Exceptional careers: Institut Lyfe graduates in the spotlight

They walked through the doors of Institut Lyfe with overflowing passion and dreams in their hearts. Today, our graduates shine worldwide, embodying excellence and innovation in the fields of culinary arts, pastry, hospitality, and restaurant management. Whether it’s prestigious awards in gastronomy, remarkable career advancements in iconic establishments, or bold entrepreneurial ventures, their inspiring journeys perfectly illustrate the wide range of opportunities our school offers.

Prestigious awards…

• Yasmina Hayek, 2017 graduating class, Executive Chef and co-owner of the Em Sherif group, won the prestigious Young Chef Award 2025 in Abu Dhabi, presented by the Michelin Guide. Yasmina Hayek was also featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for 2024.
• Carla Kirsh Lopez, 2017 graduating class, chef of the Mexican restaurant Alebrije in Lyon, was crowned Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 16th Gastronomy and Wine Trophies, organized by Le Progrès.
• Omaka Marie Orubu, 2018 graduating class, saw her restaurant NIRI named Best Restaurant in Abu Dhabi and Best Japanese for the second consecutive year at the FACT Dining Awards Abu Dhabi 2024.
• Victor Erisay, 2023 graduating class, was named Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year 2024 in Ireland.

… and careers on the up

• Nicolas Bellaton, 2002 graduating class and based in Dubai, became Head of Hospitality for Emaar Hospitality Group, a leader in the hospitality sector, operating luxury and lifestyle hotels across the United Arab Emirates, Istanbul, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

• Swann Duchesne, 2018 graduating class, joined the team at Morning, a company designing spaces to boost creativity and well-being, as a Space Manager. More than just coworking spaces, Morning creates environments where everyone can find their best way to work.

Brune Goudard, 2020 graduating class, joined the Barrière Group and now oversees the German-speaking market for the company. The Barrière Group is a leader in casinos in France and a benchmark in luxury hospitality, fine dining, leisure, and entertainment.

Gauthier Rat, 2017 graduating class, became Operations Manager for Les Sources group after serving as Deputy Director at Les Sources de Cheverny for nearly a year. Les Sources is a family-owned hotel group entirely dedicated to the French Art de Vivre, with a collection of hotels nestled among France’s vineyards: Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux and Les Sources de Cheverny in the Loire Valley.