About Isabelle
I’m Isabelle von Burg, an EHL graduate and former General Manager of the iconic Lausanne Palace, with over 20 years of international leadership experience in luxury hospitality. From Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton to Mandarin Oriental and Jumeirah, I’ve led hotel openings, rebrandings, and cultural transformations across world-renowned brands and destinations.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to build service excellence and how essential it is to invest in the people behind the experience. That’s why I founded Next-Gen Hospitality Leaders (NGHL): to equip emerging leaders with the tools, support, and confidence they need to grow and thrive.
Today, I combine my background in high-end hospitality with advanced coaching methods to help companies retain talent, future-proof their teams, and build authentic leadership cultures from the inside out.
Curious about my journey? Let's connect on LinkedIn
Founder & Chief Transformation Officer
Next-Gen Hospitality Leaders
Why NGHL?
I founded Next-Gen Hospitality Leaders to help hospitality and business schools — as well as companies — prepare young professionals to thrive, step confidently into their careers, and make an immediate impact.
Transitioning from school to professional life can be overwhelming. Many soon-to-be graduates and interns struggle to find roles that fit their skills, values, and ambitions, while building the confidence and leadership skills needed to succeed. NGHL supports them through this critical phase, helping them step into their careers with clarity, resilience, and real-world impact.
With over 20 years of international hospitality experience, including as General Manager of the Lausanne Palace, I’ve seen how early leadership development transforms both careers and organizations. NGHL provides a safe, external space for growth, focusing on power skills like emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-leadership, all supported by mentoring, coaching, and a peer network.
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Together
Through the Next-Gen Future Leaders Fund, 10% of all NGHL profits are reinvested to support young, high-potential talents in developing countries.
We sponsor outstanding individuals — our Next-Gen Rising Stars — providing them with full access to NGHL’s leadership programs, mentorship, and community.
These Rising Stars are already making waves in their local hospitality industries. With the right education, support, and network, they will become part of the transformative leaders our world needs.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.
The NGHL Core Values
At Next-Gen Hospitality Leaders, our values aren’t just words on a page — they’re the driving force behind everything we do. These are the principles that shape how we lead, collaborate, and grow together.
Authenticity
We lead with transparency, honesty, and a deep respect for individuality. Everyone is encouraged to show up as their true selves.
Co-Creation
We believe in collective intelligence. By integrating diverse perspectives, we build better solutions — together.
Innovation
We challenge the status quo and embrace bold thinking to create transformative, future-ready leadership strategies.
Excellence
We don’t settle. From delivery to experience, we strive to exceed expectations — consistently, sustainably, and intentionally.
Generosity
We believe true leadership is rooted in service. We lift others as we rise, investing in the growth, education, and empowerment of future leaders around the world.
