Noëlle Demole, Due Diligence Expert and Award-Winning Founder of Shere Khan, CHA 2011
Noëlle Demole
La Châtaigneraie, 2011
Due Diligence Expert and Award-Winning Founder of Shere Khan
Switzerland
Find out more about me:
- Egidays (Start-up)
- Shere Khan Youth Protection (NGO)
- Upcoming film: The Lost Prince (a documentary based on my NGO’s journey), to be released in 2026
Feel free to connect with me directly—I love collaborating, sharing stories, and building bridges between people, causes, and ideas.
Ecolint gave me a powerful sense of global citizenship and self-worth. It taught me to value difference, to lead with empathy, and to think critically. I was surrounded by people from all over the world, which helped me understand diverse perspectives and navigate complex, multicultural environments
I graduated from Ecolint in 2011 after completing the Maturité Fédérale program at La Châtaigneraie. My years there gave me a unique foundation, blending Swiss academic rigour with an international, humanistic spirit. It wasn’t just about learning facts—it was about building character, empathy, and resilience. La Chât was a place where I was encouraged to dream big while also staying grounded. The diversity of the student body and the values of inclusion and curiosity helped me grow into someone who is comfortable navigating across cultures and disciplines—skills I now apply daily as an entrepreneur, humanitarian, and adventurer.
I live in Geneva and lead a multifaceted life centred on purpose and impact. I am the founder and CEO of Egidays, a Swiss startup tackling menstrual inequality by installing free period product dispensers in public spaces. Our patented anti-theft system makes us unique in the European market. I also founded Shere Khan Youth Protection, an NGO in India supporting over 500 vulnerable youth. Professionally, I work at Bank Julius Baer as a Client Due Diligence Expert, fighting financial crime and terrorist financing through compliance. I am also pursuing a PhD in criminology at the University of Cambridge, studying Human Trafficking issues. Alongside all this, I pursue personal world-record challenges in freediving and high-altitude mountaineering.
La Chât was a place where I was encouraged to dream big while also staying grounded. The diversity of the student body and the values of inclusion and curiosity helped me grow into someone who is comfortable navigating across cultures and disciplines—skills I now apply daily as an entrepreneur, humanitarian, and adventurer.
Sports Day was always the highlight of my school year at Ecolint. The energy, excitement, and camaraderie were contagious. I remember the cheers, the team spirit, the bright banners, and the feeling of giving your all, not just for yourself but for your house or classmates. It brought the whole campus together in a fun, empowering way. Even students who weren’t typically athletic got involved, and that inclusivity left a mark on me. Today, in all my projects—from founding Egidays to climbing high mountains—I try to recreate that same spirit of collective strength, support, and joyful ambition.n
Ecolint gave me a powerful sense of global citizenship and self-worth. It taught me to value difference, to lead with empathy, and to think critically. I was surrounded by people from all over the world, which helped me understand diverse perspectives and navigate complex, multicultural environments—skills that have proved essential in both my business and humanitarian work, as well as in my role at Julius Baer. Ecolint also fostered independence and creativity. The freedom to explore new ideas gave me the courage to launch Egidays, lead an NGO, study for a PhD degree, and design a life full of impact and adventure.
If I had to do it again, I would give myself permission to be imperfect. In school, I often pushed myself to be the best at everything, sometimes out of fear of failing. What I’ve learned since is that failure is not the opposite of success—it’s the path to it. I’d try more things outside of my comfort zone and stress less about results. I’d also seek out more mentorship earlier on. That said, each decision I made, even the missteps, led me here. So perhaps the real lesson is that it’s okay not to know everything yet—what matters is daring to try anyway.
My words of wisdom for Ecolint students: Don’t wait for the “right moment”—start now. The truth is, no one ever feels 100% ready before doing something bold. Whether you want to launch a company, write a book, or make a difference in your community, begin with what you have. Your energy and ideas matter, even if they’re still taking shape. Ask for help. Collaborate. Stay curious. And don’t be afraid to choose an unconventional path—some of the most fulfilling journeys begin where the traditional road ends. Believe in your ability to build something meaningful, even if it doesn’t exist yet. You might just be the first. And also: it’s OK to be alone in staring those projects.
My legacy: I want to leave behind systems and ideas that help others thrive—especially women and girls. Through Egidays, I hope to normalise access to period products the way we’ve normalised toilet paper. Through Shere Khan Youth Protection, I want to keep empowering young people who were once invisible to the world. In my role at Bank Julius Baer, I aim to strengthen trust in financial systems by fighting white-collar crime. Alongside my doctoral studies at Cambridge, I seek to understand one of the most pervasive crimes of our time, with the aim of contributing new insights to the existing body of research. On a broader level, I hope to show that you can live many lives in one and that meaningful change is possible when heart, courage, and action meet.