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Philippe Vignon, managing director of Glion Institute of Higher Education 

This week, we caught up with Philippe Vignon, managing director of Glion Institute of Higher Education, a leader in luxury hospitality education, to explore his views on the transformative power of education and his vision for nurturing the next generation of inspiring leaders.
November 3 2025
2 Min Read

Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.

Curious mind. People connector. Purpose-driven leader. 

What do you like most about your job?

The privilege of shaping lives. Seeing students grow into confident, compassionate professionals is incredibly rewarding, it’s why we do what we do at Glion.

If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?

Mandarin. Because understanding China’s culture and mindset is key to the future of global hospitality and business. 

What makes you get up in the morning?

The belief that education can truly transform individuals, and through them, the world around us. 

Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?

Georges Kohlrieser. His work on high performance leadership and purpose resonates deeply with how I wish to guide our students and teams.

Best international ed conference and why?

QS Higher Ed Summit. It brings together an exceptional mix of academic leaders and innovators, always with a forward-looking spirit. 

Worst conference food/beverage experience?

When “exclusive” feels careless. That’s the moment you realise hospitality without empathy is just service.

Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?

I often come back to “The Infinite Game”. It helped me reframe leadership as a long-term act of trust – not control. Something I try to live daily at Glion.

Describe a project or initiative you are currently working on that excites you.

We’re reshaping the Glion experience to make it not only academically outstanding, but emotionally and culturally rich. Education should form not just professionals – but conscious, grounded, and inspiring leaders. It’s about coherence – between what we teach, what we live, and what we stand for.

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