EHL HumanX Summit

Passion for innovation - that's what drives Carole Ackermann. With a doctorate in business administration, she has over 25 years of management experience in the management of SMEs and large companies. She is the President and Chairman of the renowned hotel management school EHL Group 

in Lausanne, Vice President of BVZ Holding with the most beautiful train to the Gornergrat, and a member of the Board of Directors of Allianz Suisse, BKW and BNP Paribas in Switzerland. As co-founder of Diamondscull AG, she invests in start-up companies in the technology sector and supports female entrepreneurial talent and the innovation network of Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley. She has been a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen, where she has shown great commitment to giving students insights into practice and the courage to be an entrepreneur.  

Satya Anand was appointed Group President for US, Canada & CALA in March 2026 and is accountable for developing and managing Marriott's hotel portfolio in US, Canada, Caribbean and Latin America, which comprises of 34 brands in 40 countries and territories.  Prior to this, he served as President for Europe, Middle East and Africa for more than 5 years and has held various operational, financial and regional roles with Marriott since joining the company in 1988.

Educated primarily in Bangalore, Mr. Anand holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bangalore’s MES College of Commerce (1982-1985) and in 1988 completed his Diploma in Hotel and Tourism Management from the Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management in Semmering, Austria. 

Dr. Bertrand Audrin is an assistant professor in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior at EHL Business School. His research focuses on digital transformation and its impact on organizations, human resource management, and employment relationships. His current projects tackle questions on digital skills and emotional intelligence, new ways of working and AI for recruitment. 

As President of IMD, a position he has held since September 2024, David Bach is focused on making IMD the world’s most impactful business school. Together with his leadership team and the entire IMD community, he is working to broaden and deepen IMD’s global impact through learning innovation, excellence in degree- and executive programs, and applied thought leadership.

Recognized globally as an innovator in management education, Bach previously served as IMD’s Dean of Innovation and Programs. Under his leadership, the school won multiple awards for groundbreaking pedagogy and executive programs. Before joining IMD in 2020, he was Deputy Dean at Yale School of Management, where he led the successful expansion of the school’s degree program portfolio and the creation of Yale Center Beijing.

Bach is one of the principal architects of the Global Network for Advanced Management, an alliance of 32 top global business schools from five continents, of which IMD has been a member since 2012. In 2025, he joined the Graduate Management Association Council (GMAC) Board of Directors, a global nonprofit association of leading graduate business schools that brings together future business leaders worldwide with educational opportunities.

As Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy, Bach helps leaders navigate the myriad political challenges facing business today. A celebratedteacher, his course ‘The End of Globalization?’ received the 2018 Ideas Worth Teaching Award from the Aspen Institute.

His research on non-market strategy, stakeholder management, and global politics has been published in leading practitioner and academic journals, including MIT Sloan Management Review, California Management Review, Rotman Management, International Organization, Journal of European Public Policy, Governance, and Review of International Political Economy. He has published case studies on companies including TSMC, Rio Tinto, Volkswagen, IBM, AXA, Golden Agri, Playboy, Endesa, and BP.

Bach earned a BA magna cum laude from Yale University and holds an MA and a PhD in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.

Dr. Joy Chen is a Board Director and Senior Advisor with deep expertise in education, investment, and entrepreneurship across the U.S., China, and Switzerland.

She serves as a Member of the Board of EHL and ITI (Switzerland), and is a Senior Advisor at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. She also teaches at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Education on Entrepreneurship and Education Innovation.

She is the founder of multiple education ventures and an advisor to leading EdTech funds and accelerators, including GSV Ventures, Berkeley SkyDeck, and Blue Elephant Capital.

Dr. Chen holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California, a Master’s in Educational Technology from Indiana University, and executive credentials from the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Valentina Clergue, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at EHL Hospitality Business School, where she teaches Principles of Marketing, Guest Experiences, and Digital Marketing Strategies. Her research focuses on well-being in services for both guests and employees, the way AI and autonomous products are changing consumer experiences as well as on sustainable consumption. 

Jurgis Didžiulis (Jurgis Did) is a contemporary troubadour with a unique ability to weave speaking and participative music to connect, unite, and illuminate collective dynamics - leadership, community, and culture. A professional musician educated in political science and business administration, he has worked with hundreds of organizations and communities around the world, helping them align, relate, and shape meaningful collaboration through creative flow.

Susie Ellis is the chair and CEO of the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute, considered the industry’s leading global research and educational resource. She is also chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Summit, an organization at the heart of the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy focused on facilitating collaboration amongst industry thought leaders. Recognized as a leading authority on wellness trends, she sits on numerous academic and industry boards, including the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, and was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s “Accelerating Health and Well-being Initiative.” She holds an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. 

