During the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we spoke with Niels de Fraguier, Founder of Empowering Potential, about the role of innovation in shaping a more inclusive and regenerative future. As an entrepreneur, ideator, and author, he shared his perspective on why technology must be rooted in life-centered thinking, how regeneration goes beyond sustainability, and why building a better future means shifting from individual gain to collective responsibility.
Which technology or innovation do you believe will have the biggest impact in our industry over the next 5 to 10 years?
Before answering that, we have to ask what we mean by technology and innovation. Why are we innovating and for whom? Much of the progress we see today benefits only a few, not the many. Whether it is social media or artificial intelligence, the power it creates is often concentrated. The real innovation we should focus on now is collective intelligence. We need to bring humans together, and even include non-human perspectives, to think about what kind of world we want to create. Technology should not just serve profit or efficiency. It should be meaningful, inclusive, and regenerative. The challenges we face are enormous, but they also offer an opportunity for personal growth, collective transformation, and a reimagined future that sustains life and the natural world for generations to come.
Would you say the priority is less about technology and more about a new kind of governance?
Exactly. Sustainability has been about doing less harm, getting to net zero. But the truth is we are already in overshoot. Earth’s systems, biodiversity, social and economic balance, are all in crisis. We now owe more to the planet than we take. That is where regeneration comes in. It means giving back more than we take. It means bringing the voice of nature, future generations, and non-humans into our decision-making structures. That is not just environmental care. It is about resilience in the face of uncertainty, creating new forms of value that go beyond financial return. Human capital, natural capital, trust. These are foundational to the future of any organization. Business must be rooted in community and the living systems that make it possible.
You mentioned that technology can help us but will not save us. Can you elaborate?
Technology is a tool. It is not the goal. Just like profit, it should be a means to reinvest, to support life. AI can help us solve problems, but it cannot save us on its own. It needs to be guided by life-centered thinking. That includes understanding the environmental impact of AI itself, its energy use, its geopolitical implications, its effect on sovereignty and ownership. Most major technologies today are concentrated in a few countries, so we must ask: who owns the tools, and who benefits from them? We need to reclaim ownership, not just of technology, but of our lives and communities. Technology can bring us closer to our collective goals, but only if we keep humanity and life at the center.
Would you agree that technology, if used right, is inherently human?
Technology is human in the sense that we created it. But the deeper question is why we are using it, and for whose benefit. Right now, the development of AI is dominated by a small group of powerful actors. Mostly white males, no longer young, who dominate individuals by how data is used and who also dominate nature by how resources are extracted. So yes, technology can be human, but only if we remain conscious. Leadership today must be about consciousness. It means recognizing our privilege, understanding our identities, our traumas, our biases, and taking responsibility. I am a white male, and I know I belong to the privileged part of the world. That should not bring guilt. It should bring responsibility. I want to be a better ancestor. I want to help create a future that sustains life for humans and non-humans alike.
What do we need to change to build that kind of future?
We need to rethink all of our metrics. It is not just about KPIs anymore. It is about both tangible and intangible outcomes. Emotions, trust, balance between masculine and feminine energies, showing up with both strength and vulnerability. We need to cooperate more deeply—with each other, and with nature. Let us build a system where everyone, especially the most marginalized, has not just a voice, but decision-making power. Where every being has the right to be heard, and to shape the future. That is how we move from domination to collaboration. That is how we change the world for the better.
About the EHL Open Innovation Summit 2025
This interview was recorded during the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, where Hospitality Net joined as official media partner.
The event brought together a global mix of thinkers and doers to explore the future of hospitality, food, and travel through open innovation. What made it special was the mix of ideas, formats, and people. It was not only about tech or talks. It was also about people showing up, working together, and sharing energy in real time.
Key Figures
- 385 participants
- 48 speakers and contributors from more than 20 countries
- 7 innovation challenges collectively addressed
- 45 sessions
- 25 student volunteers
- 15 F&B startups letting us taste the future
- 1.5 days of connection, learning, and co-creation
Key Insights from the Summit
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A new benchmark for hospitality innovation
The summit set a new standard by weaving together AI, sustainability, regeneration, and human connection – showing that innovation in hospitality, luxury and food must be holistic, human-centric, and purpose-driven. Participants repeatedly highlighted the need to go beyond efficiency and into meaningful transformation. -
From knowledge exchange to real-time co-creation
More than just a series of talks, the summit was an activation space – a living lab where diverse minds worked together on pressing challenges, from regenerative tourism to circular luxury to AI in guest experience. It was a showcase of collective intelligence in motion. -
Collaboration as the engine of systems change
Open Innovation came alive not as a buzzword, but as a relational practice. From panelists to students, from global explorers to startup founders, everyone was invited to co-create, connect dots, and contribute. Participants repeatedly said they experienced true collaboration across boundaries, industry, sector, age, and background. -
The power of presence: hearts, minds, and hands
Whether walking in the forest, painting together, or debating future systems, attendees embraced the idea that innovation isn’t only about tech and metrics – it’s also about embodied experience, slowing down to speed up, and nurturing a regenerative mindset. -
The future is “AND” – not “either/or”
A recurring takeaway: we must stop choosing between extremes. The future is tech AND human, healthy AND delicious, profitable AND impactful. This “integration mindset” is already informing how leaders, startups, and educators present are reshaping their strategies. -
The beginning of a long-term movement
Attendees described the summit as the start of something much bigger – a platform for experimentation, learning, and alliance-building. The EHL Innovation Hub was recognized not only as an academic powerhouse, but as a true catalyst for regenerative innovation across hospitality, service, food, and travel.
