Can you introduce yourself, your organisation and your role in it?

I’ve been working at the Faculty of Science at the University of Neuchâtel for 10 years. As part of the Faculty Secretariat and Dean’s Office team, I coordinate all academic activities relating to Bachelor’s and Master’s level courses.

I am responsible for the administrative and technical follow-up of courses and the smooth running of examination sessions, while ensuring that regulations are respected.

Why did you decide to take part in the Circular Project Management training course at the Prefix Academy?

I took part in this course as part of my CAS in public management, project management option.

What were the main challenges or problems you faced before the training?

I was regularly faced with problematic situations, the resolution of which required the implementation of a project methodology. I’m thinking in particular of pedagogical and technical developments, which are not easy to implement in a highly institutionalised academic environment where there is very little room for manoeuvre.

Since you took the Circular Project Management course, have you been able to apply the tools and methods taught? If so, can you share how this has contributed to the mastery and success of your projects?

Yes, even though the training was completed recently, a number of tools and an understanding of the importance of the project outline have enabled me to review the way we manage projects with my colleagues. We now have the tools we need to engage stakeholders and ensure that projects are carefully monitored. We’ll also be much calmer in the face of constraints and the inevitable obstacles.

What struck you most about Circular Project Management, and how do you find it different or more relevant than other certification methods?

No doubt its flexibility. In a way, this method is the ‘Swiss army knife’ of project management: you may not need all the tools presented, but the methodology makes it possible to define which ones are necessary and thus to form a coherent whole around the project outline and the dashboard.

It also allows the manager to take a step back and review his or her work.

Can you share a funny or memorable anecdote from the training that you think reflects Prefix’s values?

Several of them! But what I remember most of all was the good humour that reigned throughout the course. Thirteen people from all walks of life came together in a classroom in the basement of a building, and the result was some great encounters, laughter and life lessons to remember. And a fool-proof project management method!

Philippe’s teaching style has a lot to do with it.

Facilitator specialising in human leadership development

“In a world where economic and societal paradigms are changing rapidly, it’s essential for companies to adapt flexibly, but also to strengthen their human dimension. With this in mind, I’m delighted to welcome Ayung Dari, who joins Prefix as a Personal Transformation Facilitator.

As E. F. Schumacher so aptly put it in Small is Beautiful, “Economics is too fragmentary to reach valid conclusions if it is not complemented by a broader study.”. This is an ideal time to rethink our economic and managerial models, placing people and the environment at the heart of corporate strategies.

Ayung embodies this transformation, offering coaching that helps us identify our blocks, reprogramme our limiting beliefs and boost our self-esteem, ultimately releasing our potential and enabling us to manifest our life as we have always wanted to live it.

Based on new neural pathways, this process draws on neuroscience, Vedic psychology, systemic constellations (epigenetics) and the notion of pleasure. In particular, it is based on neuroplasticity, the brain’s incredible capacity to change throughout our lives. It’s a fact: every time we learn or do something new, our brain changes.

Experience and expertise

Drawing on her diverse experience in neuroscience, systemic constellations, Ayurvedic therapy and the economy of meaning, Ayung has developed a holistic approach that integrates scientific, human and spiritual perspectives. Her expertise in neuroscience, particularly neuroplasticity, enables her to help managers understand how the brain can reorganise and evolve through new habits and learning. She also draws on systemic constellations to address unconscious dynamics in professional and personal relationships, offering her clients a framework for exploring blockages and strengthening their leadership.

Her training in Ayurvedic medicine adds a complementary dimension to her approach. Ayurveda, with its vision of balance between body, mind and environment, enables Ayung to integrate wellness practices focused on prevention and inner harmony. This holistic approach enables her to combine age-old healing methods with modern advances in neuroscience, creating a unique form of support in which physical, mental and emotional health are at the heart of personal and professional success. By combining these different disciplines, she helps our clients develop a deeper awareness of themselves and build more resilient and ethical businesses.

An invitation to change

Today, geopolitics, technology and climate change are redefining our priorities. It is in this context that human-centred leadership takes on its full meaning. Through a combination of empathy, caring, determination and resilience, Ayung helps leaders reconcile bold vision with humility, courage with confidence, while fostering an environment where psychological safety and creativity are at their peak.

With the arrival of Ayung, Prefix reinforces its commitment to supporting businesses in a changing world. Together, we are rethinking the role of leadership and redefining success around more human, conscious and sustainable values.

Can you introduce yourself, your organisation and your role in it?

