The Women’s Leaders Night, organized by HEC Lausanne Career Center and now in its 6th edition, continues to be an empowering platform for women in leadership. The event showcases the inspiring achievements of women across different industries, offering an opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and insights on how they have navigated their careers to rise to the top. This year’s event featured an extraordinary lineup of speakers: Anne-Céline Bosviel, Céline Cottet, Sandra Daengeli, Armelle Saint Raymond, and Julia Schweizer. Each of these women has made remarkable contributions to their respective fields. Through their personal stories, they encourage others to break barriers, embrace leadership in all its forms, and lead with authenticity and courage.
What I’ve learned and what I truly believe is that the path to success and equality for women in today’s world requires us to be bold, assertive, and unapologetic. We cannot let outdated expectations or stereotypes hold us back. It’s about embracing who we are, standing up for ourselves, and supporting each other along the way. We must surround ourselves with people who empower us, especially choosing a partner who believes in true equality, both in the home and in the mental load that women often carry. Let’s continue to break down barriers, challenge the status quo, and create a future where all women can thrive, unapologetically and fearlessly.
In this article, we dive deep into the journeys of these trailblazing women, examining their personal and professional growth, the challenges they’ve overcome, the advice they offer to future leaders, and their thoughts on achieving a fulfilling career and personal life.
Anne-Céline Bosviel
Anne-Céline Bosviel is a beacon of resilience, success, and work-life balance. As a Partner at EY in Switzerland, Anne-Céline’s career began in Luxembourg, where she initially joined EY. Her move to Switzerland, driven by her love of skiing and the mountains, allowed her to combine her personal passions with her professional aspirations. With over 20 years of experience, Anne-Céline has served both international and national companies across diverse sectors, always focusing on talent development and team management.
She recounts how she initially entered the auditing profession after an auditor introduced her to the field. As a young intern, she quickly noticed the lack of women, especially mothers, in senior roles. This absence of role models didn’t deter her; instead, it motivated her to prove that women could thrive in this demanding profession while balancing family life. Anne-Céline believes that work and family can coexist harmoniously—an ideal she has embraced in her own life. Having two daughters in the span of two years was a challenging phase in her career, during which she experienced a temporary plateau. However, she sees this period as part of her career’s natural rhythm, demonstrating that life’s phases, both professional and personal, evolve in cycles.
In 2023, Anne-Céline became Deputy Talent Partner at EY, overseeing leadership and talent development for the Swiss Audit and Assurance departments. She is passionate about diversity, actively working to promote inclusive practices within her company.
Advice:
Anne-Céline’s advice is grounded in experience and wisdom:
- Overcome Stereotypes: Don’t be limited by the stereotype that certain roles are meant only for men. Seek mentorship and expand your professional network to get a better understanding of what leadership in different roles entails.
- Focus on the Present: Rather than worrying about the next 10 years, focus on what excites you now. Taking time to reflect on your passions and pursuing them at your own pace will naturally lead to career growth.
- Preparation is Key: Preparation is critical to overcoming self-doubt. When you are fully prepared, you increase your confidence and capacity to handle unexpected changes or challenges that arise.
- Self-Branding: It is important to showcase your achievements and communicate your value. Self-promotion isn’t about boasting but making sure that your hard work and success are visible to those around you, especially decision-makers.
- Enjoy What You Do: The key to long-term success is to enjoy your work. Don’t follow career paths just to please others. Pursue what truly excites and fulfills you.
- Be Yourself: Authenticity is your strongest asset. Don’t mold yourself into what you think employers want. Leadership thrives on diversity, so be true to your strengths and seize opportunities, even if the path ahead is uncertain.
Anne-Céline’s advice is a reminder that balancing family and career, navigating obstacles, and embracing one’s authenticity are key to finding fulfillment and success.
Céline Cottet
Céline Cottet is the Managing Director and Market Head for French-speaking Switzerland at Pictet, a renowned wealth and asset management firm. With a deep background in Risk and Asset Management, Céline has been instrumental in Pictet’s growth and development in the French-speaking market of Switzerland. She started her career at Pictet in 2008, first as a Compliance Officer, and then took on various senior roles, including Chief Risk Officer, before being promoted to her current position in 2022.
Céline has faced and overcome numerous challenges throughout her career. She shared during the Women Leaders Night that happiness isn’t a given but something you must consciously build. As a woman, she explained that women are often expected to fulfill many roles, which brings additional obstacles. Despite the challenges, Céline has embraced them with a positive outlook, making the active choice to prioritize happiness in her life. She credits her husband’s unwavering support as a key factor in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, as it gives her the peace of mind to focus on her career. Céline emphasizes the importance of having a supportive entourage and focusing on what truly matters—whether it’s your career, independence, or family—and setting clear priorities.
Advice:
Céline’s insights offer practical wisdom for anyone aiming for leadership:
- Find Your Inner Flame: In difficult moments, focus on what energizes you—whether it’s family, career, or personal growth. Prioritize your goals and surround yourself with people who support your journey.
