When EHL’s Executive MBA Class received their first significant writing assignment this past September, they received a jolt—it had been some time since they had to write an essay to a high and exacting standard.  Dr. Marc Stierand made it clear that he didn’t want to receive the kind of quick-and-dirty writing that passes for sufficient in many business settings.  Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne employers expect crisp-thinking, clear-writing leaders, and Stierand’s expectations were high for this first writing assignment.  For some in the EMBA Class of 2014, the assignment was a blast—like the icy waters of Lac Leman, swimming in early Spring!

Hearing the challenge was Laura Zizka, veteran instructor and longtime faculty member.  Having worked with hundreds of EHL students – both native and non-native English speakers – Laura had seen this reaction before.  Without hesitating, she sprang into action, revising her Business Communications seminar and workshop to directly address the needs of the Class of 2014.  The next several hours she spent preparing everyone to meet Dr. Stierand’s high expectations for his Economics of F&B Hospitality coursework.

For the Class of 2015, Laura Zizka has bold plans that include September sessions on writing skills and January sessions on oral presentation skills.  Laura’s devotion to Ecole hôteliere de Lausanne student-scholars and, in particular, our EMBA in Hospitality Administration candidates reminds me of a somewhat-obscure jewel of a Jimmy Buffett song about a chance encounter with a street sweeper —“It’s My Job”…

Till the lights go on and the stage is set
And the song hits home and you feel that sweat
It’s my job to be different than the rest
and that’s enough reason to go for me
It’s my job to be better than the best
and that’s a tough break for me
It’s my job to be cleaning up this mess
and that’s enough reason to go for me
It’s my job to be better than the best
and that makes the day for me

Demanding excellence, delivering excellence.  It’s an honour for me to work with Laura Zizka, a leader by example.

Never one to rest for long, these days Laura spends her “free time” completing a PhD in Management from Walden University with an emphasis on communications in the hospitality industry.

Je vous remercie, Laura Zizka!