Lucile Falguieres graduated in 2005 with her Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management from Glion Institute of Higher Education, Switzerland. She went on to launch an international hospitality career with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel chain that is renowned across continents. Transferring within Fairmont’s worldwide network, Lucile developed her career in Spain, South Africa, the UAE and Singapore, before returning to Europe to take her current position, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace Hotel, Montreux, Switzerland.
Lucile explains why she’s now chosen to work towards her MBA through Glion’s online platform, and shares her thoughts on the program so far.
Q: What is your current position and responsibilities?
Lucile: “As the Associate Director of Sales & Marketing for Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, I overlook a team of ten colleagues in the Sales, Marketing and Events departments. Fairmont Le Montreux palace offers 236 rooms and 15,000 square feet of exclusive ballroom and conference space.”
Q: What were your main ambitions or reasons for choosing to further your education?
Lucile: “I would say for the following key reasons:
- To get up-to-date with the newest trends
- To give a scientific approach to my current leadership style and way of working
- For personal enrichment, and to be able to say to myself – “I am proud, I did it!”
- It’s a plus on my CV, and it will give me a push in my career in the long run.”
Q: Back in time, why did you choose Glion Institute of Higher Education for your online professional education?
Lucile: “I knew Glion from my BBA, which I completed on the Bulle Campus, graduating in December 2005. Also:
- Glion has a very well-known reputation in the hospitality industry
- I feel the education system matches who I am – a blend of European and American education systems – so we can say ‘an international mix’
- The Glion Online MBA is accredited which is a key factor
- Glion is like a family to me.”
Q: How do the specialization choices offered meet your career goals?
Lucile: “Marketing and Innovation is an area I have specialized in during my career. However, this wasn’t something I had specialized in during my BBA degree program, so I am delighted to be able to focus my studies in this area during the Online MBA program. As mentioned earlier, it will bring me this scientific approach to my work.”
Q: Glion offers a wide range of programs and specializations. In your view, how does that benefit the industry and how relevant is it for a global company like yours?
Lucile: “It certainly allows people that did not have the chance to study hospitality and the service industry, for different reasons, to specialize themselves.
It also helps people, that have been proceeding with their working life for some time, to keep up with new industry trends.”
Q: How are you finding the format of the program?
Lucile: “For sure it is intense as it is time-consuming, however, Glion gives you the tools to organize yourself and then it’s up to each individual to stay motivated throughout the duration of the MBA. I would summarize my thoughts with the following points:
- The course content so far has been great, with interesting articles and books to read
- The assignment topics are very flexible, as you can select topics that are related to your current job and just finalize a project or solve a problem that you are currently facing at work. Very convenient!
- You receive the course material at the beginning of each module, so if you know you will be traveling next week and a discussion is due, then you can already give your answer in advance.
- You don’t need to pay for the full MBA up front, only at the beginning of each module. It is a flexible payment plan – a great advantage.”
Q: Have you collaborated with your virtual global peers and how was this experience?
Lucile: “We do interact in the virtual classroom, so we slowly get to know each other. I already have the Glion network, as an alumni member of the BBA program, so it is strong and stays strong in my life.
I am an active learner so I sometimes do miss the face-to-face interaction that a traditional classroom environment offers. However, I actually have created a group of friends (mainly from the industry) with whom I discuss what I have learned in the classroom and get some interaction going. I do this twice for each module and it is very helpful.”
Q: How will completing the program benefit you from both a professional and personal perspective?
Lucile: “Glion is a renowned institution that trains people to become successful leaders in the hospitality and service industries, in an international and family atmosphere. I believe it will help in the following ways:
- Increase my knowledge
- Develop my capabilities
- I will be up-to-date with the newest trends
- I will gain personal growth and development
- I will have pride of achievement
All of the above will automatically have an impact on my work performance and be a plus for my career.”
Q: Tell us about a situation in your job role where you have applied your new skills gained through the MBA program.
Lucile: “As I have only recently started my MBA, the following is just for starters:
Up until this point, I have created my own international leadership style that has proven to be successful where I have worked (Mexico, Spain, South Africa, the UAE and Singapore).
However, I had always managed teams of the younger generations. Therefore, when I arrived in Europe I had the opportunity to work with mixed generations. I must say it has been very helpful for me to learn – in my first MBA assignment – about managing the different generations and getting the best out of them (from the ‘baby boomers’ to ‘Generation Y’).
I have had the chance to apply what I have learned right away, adapting my leadership accordingly.”
We warmly thank Online MBA student Lucile for sharing her Glion journey with us, and wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors.
Read more Glion MBA students’ stories here.
Photo By: Lucile and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