Sébastien Fernandez, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at EHL since 2011. He received his BSc and MSc in Psychology from the University of Lausanne and his PhD in Differential Psychology from the University of Geneva. He is teaching courses in Human Behavior and Performance, People Analytics, and Emotional Intelligence. His domain of expertise and research focus on talent acquisition, psychometric tests, cybervetting, human skills, evidence-based management and tipping. 

Alina M. Hernandez is an internationally recognized, award-winning wellness industry thought leader and Experience Architect specializing in human-centric systems.

Her work pioneers Experience Design as infrastructure across wellness, hospitality, and longevity platforms - helping organizations eliminate costly assumptions before anything is built by translating human behavior, translational science, and systems thinking into adaptive, experience-led operating models – and design briefs - that deliver both ROI and Return on Experience (ROX).

Founder of the Wellness Innovation Hub and Co-Chair of the Global Wellness Institute’s Mental Wellness Initiative, Alina advises leaders on designing living systems that evolve alongside human needs, technology, and long-term wellbeing.

Since June 2025, Christian Hürlimann has served as Director of HotellerieSuisse, where he leads the association’s operations and strategic initiatives. A native of Zug, he brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across Switzerland’s hospitality and catering industry. Prior to joining HotellerieSuisse, he spent two decades at Eldora AG, most recently as COO Business Catering, overseeing the operation of around 150 restaurants nationwide.

Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in both national and international hospitality, including with Hilton International in Australia, as well as leadership positions at Hotel Widder Zurich and Art Deco Hotel Montana Lucerne. He is a graduate of the Swiss Hotel Management School Lucerne and has completed advanced executive education in governance and strategic leadership. He currently serves on several boards, including at EHL and within the Swiss Tourism Federation.

Alessandro Inversini is a Full Professor of Marketing at EHL – Hospitality Business School, specializing in Digital Communication and Digital Transformation. His research explores Regenerative Economies, contributing to various funded projects. Collaborating with global pioneers, he plays a key role in advancing regeneration within travel, tourism, and hospitality.

Through Prospect Hotel Advisors, Andrew has served as a Senior Advisor to Blackstone for its hotel portfolio in Europe and Asia for the past nineteen years.  

In this role, he oversees the operating platforms and management companies supporting the portfolios, and also provides third-party asset management services to other real estate firms. 

Previously, Andrew was Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Before that, he had an extensive career in hospitality operations, beginning at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City and later serving as a General Manager in multiple locations. 

Andrew resides in Barcelona and Florida. 

Dr. Aradhana Khowala is one of the world’s most influential voices shaping the future of travel, tourism and hospitality. An EHL alumna who has advised more than 85 governments and helped steer landmark giga-projects like NEOM and Red Sea Global, she operates at the intersection of policy, capital and global ambition. Deeply committed to DEI, cultural integrity and true wellness, she champions models of growth that honour people, places and human thriving. Today, as CEO of Aptamind Partners, she is turning tourism into a serious instrument of regeneration, resilience and enduring economic value. 

Dr. Sowon Kim is an Associate Professor and Founder of Women in Leadership (WIL) at EHL Hospitality Business School, with over 20 years of experience across academia and industry. Her experience across East Asia, the Americas, and Western Europe has shaped her expertise in interpersonal skills, cross-cultural competence, and human-centric leadership. Through research and executive education, her current work focuses on identifying timeless hospitality leadership skills and co-developing AI-enabled learning initiatives that support leaders in practicing those skills. 

Nicola Gryczka Kirsch is a change-maker, social entrepreneur, and expert in food systems change, regenerative hospitality, and open innovation. As an Entrepreneur in Residence at the EHL Innovation Hub, she is dedicated to shaping sustainable solutions in hospitality and beyond. She holds leadership roles and recognitions with the Social Gastronomy Movement, IMAGINE, and Ashoka, driving collaboration and social innovation. A passionate TEDx and motivational speaker, she inspires action toward a regenerative and equitable future. 

Mirko Lalli is the Founder and CEO of The Data Appeal Company, a global travel intelligence platform powered by artificial intelligence. A pioneer of big data in tourism, he has helped destinations and hospitality businesses transform millions of online signals into actionable insights. Following the company’s acquisition by Almawave Group and the integration of Mabrian Technologies, he now leads a global player working with over 300 tourism organizations worldwide. He is an Independent Expert for the European Commission on AI and data initiatives and a regular speaker at major international industry conferences.

Frank Marrenbach has been Managing Partner since May 2020 and, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), also holds overall operational responsibility for Althoff Hotels. 

Previously, the 56-year-old headed the Oetker Collection from 2008 onward and served for nearly 20 years as General Manager of Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden. His career path has been marked by positions at internationally renowned luxury hotels, including The Berkeley in London, the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, the Frankfurter Hof in Frankfurt, and the Guest House Petersberg. 

