Ralf SeifertRalf W. Seifert is Professor of Technology & Operations Management (TOM) at the College of Management of Technology (CDM) at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) since 2003. His primary research and teaching interests relate to operations management, supply chain strategy and technology network management. He is also active in industry analysis, international project work and new venture formation.
Based on his work with companies, Professor Seifert has co-authored more than 30 case studies covering different industries. These efforts have been recognized by multiple international case awards granted by EFMD in 2018, 2012, 2009 and 2003, ECCH in 2011 and 2006, as well as POMS in 2004. He continues to actively research issues of supply chain strategy, supply chain finance and technology management and has more than 70 articles and international conference presentations to his credit. In addition, he co-authored two books: one focused on strategic supply chain management and another one concerning start-up challenges of technology ventures.
In parallel to his appointment at EPFL, he continues to serve a position at IMD, were he has been appointed Professor of Operations Management in 2000. Prior to joining IMD, Professor Seifert studied and worked in Germany, Japan and the US. He earned PhD and MS degrees in Management Science at Stanford University, a Diplom Ingenieur degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and a Master's degree in Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering from North Carolina State University. While in the US, he consulted for Hewlett-Packard and served as Teaching and Research Assistant at Stanford University. In Germany he worked for Booz & Company, McKinsey & Company and Freudenberg & Co. In addition, he spent one year as a Visiting Scholar in Operations Research at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Luisa PastoreWith a background in Architectural Engineering, Luisa specialised in sustainable architecture, bioclimatic design and comfort in buildings through a PhD from the University of Palermo (2013) followed by a Post-doc at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Performance-Integrated Design (LIPID) of EPFL (2014-2019).She is currently a Scientific Collaborator at the Smart Living Lab - EPFL and professor of Material Behaviour and Architecture and Energy Concept at the Ecole d’Architecture et d’Architecture d’Intérieur – idées House of Lausanne.She also works as Coordinator for the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction where she acts as a liaison between the Academic Committee and the core Management Office of the Foundation. Besides the coordination of the AC's agenda, she supports the organization of events and competitions for the promotion of innovative sustainable design solutions that can tackle today's environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural issues affecting the built environment.Since 2021 she has also joined Amber Lion Partners as Impact and Sustainability Advisor.