting, and impactful.

A former EHL student, I have been involved with EHLsmile since 1999 as the association's treasurer. I was recruited by a volunteer from the very first project (Jari) and have actively participated in all past projects. I continue to be involved with the association on various existing projects (such as India), but also in the implementation of new projects (such as Morocco).

As a financial analysis teacher at EHL, I also actively collaborate with the student committee on campus. My motivation is simple: real change can only be achieved through education. And when you want to change things, it's not enough to want it—it's the actions that count. EHLsmile allows me to combine my passions for teaching and hospitality with concrete actions. Since its inception, the schools supported by EHLsmile have changed the lives of thousands of young people, providing them with the opportunity to access quality training and then work in the finest of industries, and I am honored to continue contributing to this work.

An EHL alumnus from the class of 1984, I served as President of EHLsmile from 2007 to 2018, stepping in at the time of Clara Blanc’s retirement. In 2018, I passed the torch to our current president, Maya, while maintaining a strong involvement in our organization and all the projects managed over the years (India, Thailand, Togo, Nepal, Myanmar, Tanzania, etc.).

Since 2008, I have also been responsible for shaping the image of our association by protecting the EHLsmile name, creating the logo, developing the first website, and later setting up the Google suite, our current collaborative platform.

Since our committee has grown more active, I have continued overseeing the technology while focusing more specifically on the projects in Morocco and Tanzania.

I have been a technical adviser to EHLsmile since 2014, contributing to projects worldwide. As Project Manager and Adviser, I have supported the development and implementation of hospitality training centres in Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Nepal and Cambodia. I have provided coaching and technical input for local teams and institutions at different stages of implementation, including feasibility studies, training program design, institutional set-up, management support, and quality assurance.

Specialized in family office management, I oversee strategic planning and wealth management. My expertise also extends to the hospitality sector as co-owner of Hôtel Cosmiques — an exciting entrepreneurial venture that allows me to combine business acumen with a passion for hospitality.

My connection with EHLsmile goes back to its origins nearly 30 years ago. Founded notably by Martin Gentil, this association represented a dream I aspired to fulfill “when I grew up.” Today, I’m especially proud to contribute actively to this organization as Secretary, where I am also involved in marketing and communication activities.

I was a student at EHL from 1993 to 1997, and in 1995, along with fellow students and in partnership with EHL and Terre des hommes Lausanne, I co-founded the Jari Hotel School in Ethiopia. What began as a student project became a life-changing experience, as I spent nearly three years in Ethiopia helping young orphans gain professional and social independence through hospitality training.

Building on that experience and inspired by the dedication of the EHL community, I helped launch EHLsmile to replicate this inclusive hospitality training model in other countries. I believe our global EHL network — students, alumni, faculty, and retired professors — has a unique role in empowering underserved youth and helping them integrate into society through hospitality.

Today, as a member of the board of directors, I remain deeply involved with EHLsmile, supporting our volunteers and mission as a meaningful way to give back to the community and extend the impact of EHL’s educational values around the world.

I joined EHLsmile in 2024 with the hope of connecting the association’s inspiring projects to the wealth of resources available at EHL, and to encourage more students to embark on this meaningful journey. Through my long experience as non-executive director of a vocational school in Cambodia, I have witnessed how vocational training can be a powerful catalyst for change—how learning a skill can alter the trajectory of a life.

At the same time, I have seen how volunteering in such a project is a deeply enriching experience, an opportunity to contribute to something greater than ourselves while embracing values—empathy, resilience, and a sense of global responsibility—that can forever shape a person.

As one of the HR liaisons for the Association, I try to connect these two worlds to create a match benefiting everyone.

I am an Associate Professor of Strategy and Social Entrepreneurship at EHL and co-founder of the EHL Institute for Nutrition R&D. As a former EHL Dean and Executive Leadership Member, I bring my international experience in academic leadership, corporate partnerships, and social innovation.

My engagement with EHLsmile is rooted in the belief that education and hospitality hold a unique transformative power, both for individuals and for society. EHLsmile provides a platform to make this belief tangible by fostering social entrepreneurship and generating sustainable impact. I actively support the association by leveraging my network to develop new projects, mentoring volunteers, and contributing to the design of academically sound and economically viable schools and programs.

I have been part of the EHLsmile student committee for three years, beginning in the Sponsoring Department before taking on the role of President. In my current board role, I focus on strengthening the communication and collaboration between these two essential pillars of EHLsmile—the student committee and the board—ensuring our shared mission moves forward with clarity and unity. I also help manage the broader marketing and communication efforts of EHLsmile to increase our visibility and impact.

I joined EHLsmile driven by a passion for helping others and a deep awareness of my own privilege, which motivates me to give back in meaningful ways. Today, I’m also pursuing a Master’s in Sustainability and Social Innovation at HEC Paris, which further fuels my commitment to creating positive social impact through thoughtful leadership and strategic communication.

Student Committee

The EHLsmile Student Committee plays a key role in organizing events and activities throughout the year to raise funds for EHLsmile’s ongoing projects. Its flagship initiative is the annual charity gala, held during the fall semester (November or December), complemented by a series of smaller fundraising events in the spring.

This semester's committee (Spring 2025):

The student committees throughout the years:

Led by co-presidents Lou and Lisa, with Aya as vice-president, the committee also includes Riya as head of HR, Noelle as head of marketing, Sophia and Salomé as heads of events, Mathilde as head of sponsoring, and Zoe as head of finance, along with many dedicated assistants.

The Volunteers

EHLsmile Volunteers are most often EHL alumni who choose to give back before launching their professional careers — or sometimes between two career steps. They commit to a six-month mission abroad, bringing their hospitality expertise directly to the schools we support. These missions are at the heart of our impact, as volunteers work closely with local teams to strengthen vocational training and elevate hospitality standards.

Capucine

Jun. - Sep. 2025

Abury Hospitality School in Morocco

Augustin

Jan. - Jun. 2025

Bodhgaya Hotel School in India & Sala Baï Hotel School in Cambodia

Laure

Jul. - Dec. 2023

Sala Baï Hotel School in Cambodia

Jean-François

Jul. - Dec. 2023

Sala Baï Hotel School in Cambodia

Ombéline

Jul. - Dec. 2023

Ropka Training Center in Nepal

The annual charity Gala

Each year, the EHLsmile Gala is the result of months of dedication and teamwork by the EHLsmile student committee. As the main fundraising event for our organization, the Gala represents the culmination of an entire semester of planning, creativity, and collaboration.

Alice in Wonderland (2024)

Funds raised: CHF 12'000 (including CHF 5'500 from tombola)

Theme: Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, the gala transported guests into a whimsical and elegant universe, with playing cards, clocks, and floral decor creating an immersive experience.

Presidency: Alex, Eva, Alicia

Casino Royal (2023)

Funds raised: CHF 10'000 (including CHF 3'500 from tombola)

Theme: Casino Royal invites guests into an elegant world of high-stakes glamour, with card-themed decor, poker tables, and a touch of James Bond sophistication

Presidency: Michaela, Alexia, Eva

Lost in Venice (2022)

Funds raised: CHF 11'000 (including 5'000 from tombola)

Theme: Lost in Venice transports guests into the enchanting mystery of a Venetian masquerade, with ornate masks and baroque elegance setting the stage for an unforgettable night.

Presidency: Arianna, Alexia, Natalia