Faculty

Dr. Alessandro Cavelzani has been a practicing psychotherapist for the past 15 years and is member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis. He got his PsyD. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Relational Psychoanalysis at the Italian Institute of Relational Psychoanalysis SIPRE in Milan, Italy and his PhD. in Psychology of Communication at IULM University in Milan, Italy. As an active researcher, Alessandro continues to publish papers focusing on leadership.

Dr. Olga Larina has over 10 years of teaching experience. She holds a PhD in World Economy and International Economic Relations from the Kyiv National Economic University, writing her thesis on the international competitiveness of regions, with a focus on the development of intellectual capital. With a strong background in economics, she teaches Strategic Hotel Management, Economics, and Public Policy.

Dr. Paola Ossola holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Pavia. She teaches Hospitality and Tourism Marketing and Management with a focus on Business Sustainability. Her research explores the intersection of elder care, dementia, and tourism, as well as RV tourism and travel startups. She is CEO of La Happy Care Srl SB, a startup improving quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers. Paola also co-founded Alzheimer Fest APS and Progetto Rughe ODV, where she continues to volunteer and advocate for inclusive, compassionate care.

Dr. Giuseppina Menconi holds a PhD in Computational Chemistry from the University of Durham and a master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Piemonte Orientale. She worked in investment banking in London for several years before joining César Ritz Colleges. She obtained a PGCert in Higher Education from the University of Derby and is a TEDx speaker.

Dr. Haitao Zhang has over 10 years of teaching and industrial experience. He was an Assistant Professor at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, China, and was an Operating Manager of a Swiss-based company. He holds his degree of Ph.D and Master of Science in finance, accounting, and international business management from University of Surrey, U.K. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, Australia. Dr. Zhang continues to research and publish academic studies focusing on corporate finance, accounting practices, and investment strategies.

Ms. Anastasiia Burakovskikh holds a master's degree in Wine Business from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Bourgogne, and bachelor's degrees from St. Petersburg State University in Economics and Finance and from Pierre Mendès France University. With her expertise in wine training and marketing, she teaches Wine and Food Pairing, Beverage & Mixology, Wine & Beverage Management, and Food Trends.

Ms. Sofia Rodrigues has a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Instituto Superior de Novas Profissões and is a PhD student at Sheffield Hallam University. She has worked in Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Event Planning, and for various airlines. She is the Founder and CEO of HBL, an auditing company specialized in training and career development in the service industry.

Mr. Yuriy Barabantsev obtained a bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Economics, holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, and a PGCert in Higher Education from the University of Derby. His career in education began in 2001, focusing on delivering courses related to Finance and Statistics in the U.S, France, and now in Switzerland.

Mr. Domenico Andrea Catanoso holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business, a Master's in Negotiation of International Projects, and a Master’s in Education from Framingham State University, Massachusetts. He spent 25 years in the airline catering industry, holding leadership roles in operations and commercial management. In 2020, he transitioned to academia, following his passion for education, and became a business and management lecturer. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Born in Italy, Mr. Andrea Pedace holds a Master Degree in Law from the University of Bologna with a special focus in International Law and International Criminal Procedure. He undertook several specialization courses in ISPI, Milan, the leading think tank in Italy for international relations studies. Before joining César Ritz Colleges he worked 5 years in the field of education

Mrs Judith Bärenfaller – Zurwerra is a qualified teacher and culture manager. She obtained her teaching certificate from the state of Valais, and completed her further studies at the Universities of Bern and Basel: Certification of Advanced Studies in Change and Innovation in Cultural Management. She runs her own dance school and she has been teaching German as a foreign language for many years.

Dr. Kayhan Tajeddini is a specialist in strategic management and international business. His research focuses on hospitality management, entrepreneurship, and service innovation. He has lived and worked in different countries, giving him a global mindset, first-hand knowledge of intercultural understanding, and cross-cultural training.

