KMU

Gesa’s business background

I have spent all my career so far in the corporate and entrepreneurial world, always in the field of branding, communication and marketing.
14 years in-house in a large pharmaceutical company and 9 years as an independent brand consultant for the life sciences and academic sector.
I am also a coach for branding and positioning at Innosuisse and as such embedded in the entrepreneurial world.

Me and sustainability

My holistic understanding of sustainability was shaped in my early childhood by agriculture and social projects of friends in Brazil and Kenya.
I grew up in a family where social awareness, consumption and healthy eating were practiced.
My desire to integrate this topic into my business life led me to the deeper learning journey on sustainability that I am now on:
In 2021, I took a course in Leading Sustainable Business Transformation at IMD, followed by an eCAS in Sustainable Business at the Business School Lausanne, and that was just the beginning. Because sustainability is a complex topic.
As part of an eMBA in Marketing Management at the University of Bern in 2023/24, I looked at the challenges organizations face in their sustainability transformation.
In my master’s thesis, I examine the power of marketing and how it can support the transformation of our world into a more sustainable one.

What drives me

Companies have immense power.
By reshaping their business models to be sustainable, they can truly make a difference in the world.
At IMD, I learned that communication and storytelling are important pillars for driving engagement in this process. Engagement is the trigger for action: I realized that I have the perfect expertise to support this.

• I want to use my creativity and expertise in this area to make a difference.
• I want to bring the topic down from the abstract level and make it concrete for everyone.
• I want to help business leaders develop a strong business model for sustainability.

Favorite sustainability topics

‘Reuse’ – I love giving things a second life, packaging, furniture, clothing
‘Eat any by local’ – I love seasonal food (from the local farmers market) and reduce the consumption of imported products.
‘Leadership’ – Leaders can make a decisive difference. I advocate for authentic and people-centered leadership.

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Gregory’s business background

I first developed resilience, methodology and customer exposure during 6 years at KPMG while reviewing and improving business processes in various industries. I then spent 11 years at Novartis in diverse local and global compliance roles while being regularly exposed to multiple stakeholders, from operations to top leaders. My two main areas of expertise are risk management including internal/external audit as well as internal control, and both strategic and operational wide scale project management. For the past 2 years, I have been an independent sustainability senior consultant and deliver climate trainings, carbon emission calculations and net-zero strategies to a wide range of small to large organizations.

Me and sustainability

I grew up close to nature, in a small French village. My parents exposed me to many different cultures and countries, with always a focus to marvel at the beauty of natural landscapes and how to respect them.
More recently, the COVID-19 global crisis brought a new perspective to me. While the world paused, I acknowledged how lucky I was to have a safe home, food on the table every day, and being healthy with my family. While it was not the case for billions of others. Since then, I made a complete shift and I want to spend my energy to safeguard and improve people’s live and planet.

From a personal standpoint, I am engaged in several NGOs around climate education. Typically, I launched a community early 2024 in Basel and we have offered in average 1 public workshop per month to citizens and schools. On the business side, I decided to resign my job at Novartis in 2023 even though I loved it. Sustainability needs forces now, not tomorrow. Since this moment, I took many education courses* and I spent more than 1500 hours reading articles on climate and sustainability, to improve my knowledge and be up to date to the latest business developments. I also developed in parallel a client portfolio.

What drives me

A quote from Henry Ford: « Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a progress. Working together is a success. » Individuals can do great things alone, but when we team up everything is possible.
I also believe in the power of education which can be transformative for people and organizations, if you bring information that creates a spark.
I love facilitating engaging workshops and see how participants evolve in their emotions and thinking during my sessions.

Favorite sustainability topics

‘Trees’ – Trees are able to adapt to their neighbours while growing, taking from the ground only what they need. They are a true model of resilience and adaptation.
‘Train’ – Dare to replace plane by train! The trip itself can be a journey where you can discover landscapes you would have never seen otherwise.
‘Data and Actions’ – A beautiful speech can be eventually remembered. But if you use data and actions together, then only the real impact can happen.