My name is Michel Burla, and I have been in charge of the Oils and Fats segment of the Centravo Group since 2019. This segment is based on two sites, an oils and fats refinery in Lyss (BE) and a margarine factory in Mitlödi (GL). It employs 120 people and generates annual sales of CHF 120 million.

Why did you decide to use Prefix’s services?

I had the opportunity to discuss project management with Philippe Lauper, who suggested that I carry out a test to establish my organisation’s project management maturity. The result of the test showed that we had a lot of room for improvement!

What were the main challenges or problems you faced before Prefix came on board?

We already had a project management process in place, but it was clumsily defined, incomplete and not recognised as a process within the group. In short, we lacked project skills and culture. The test also revealed to me that we had no control over our project portfolio.

Which of Prefix’s services did you choose?

Following the test, Prefix was able to make me a proposal targeted at our weaknesses. We chose to start with a full Circular Project Management course and training on the Microsoft Project scheduling tool, so as to build up our skills. After that, we took out a support subscription to become more autonomous.

What struck you most about Circular Project Management, the Prefix method?

I appreciate the flexibility that this method offers. It corresponds well to the frequent changes in our company’s environment (customer requirements, legal requirements). I also appreciate its simplicity and adaptability.

I also like the shape of the 8 method, or lemniscate depending on how you read it. It gives me a good mnemonic to remember it. Since the training course, I’ve been using it regularly to explain certain principles of project management to people around me.

Have you noticed any significant improvements in your team’s productivity or efficiency since working with Prefix?

Yes, clearly. Following the training, we overhauled our entire project management process and the associated documents, and integrated them into our quality system. From now on, we won’t accept any project that doesn’t comply with the method. Thanks to this, we’ve been able to revitalise dormant projects, increase the number of parallel projects and improve our credibility with the group and our customers.

When I read the results of the test, I found it hard to accept that we had major shortcomings in project management, but now we’ve stopped tinkering with things, we’re taking a professional approach. Not only has it made my job easier, it’s also re-energised my team. We should have made this investment much earlier!

What struck you most about Prefix’s services?

For me, Prefix is the art of asking the right questions and coming up with the answers. Everyone in my team is now involved in the project management process and we’ve got into the habit of asking ourselves the right questions!

Can you share a funny or unusual anecdote that happened while you were accompanied by Prefix?

We had planned to do the training in English, the language most common to Prefix and my team. In the end, the oral exchanges were a spontaneous mix of German, Swiss German, English and French. In the end, we all spoke Prefixian!

What other question would you like to answer?

Has the Centravo Group benefited from the return on its investment in Prefix?

Before committing myself, I made a quick calculation of the cost per hour and per person of the team I had tied up for this process. It turned out to be negligible compared with the estimated time saved thanks to our increased skills. I’d advise everyone to start with the test and go through the same experience as we did.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I love the quote that says “When a man’s hungry, it’s better to teach him to fish than to give him a fish“. Prefix has been like our fishing rod!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career so far?

After graduating in microtechnology engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, I gained a number of professional experiences as a research engineer and product engineer in Switzerland and Australia. On my return from Australia, I moved into consulting, which gave me the opportunity to take part in the Solar Impulse project, sponsored by my employer. I started out as project manager, and was then put in charge of the logistics of the flight missions. On the strength of all this experience, I founded the Prefix company in 2014.

What is your role at Prefix?

I’m the director of Prefix, where I also play a dual role as senior consultant and FSEA-certified trainer. My areas of expertise cover project management and governance, with a particular affinity for collaborative methods.

What skills and experience do you bring to Prefix customers?

I have accumulated a wealth of experience in coordination and management roles, often on secondment to clients. This experience spans a wide range of sectors, including industry, academia, administration and the voluntary sector. Not forgetting my involvement in the Solar Impulse adventure. Since setting up Prefix, I’ve also broadened my skills in governance and agile methods. Finally, I’m fluent in French, English and Swiss German.

What are your emotional intelligence assets, which are crucial to being an effective consultant or coach?

I’m at ease with communication and human interaction, and have an instinct for spotting inconsistencies in systems, particularly within organisations and methods. What’s more, I’m able to adapt quickly to different personalities and situations.

Can you give an example of a project or achievement of which you are particularly proud?

I’m particularly proud of the fact that I’ve been able to find a solution for marrying the initial approaches to project management, known as predictive or waterfall, with the more recent methods known as agile. This marriage gave birth to the method I have named Circular Project Management, which is now at the heart of Prefix.

What other question would you like to answer?

How do you see the future of Prefix?

I see the future of Prefix with a varied and complementary team of consultants, who are involved as co-owners and co-managers. Together, we form an international organisation, focused on collaboration and exchange, always one step ahead of an ever-changing world.