Alongside his professional career, Frank Marrenbach completed an MBA program at the State University of New York at Albany. Numerous awards attest to his remarkable contributions to the hospitality industry throughout his more than 35-year career. In 2016, he was named Hotelier of the Year, followed by the Leading Legend award from The Leading Hotels of the World in 2017. In 2019, Gault & Millau honored him as Restaurateur of the Year. 

My name is Sofia Meakin, I’m 27, and a Swiss national team rower in a sport that is niche but intense, beautiful, and too often underestimated. I went to the Paris Olympic Games and am now focused on reaching Los Angeles 2028. After graduating from EHL last year, I am now completing a Master’s degree alongside my athletic career. What drives me is: the bigger the challenge and the greater the sacrifices, the stronger the emotions and the satisfaction when the goal is achieved.  

With over 25 years of international experience in corporate business, start-ups, people management, Andrea is passionate about innovation, impact, and sustainability. He fosters and deliver sustainable innovation for the whole EHL Group, helping students, alumni, and the global EHL community of founders and partners to grow and make an impact. 
He also acts as a pro-bono mentor and advisor for start-ups and organizations on business strategy, go-to-market, fundraising, impact, and business KPIs. Andrea is also a guest lecturer in several organizations and academies and a board member of impact ventures and foundations.

Jean-Jacques Morin, Deputy CEO of Accor, holds a degree in aeronautical engineering, an MBA, and accounting certifications. He gained extensive international experience in audit and the semiconductor industry before holding a CFO role at Alstom. Since joining Accor in 2015, he has served as CFO, then Deputy CEO overseeing various key functions, and as of January 2023, he also leads Accor's Premium, Midscale & Economy division. 

Anna Nash joined the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, Explora Journeys, as President in September 2024, reporting directly to Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Group's Cruise Division.

With a career spanning over 20 years in the ultra-luxury hospitality industry, she brings significant expertise in brand development, marketing, global sales, communications, and holistic brand stewardship. Prior to joining Explora Journeys, Nash held leadership positions at Aman, where she served as Chief Communications Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and most recently Chief Commercial Officer. In these roles, she was instrumental in shaping the company's global commercial strategies and driving its brand expansion.

 Her professional journey also includes prominent roles at other renowned luxury hospitality brands, such as Rosewood Hotels and Orient-Express.

Anna's extensive background and strategic vision positions her to lead Explora Journeys as the brand continues its innovation and expansion. Her wealth of experience and proven leadership are critical as Explora Journeys prepares to increase its fleet of two ships currently sailing, with four additional ships entering service from 2026 to 2028 

Christopher W. Norton is a globally recognized hospitality executive with over 30 years of experience shaping refined guest experiences where luxury and holistic wellbeing converge.  

Rising through the ranks at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to President and COO, he oversaw worldwide operations, guided the brand’s future product vision, and led its innovative global spa strategy for a decade.  

Since 2016, as founding CEO of Equinox Hotels, Christopher has been widely credited with redefining the modern luxury lifestyle hotel through design-led, performance-driven hospitality. 

Achim joined EHL in 2013. He holds a PhD from the University of Geneva and obtained a Habilitation at the University of Paris-Dauphine in France.
Before moving into academia Achim worked in strategy consulting, gaining substantial knowledge in strategy formulation and managing underperforming business situations. His research focuses on organization theory and strategic management, with particular interest in organizational decline, corporate turnarounds, and strategic renewal.

Academically, Achim has gained experience at the University of Geneva and the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), Collège des Ingenieurs (CDI) in Paris and Audencia Business School in Nantes (France), China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai (China), Columbia Business School in New York (USA), and the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá (Colombia).

Achim is a member of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) Swiss Advisory Council and currently holds one board membership in the private sector.

Bernold Schroeder is the CEO and Managing Partner of MINPER Hotels, a Singapore–Chinese joint venture specializing in third‑party hotel management and development across Asia Pacific and China. A seasoned hospitality leader with over 30 years of global experience, he has led, scaled, and transformed luxury hotel companies with a strong focus on long‑term value creation.

Before joining EHL Group, Markus was a Full Professor of Global Strategy at the Management and Technology Department of Bocconi University and Dean of Innovation at Bocconi University. He is also the Managing Partner of Corporate Hangar, an innovation catalyst that supports large firms by creating the infrastructure for serial innovation.  

He obtained his PhD in Strategy and Organization from the University of St. Gallen and has since worked as a strategist in several industries, including manufacturing, financial services and fashion. He has also founded his own consulting firm and served as a member of supervisory and advisory boards of several multinational firms.