- Turn Passion Into Action: Passion alone is not enough; you need strategy, adaptability, and the willingness to communicate effectively. Success is a marathon, not a sprint, and requires continuous learning and visibility.
- Navigate Life’s Ups and Downs: Life’s challenges are inevitable, particularly when balancing career and family. Resilience, adaptability, and embracing failure as part of the process will help you move forward. Perfection is the enemy of progress—embrace your journey and be kind to yourself.
Céline encourages women to remain resilient, adapt to changing circumstances, and always seek fulfillment both professionally and personally.
Sandra Daengeli
Sandra Daengeli is the Director of Sales EMEA at Kudelski Security, a global leader in cybersecurity. Sandra began her career at EY and later transitioned to the private banking sector before finding her true passion in cybersecurity. When Sandra entered the IT sector, she was often the only woman in the room. She recalls with humor how her colleagues would double-check because they couldn’t believe she was the only woman in her department. Sandra’s ability to navigate these challenges has shaped her career, where she has continuously advanced in her field.
Sandra is married and has a 16-year-old daughter. She and her husband share household responsibilities equally, allowing Sandra to maintain a balance between her demanding career and her family life. She is a strong advocate for women supporting each other, particularly in male-dominated industries. Sandra believes that the key to breaking barriers is helping each other and creating an inclusive environment where women can thrive.
Advice:
Sandra’s advice is centered on independence and embracing opportunities:
- Maintain Intellectual, Financial, and Personal Independence: It’s crucial for women to make their own choices and understand what motivates them every day. Sandra learned this lesson from her father, who taught her and her sister to be independent, including practical skills like changing a car tire.
- Seize Opportunities: Sandra once turned down a promotion because it didn’t align with her passion. She believes no man would have turned down such an offer, and encourages women to seize opportunities that align with their passion/goal without fear.
- Help Other Women: Women should support each other in their careers and break down the barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Sandra’s empowering message encourages women to embrace their independence, take opportunities when they come, and create a supportive network of women.
Armelle Saint Raymond
Armelle Saint Raymond is the Chief Human Resources Officer with 28 years of experience in HR roles across multiple industries such as textiles, cosmetics, and luxury. Throughout her career, she has worked in family-owned businesses, including Yves Rocher, L’Occitane, and TAG Heuer, where she has had a significant impact on organizational culture, competencies, and employee engagement.
Armelle emphasizes the challenges women face in reaching the top HR positions. She recalls how, early in her career, she was often asked to take notes at meetings simply because she was a woman. However, instead of feeling discouraged, Armelle turned it into an opportunity to help other women in similar positions. She is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace and believes that women should embrace self-promotion without arrogance—showing their competencies and accomplishments is crucial to career advancement.
Armelle is married with two children, and she believes that balancing family and work is achievable with the right support system in place. She also advocates for women to take on roles before they feel ready, as this can offer opportunities for growth and learning.
Advice:
Armelle’s empowering advice includes:
- Don’t Stay Alone: Always seek support when faced with challenges or discrimination. Building a strong network is key.
- Choose the Right Partner: Armelle advises women to choose a partner who will equally share household responsibilities, ensuring that both parents contribute 50/50.
- Take Risks and Own Your Career: Don’t wait until you feel completely ready for a promotion—take the leap, learn along the way, and advocate for yourself.
Armelle encourages women to embrace their power, speak up about their achievements, and balance career and family with the right support.
Julia Schweizer
Julia Schweizer is the Chief Risk Officer at La Mobilière, where she oversees risk management. Julia’s career trajectory has been anything but linear. Initially aspiring to be a veterinarian, she switched paths to study physics and later moved into actuarial science during her post-doctoral studies. Julia joined La Mobilière in 2009 and quickly made her mark in risk management and evaluation.
Julia is a mother of two young boys, and like many working mothers, she has often feared not being present enough for them. Despite these concerns, Julia hopes her children are proud of her accomplishments and the example she sets for them.
Advice:
Julia’s advice is centered on embracing challenges and taking calculated risks:
- Embrace Uncertainty: Rather than fearing uncertainty, Julia encourages women to embrace it as the starting point for growth and new opportunities.
- Be Brave: Face challenges with courage—taking risks often leads to great rewards.
- Identify Risks: Understanding the risks in both your career and life allows you to make informed decisions that align with your goals and values.
Julia advocates for women to take on challenges and risks, seeing them as pathways to personal and professional growth.
To sum up, what stands out to me is that we, as women, must not be afraid to challenge the norms and stand up for ourselves. We deserve to be treated with respect, not only in the workplace but in every aspect of our lives. It’s crucial that we surround ourselves with people who uplift us and, as the speakers wisely pointed out, choose a partner who shares the responsibilities equally, especially when it comes to the mental load that often falls on women. Only then can we create a truly balanced and fulfilling life, both professionally and personally. Let’s keep pushing forward, supporting one another, and ensuring that future generations of women will have a world where equality is the standard, not the exception.
Nassima Rizzotti
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