Karine Fragnière Karine Fragnière
Karine Fragnière, Founder, REACHING SUMMITS, Montreux

Which step of your career would you chose as a turning point that has defined the leader you are today, and why?

I consider the key milestone in my journey that illustrates the leader I have become to be my victory at Ironman Zurich and my qualification for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in 2018. This feat not only gave me enormous self-confidence, but also inspired me to write my book and launch my own sports coaching company. Later I dared to take on other extraordinary sporting challenges, which led me to imagine the Reaching Summits project to facilitate female participation in extreme endurance races. These initiatives proved to me that I was capable of succeeding on my own, and of influencing those around me and my environment for the better.

However, it's important to emphasize that my 10 years' professional experience at Nestlé and the co-creation of the Swissclinical cosmetics brand formed a solid foundation that prepared me to develop my company. I have acquired invaluable professional skills that have served me well throughout my career. So, my victory in Zurich represents a pivotal moment, but it's also the result of a solid foundation built up over the years through previous experience.


It is more and more common to see women in leader positions in various fields, what changes do you see in leadership thanks to that?

I notice that the growing presence of women leaders opens the door to exciting and enriching discussions. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I particularly appreciate the exchanges between women and men. These dialogues are very rich, because women who dare to speak out and sometimes break taboos bring unique perspectives and innovative ideas.

When women speak out, they share experiences and reflections that men can sometimes miss. This offers a more complete and nuanced view of everyday issues, as well as solutions to problems that men, on their own, might not have considered. By integrating these diverse voices, we enrich our collective understanding and find more appropriate responses to complex challenges.

It also seems that women leaders are distinguished by their ability to listen attentively and be sensitive to the needs of their teams. Their ability to connect with their intuition and feelings enriches the way they lead. This style of leadership, more human, empathetic and rooted in a global perspective, is better suited to today's challenges and fosters a more harmonious and healthier working environment.

Which similarities can we see between a leader in an office and a leader in sports?

The qualities of a good leader, whether in sport or business, are based on similar principles. In sport, a good leader considers the athlete as a whole. they do not just focus on physical performance, but also take into account the athlete's mental state and spirit. In the same way, a good corporate leader must ensure that his employees feel good in body and mind, as these two aspects are intrinsically linked. I see it as a closed circuit: you can't have one without the other. When employees feel good, they are more likely to perform at their best.

What's more, there are shared values that are essential to both types of leadership. Qualities such as empathy, communication, resilience and team spirit are crucial to inspiring and motivating individuals to perform at their best, whether in the field or in a work environment. The important thing, of course, is for the leader to “walk the talk”.

What are the characteristics and qualities of tomorrow’s leader?

For me, the qualities and characteristics of tomorrow's leader can be broken down into several key points. First of all, a good leader must be an outstanding communicator. This means not only knowing how to express ideas clearly, but also actively listening to their team and employees. Communication is essential to creating a collaborative and effective working environment.

Secondly, a leader must be able to make sense of the projects their team is working on. It's important that employees don't just feel motivated by a paycheck at the end of the month, but that they understand the impact and value of their work. This strengthens commitment and satisfaction within the team.

Finally, I believe that the leader of tomorrow must strive to create happiness within their team. This involves concrete actions, such as showing recognition for everyone's contributions. Practicing gratitude and admiration for the efforts of others creates a positive and motivating climate. By cultivating these values, the leader of tomorrow can inspire his or her team to give their best.

Director french-speaking Switzerland

Emanuel Donhauser

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