Reinventing Your Career: Changing Your Path Is Possible!
The 9th Asage Career Forum took place on March 13, 2025: a key event addressing this critical topic for our professional future.
More than 200 participants attended this inspiring and friendly evening organised by the Swiss Association of Alumni of Grandes Ecoles .
Two workshops gave participants the opportunity to practice in a simulated setting before attending a panel discussion moderated by Stéphane Benoit-Godet, Director of Communications at CHUV and former Editor-in-Chief of *Le Temps*.
The six speakers, who come from a variety of professional backgrounds, have all made a radical career change. They spoke with great candor about their unconventional paths. The search for meaning and passion are the common threads running through their career changes.
- Nicolas Ravaille became an artisan winemaker and founder of “Les Rêveurs de Vin” after a career in procurement at industrial conglomerates. He also runs a consulting business focused on sustainable development.
- Clémence Schmid transitioned from marketing in the FMCG sector to the circular economy and then to efforts to combat plastic pollution. She is currently Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership at the World Economic Forum.
- Franck Janura made the transition from fund management to artisanal baking. He founded “La Forge à Pains” in Eysins and bakes bread using natural sourdough.
- Sabine de Monteynard has moved to the talent management team for the F&A division of the Richemont Group after a career in international sales management.
- Olivier Dacourt, a former professional soccer player who is now a TV consultant, has directed several documentaries and is set to release his first film.
- Andrea Sherpa-Zimmermann, a lawyer at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the ninth Swiss woman to have climbed Mount Everest, founded the travel agency “Wild Yak Luxury,” which specializes in trips to the Himalayas.
What can we take away from these inspiring stories?
“Don’t be afraid to take the plunge”
“Life is short—don’t wait to make a change”
“Life is more fun when you say yes”
“It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to successfully change careers.”
“Changing careers requires constant adaptation.”
“We’re lucky to live in a country where these changes are possible.”
An evening full of conversation and passion!
The choice of venue for the evening is no coincidence: Les Rencontres 7ème Art Lausanne, a film festival founded by Vincent Perez, is celebrating its8th year with a program that is as rich and exciting as ever. Asage was fortunate to be hosted in the historic setting of the Casino de Montbenon by the festival organizers during the event, which took place from March 7 to 16, 2025.
To wrap up the event, the participants gathered in the Casino’s banquet hall for a cocktail reception. It was an opportunity to continue casual conversations, connect with their network, and make new contacts.
SINCERE THANKS
At the Rencontres du7ème Art for their hospitality and support
Vincent Perez, actor, founder of the Rencontres du7ème Art
Olivier Calloud, CEO of Piguet Galland and a supporter of the festival
To the speakers
> Sabine de Monteynard, Group Talent Director—Fashion & Accessories Division—Richemont
> Clémence Schmid, Director, Global Plastic Action Partnership, WEF
> Olivier Dacourt, filmmaker
> Nicolas Ravaille, Artisan Winemaker, Head of Sourcing, Environmental Swiss Army Knife
> Franck Janura, New Baker
> Andrea Sherpa-Zimmermann, founder of Wild Yak Luxury
To the moderator
Stephane Benoit Godet, Director of Communications at the CHUV, former editor-in-chief of *Le Temps*, *Bilan*, and *L’illustré*, who also worked at *La Tribune de Genève*
To Our Partners
LHH
HR Today FR
Opsys360
Oracle
Oxalys Consultants, Inc.
Alison Mosena
Christophe Touton
Pilar Alonso
, HR Today FR, Marc Benninger
To the ASAGE organizing team
Isabelle Laugier
Hélène RAU
Christian Albrich
Isabelle Botticelli
Frederic Brandt
Frank Berville
Agnes Sarah Espinasse
Anaïs Bonnefous Charnay
Marion Teisserenc
Valerie Naveau-Delsol
Julien GUERLE
Olivier de Magny
Visuals created by Maeva Botticelli https://lnkd.in/da9bG5Gv