* Leading Sustainable Business Transformation at IMD, Green House Gases Protocol, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive Master Class at EcoLearn, Accelerate Climate Transition methodology at French agency of ecological transition (ADEME)

What do you like best?

• Helping people, even though I hate to advertise it
• Learning new topics and sharing with others
• Facilitating workshops to energize people on a common objective

What are your life priorities?

• Being a catalyser and a change agent to help people ensure we have better life conditions

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Driving Innovation, Transformation & Performance with Purpose

My Professional Background

My career sits at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and industrial transformation. With a foundation in Environmental Engineering, an Executive MBA from IMD, and a Diploma in Advanced Sustainability, I’ve always focused on making complex systems work — strategically, commercially, and operationally.

I’ve held leadership roles across cleantech, energy efficiency, and heavy industry: from early biogas development, to expanding Veolia’s waste-water-energy services, to leading international sales and customer partnerships at MAN Energy Solutions and Turboden.

Today, as a Strategic Account Executive at ECCO2 Solutions AG, I manage key real-estate portfolios and guide the rollout of AI- and IoT-driven decarbonisation solutions across Switzerland. The goal is clear: turn data into real CO₂ reductions, stronger portfolio performance, and better comfort and transparency for owners and tenants.

Alongside this, I support start-ups and contribute to the IMD TOGETHER Community, an international network that brings leaders across industries together to accelerate innovation, resilience, and climate-positive transformation.

Me and Sustainability

Sustainability has been part of my work from the start — long before it became a standard corporate agenda item. Years spent on industrial sites and energy projects taught me a simple truth: sustainability matters only when it delivers measurable, practical value.

Across real estate, industry, and cleantech, I’ve seen how digital intelligence, emissions reduction, and circularity act as real value drivers — improving efficiency, reducing operating costs, strengthening asset performance, and supporting long-term competitiveness.

This is where I naturally operate: where sustainability becomes a strategic and financial advantage, not an obligation.

What Drives Me

I believe organisations thrive when strategy, incentives, and execution line up. What drives me is helping companies achieve exactly that by:

• Turning complex sustainability and efficiency challenges into clear, actionable steps.
• Connecting strategy, operations, and data to unlock immediate performance gains.
• Building trust-based partnerships with executives, teams, and customers.
• Designing business models where decarbonisation strengthens profitability.

I enjoy making things tangible — moving from talk to action, from ambition to measurable results.

Favorite Sustainability Topics

• AI-driven decarbonisation: Using data intelligence to optimise buildings and
  industrial systems.
• Circular industry models: Material reuse and energy-efficiency loops that
  create measurable value.
• Strategy & leadership: Bringing clarity, structure, and execution
  discipline to transformation journeys.

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Nila’s Business Background

With 25 years of experience as a founder and in both start-ups and large corporations, I’ve worked across the entire healthcare value chain with a focus on medical devices.

After stages at Synthes (now J&J) and Ypsomed, I turned to the start-up world where I held senior management roles in Business Development, QM & RA, as CEO, COO, and Member of the Board of Directors.

Being a serial founder myself, I became an accredited Innosuisse Coach (Lead Coach and Regulatory Affairs Coach for Medical Devices) in 2019. Since then, I’ve supported over 100 healthcare start-ups in defining regulatory strategies for Europe and the US, shaping business models, and building strong foundations for growth.

Today, I focus on business and regulatory strategy, international B2B business development, product management, and the practical integration of circular economy principles into early-stage and scaling ventures.

Me and Sustainability

I was the typical kid who spent all of my free time outside in the woods and fields surrounding our house. This love for nature has stayed with me all my life.

At the end of 2023, I participated in a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) on the topic of health and environment. To me, this was an eye-opener on the real state of nature and its implications for our health.

A three-month journey to Costa Rica and Mexico in 2024, where my family and I engaged in a turtle conservation project and regular beach clean-ups, further increased my desire to become active in this field, also in my professional life.