Claire Hung holds a Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management and certifications from Cornell University, WSET, The Specialty Coffee Association, and the University of Derby. With over a decade of management experience in international luxury hotels in front-of-house and VIP departments, plus a year in the fine art industry. Since 2012, she has held various roles at César Ritz Colleges Bouveret and currently teaches Fine Dining Operations, Restaurant Service and Management, and F&B Master Workshops.

Yannick Bouyidou is a multilingual hospitality leader turned entrepreneur, with a background in Hospitality Management and an MBA in Business Transformation & Entrepreneurship. Over a decade at The Ritz-Carlton, he held leadership roles across four continents, driving customer experience, employee engagement, and financial performance. In 2020, he pivoted to share his passion for customer loyalty and entrepreneurship, working with industry leaders, startups, and students worldwide. As the co-founder of two advisory firms and an active player in the Swiss startup ecosystem, he helps businesses create, capture, and monetize value on their path to product-market fit.

Adriana Castillo Cota is a Mexican designer based in Switzerland. With a background in Industrial Design and a Master’s from ECAL, she has collaborated with brands like Hermès, Vacheron Constantin, Baccarat, Francis Kurkdjian and worked at Puig. In 2016, she co-founded LUO, a platform that strengthens company culture through recognition and feedback. Through LUO’s Creative Lab, she develops innovative concepts delivering cutting-edge solutions and fresh, impactful ideas to elevate team dynamics and offers consulting across industries. Alongside her design work, Adriana teaches at TEC de Monterrey and Cesar Ritz Colleges in Switzerland.

Dr. Timothy Lee is a Professor and the Vice Dean at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) , and a Research Fellow at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Tourism Research, which is listed in the SSCI Q1 and A in the ABDC (Australian Business Deans Council). He has published more than 350 research articles in academic journals, books, and conference proceedings (including 140 in SSCI-indexed journals, and 120 in A* or A-ranked journals in the ABDC). His research interests include medical/wellness/health tourism, food tourism, cultural heritage tourism, and tourism development that incorporates local values. His personal website is www.proftimothylee.org

Ms. Sylvana Navarro holds an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Northern Arizona University. With her background in banquets and events, food & beverage, as well as human resources, she has over 15 years of industry experience. She has worked at the Evian Resort and with renowned hotel chains such as Four Seasons, Starwood, Hilton, and Movenpick.

Ulrika Bjorklund holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Derby. She was Academic Director of HIM from 2013 to 2023, leading key initiatives that enhanced the school's global presence. In her current role, she supports career services and student development, helping students achieve their professional goals. She also manages alumni relations, strengthening connections across Swiss Education Group’s four schools. With extensive hospitality experience managing hotels and resorts in Europe, the U.S., and the Caribbean, Ulrika combines industry and education expertise to support student and alumni success, contributing to the continued growth of HIM and Swiss Education Group.

Marie Tirvengadum holds a Bachelor in Language Studies from the University of Essex and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business from the University of North London. Throughout her studies she worked in the restaurant sector and eventually managed a restaurant chain. She also worked in banking in the UK and after moving to Switzerland she joined Kestrel SA - a wealth management company. She joined the Career Services Department at IHTTI, School of Hotel Management and has ten years of experience in career coaching.

Ms. Giulia Arcioli graduated in Business Administration & Management from University Carlo Cattaneo LIUC, Milan, Italy and studied International Business at the University of Applied Sciences Arcada, Helsinki, Finland. Ms Arcioli has extensive international experience in finance and business development having worked for American, German, Luxembourgian, and Italian companies in both SME’s and Corporations (Oracle, BASF).  She has gained wide-ranging knowledge in several industries: chemical, pharmaceuticals, luxury design, events management, coaching & professional education, financial services, IT services, consulting, and production

With a diploma in Tourism and a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Heritage from the University of Turin, Marta has worked in high-end hotels as Receptionist in Italy and Switzerland. By spending time abroad as a student and as an employee she was able to hone her knowledge of English, German and French and has firsthand experience of the world of internships.