Discover EHL Alumni's Stories

Bachelor in International Hospitality Management

Jasmine, the successful entrepreneur

Graduated in 2010

From Childhood Dinners to Shaping Lausanne’s Culinary Future

“You’ll end up in restaurants!” This is what one of Jasmine's teachers told her during her first week working at Berceau des Sens, the gastronomic restaurant on the EHL Campus. Now, a few years later, she is shaping the future of gastronomy as the Project Manager at Les Halles de Beaulieu in Lausanne.

“This opportunity came completely out of the blue!” she said. “I was contacted by the Head of Gastronomy for the City of Lausanne, just for a coffee or so I thought”, she smiles, with a wink. To Jasmine's surprise, they shared the good news with her after that meeting. “After all the openings that I’ve led (6 as an entrepreneur in the last 4 years), and the way I helped reshape and break boundaries in restaurants through unique, community-driven concepts, they believed that I was the right person to lead this project.” She was genuinely taken aback: ”I felt like everything I had done until now had been leading me to do exactly this”, she states, with her lively and spirited nature shining through. After everything she’s achieved, we can see why she feels that way. “It’s by far the most exciting and ambitious project of my career!” she smiles.

A passion for Hospitality

"The EHL community taught me that true leadership is about people, connection, trust, and courage. The network, the mentorship, the sense of belonging all of it gave me the confidence to take bold decisions and to lead with both my heart and my head."

Her advice for applicants

“Make a pros and cons list. Be honest about what drives you. If your pros outweigh your fears, follow your gut and go for gold. EHL is demanding, but it’s also one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.”

Jasmine’s Fearless Journey Around the World

Jasmine's childhood was defined by movement, new languages, new flavors, and new ways of life. ”I grew up in India, Iran, Uganda, and Vietnam, with a family base in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where my father’s job was based”.

A little fun fact about Jasmine: She has always wanted to be independent, so she got her first job at 13 years old, against her parents' wishes. “I worked at the ‘Haunted House of Frankenstein’, in Niagara Falls, Canada, where I was born. I mean, not in the house, but in Canada”, she laughed.

When Jasmine was seventeen, she made another bold move: She moved to Switzerland on her own, without being specific about what she wanted to do. We asked how that made her feel, and she responded that she always loved not knowing what to expect.

Trusting the Unknown: How EHL Helped Jasmine Find Her Confidence and Purpose

“I believe it’s crucial to give things a try to learn to trust yourself and find out what works best for you.”

Back then, she wasn’t yet fluent in French, and we asked how the language barrier affected her. “Oh, I didn’t really care about making mistakes. Aren’t they so important to learn in life, whether professionally or privately?” she states.

“EHL was the perfect environment for making mistakes, and getting the opportunity to learn and getting to know myself better.”

We wanted to know what kind of person thrives at EHL, in her opinion. Jasmine’s answer was clear. “I think EHL can light a flame in almost anyone”, she said, “but to truly thrive, you need a genuine desire to work with people and an entrepreneurial spirit. It’s not a school for followers; it’s a place that pushes you to think bigger, to take risks, and to redefine excellence.

If you come with curiosity and passion, EHL gives you the tools and the courage to build something extraordinary.”

Jasmine answers our questions:

How did the EHL community help you become the leader you are today?

The EHL community taught me that true leadership is about people, connection, trust, and courage. The network, the mentorship, the sense of belonging all of it gave me the confidence to take bold decisions and to lead with both my heart and my head. I’ve always surrounded myself with passionate, kind, and creative individuals, people who challenge me, yet share the same values of excellence, loyalty, and authenticity.

But the truth is, when you see the best in everyone, you sometimes get taken advantage of. I’ve learned that the hardest moments the disappointments, the betrayals are the ones that shape you the most. You have to rise above them, even when it hurts, and keep your focus on what truly matters. Because every time you let go of what tried to break you, you make more room for what’s meant to build you.

How did EHL Bachelor prepare you not just for a job, but for building a life and identity around your work?

EHL doesn’t just teach you management; it teaches you mindset. It prepared me to balance creativity and structure, emotion and discipline. It made me realize that hospitality isn’t a job it’s a lifestyle, one where empathy, leadership, and precision coexist.

One advice if you're still exploring options?
Make a pros and cons list. Be honest about what drives you. If your pros outweigh your fears, follow your gut and go for gold. EHL is demanding, but it’s also one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.

If you could transform one thing in the hospitality industry or in business in general, what would it be?

We live in an era where people crave authenticity and emotion, and hospitality has the power to deliver that like no other field. I would love to see our industry become bolder, more playful, and more human again; to live in the moment and to follow the heart, not just the business plan.

What’s something unexpected you learned at EHL that you still use today, even outside of hospitality?

The art of storytelling. Whether you’re pitching a concept, building a brand, or leading a team, storytelling is what transforms ideas into emotion and emotion into action. It’s what gives meaning to everything we create. I use it every day, not just to design concepts, but to craft experiences that make people feel seen, connected, and part of something greater. Because at its core, hospitality is storytelling and every guest who walks through the door becomes part of that story.

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