Since then, I have left my previously co-founded company to focus on sustainability in healthcare – supporting healthcare companies in integrating sustainability into their business models and/or circular economy approaches into their product design processes and supply chains.

With thorough knowledge of regulations for medical devices and quality management according to MDR/IVDR and ISO 13485, I have a strong foundation to provide relevant input.

What Drives Me

The health of humans, animals, and the planet are closely linked. With 7 out of 9 planetary boundaries already breached, now is the time to act.

With a strong passion for innovation, sustainability, and nature, I am on a personal mission to support building businesses that serve both people (health) and the planet.

I am a mother of two boys, and I hope for them to still be able to see the wonders of nature.

Favorite Sustainability Topics

• Circularity: The amount of waste we produce in the healthcare system is huge. Let’s look at ways to reduce it.
• Biodiversity: I love all fauna, fungi, and flora on this planet. I will be happy to talk extensively about all of these for hours.
• Innovation: I have a strong love for innovation and the Swiss start-up ecosystem. Very happy to discuss and connect you with potential partners in the field.

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My Professional Background

I have spent more than 20 years in the global procurement and supply chain field, leading strategic transformation in one of the world’s most purpose-driven companies, IKEA. My experience spans raw materials, direct products, and logistics services.

In recent years, I served as Head of Category, Global Ocean Transport at IKEA, leading more than 45 international teams and suppliers across 11 countries. I was responsible for over €1 billion in European spend, led the creation of IKEA’s first-ever decarbonisation roadmap for ocean transport, and helped break new ground with key shipping lines by committing to become a Zero Emission Cargo Owner by 2040.

After two decades in corporate leadership, I now combine my industry experience with my work as a consultant and certified coach to help organizations strengthen their ESG capabilities through procurement and supply chain transformation.

Me and Sustainability

My journey into sustainability began long before it became a corporate agenda. While working in IKEA’s procurement organization, I witnessed firsthand how procurement can turn sustainability goals into tangible business results — from social responsibility and pollution control to decarbonising ocean transport and driving innovation with suppliers on materials and circularity.

Today, sustainability for me is not only about compliance; it is a core element of a winning business strategy. I focus on how companies can align business performance with environmental and social impact through smart supply chain design and strong supplier partnerships.

What Drives Me

I believe procurement has untapped power to shape the ESG agenda. It connects markets, suppliers, and brands. I want to help companies move from ambition to action by:

• Turning ESG from a “compliance topic” into a true business priority.
• Building internal capabilities so procurement can lead Scope 3 transformation.
• Enabling suppliers to become partners in sustainable growth rather than obstacles.

My goal is to empower procurement leaders and their organizations to take the lead — making sustainability a core business advantage instead of an external requirement.

Favorite Sustainability Topics

• Supplier engagement: Enabling organizations to build responsible, future-ready supply bases that drive ESG success.
• Circular supply chains: Designing business systems that regenerate value rather than simply reducing impact.
• Leadership mindset: Equipping procurement leaders to drive change through purpose and partnership.

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Professional Background

Philippe is a seasoned technology and business leader with 28 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and technology industries. He specializes in large-scale digital transformation, organizational agility, and strategic IT-business alignment.

Leadership Experience & Expertise

Having served as CIO, Global Head of IT, and Board Member, Philippe has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to adapt, a drive for continuous learning, and a deep passion for solving complex challenges.

His expertise spans CRM harmonization, product management transformations, and operational excellence across more than 100 countries.

Collaboration & Team Culture

Beyond strategy and execution, Philippe is a team player at heart. He believes that the best results come from collaboration, trust, and a shared sense of purpose.

He thrives in dynamic environments where people support one another, challenge ideas, and—most importantly—enjoy working together.

What Drives Philippe

Philippe is passionate about enabling business success through scalable execution, leveraging technology to deliver measurable impact.

A natural problem-solver, he excels at simplifying complexity, fostering collaboration, and mentoring leaders to successfully navigate digital disruption.

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