Wwire actualités

At 34, you stepped into the role of CEO in a Swiss design & build company, named corporate design solutions. What convinced you that you were ready to lead - not someday, but now?

I have always been passionate about building, not just spaces and engineering, but teams, culture, and long-term vision. I stepped into management roles very early in my career. I learned by doing – rolling up my sleeves, taking responsibility, and not being afraid of hard work. That hands-on experience shaped the way I am today. I joined the company, to provide strategic support and strengthen its advisory expertise- and I delivered on that mandate. While remaining fully operational and close to the projects, I helped on a more strategic direction. Over time, this contribution naturally expanded into leadership responsibilities. It wasn’t about seeking a title – it was about stepping up where the company needed clarity, structure and forward momentum.

I am fully aware that stepping into leadership during a worldwide challenging period adds complexity. But that makes it even more meaningful. Leadership is not about waiting for perfect conditions, it is about guiding transition when it matters most. The company has achieved long- standing success built on strong values and trust. My goal is not to disrupt that foundation. It is to reinforce those values, while making the organization more future-oriented, and ready for the next era.

What does modern leadership look like in an industry that blends creativity, engineering, and financial precision?

I love this question because it reflects exactly the complexity of our industry and my passion for it. I am naturally a creative person: since Childhood I was very artistic. But I am equally an engineer at heart. I don’t believe in beautiful ideas that cannot be built. I believe in visions that can become reality. For me, modern leadership in design and build means bridging ambition and feasibility. It means protecting creativity while ensuring technical integrity, financial discipline and long-term viability. My background in technical building installations and large- scale BIM infrastructure projects allows me to quickly analyse complex situations – technically, financially, and strategically. That 360-degree understanding is essential in our interior design&build-field. The market today demands spaces that are inspiring, smart, delivered fast, sustainable and economically sound. A leader must orchestrate all these dimensions and surround themselves with strong expertise to ensure excellence at every level, even in a disruptive environment. That is why I pursued and obtained my PMP certification, strengthening my expertise in agile project management. I strive to continue it at codes sa, building on its stroung strong foundation while guiding it into a a new agile era.

Do you believe your generation approaches risk and innovation differently?

No, not necessarily. My predecessors were bold and courageous. What’s different today is that we have new tools, methods, and ways of thinking – not better or worse, just different. I believe the key is to combine the intelligence and experience of the past with the innovation and opportunities of the future.

Retail has changed dramatically. What must a physical store deliver today that e-commerce never can?

Physical stores today must deliver experiences that e-commerce can never fully replicate. At the Retail Swiss Forum 2025, this topic was highlighted with striking statistics : the Swiss retail sector saw a stagnation this last year stagnated over the past year while digital commerce grew by around 10%. Customers are now looking for personalized, tailor-made services, whether that’s a dedicated concierge, expert advice, or integrated solutions that respond to multiple needs across generations. A physical store has the unique ability to tell the story of a product, to offer tips and insights, and to create a « magical touch » that engages all the senses. The way the space is designed can implify amplify this experience, guiding customers naturally, enhancing discovery, and delivering value beyond the transaction.

When you design a retail space, do you start with aesthetics - or with business performance?

It is not a question of choosing one over the other. For us, aesthetics and business performance must go hand in hand. However, you cannot create financially secure high-performing project without careful planning, design discussions, and thorough technical due diligence. This is often underestimated in investment calculations. That is where a partner like us adds value: we combine market benchmarks, technical due diligence, expertise and strategic insight to ensure that every project is both beautiful and commercially sound.

What is the biggest strategic mistake brands still make when investing in new stores?

My main advice for brands investing in new stores is to take the time for proper design and technical due diligence. Rushing this process is a common mistake and can compromise not only the financial performance of the investment but also professional relationships with partners. Careful planning and allocating enough time is essential to manage risk and ensure long-term success.

Have you ever challenged a client’s brief because you believed it would limit their commercial success?

I believe the best client-partner relationships are built on mutual challenge. We only question a brief once we have facts to show it will limit commercial success. At Codes – corporate design solutions, you also design and build Offices : what is the true purpose of the office in 2026? There is a lot of data around this, and in many ways it confirms what we already know. Each office has its own culture, and today it is crucial to align the space with the company’s vision. It usually starts by understanding the company’s profile, culture, and current challenges to clarify the office’s purpose.

Different generations come to the office for different reasons. Some need focus and productivity, others come to collaborate and socialize. That is why it is important to provide a variety of options: accessible areas, acoustic and visual comfort, safe spaces, collaboration zones, and focus areas. In our firm, for example, being present in the office supports knowledge exchange and communication, as well as collaboration and concentrated work. Each space has a natural and flexibel flexible purpose: team “cockpit” benches for tight deadlines, standard desks for daily work, focus desks for deep concentration, and enclosed or open tables for transparent or bilateral discussions.

How do you create workplaces that employees genuinely choose to come to?

I like to approach it by offering a variety of options: different workstations, practical solutions, and spaces that are both comfortable and welcoming, with a carefully selected palette of materials. A workplace should be tailor-made for the company and based on data-driven analysis. At the same time, it’s essential to maintain a strong, qualitative identity. Good workplace design emphasizes this clarity, purpose, and sense of belonging.

Many companies claim to offer integrated design & build services. What does true integration at codes sa change for a client?

True integration, to me, means that the design is technically sound, fully verified, and transparent at every stage. Not every design & build company can guarantee this level of quality and transparency. When done well, integration is a major added value for clients. It ensures deadlines are met, time is used efficiently, and quality is never compromised. Separating design and build may offer more control or room for innovation, but it often jeopardizes cost and schedule without improving results. A strong, reliable design & build partner if locally established, backed by expert teams, and connected to a trusted local network ; it makes the integration truly effective. It sounds simple, but many companies struggle to achieve it. I’m proud to say that our company does.

How do you protect creative ambition while controlling budgets and timelines - especially in Switzerland, where standards are uncompromising?

In Switzerland, standards are uncompromising, and for good reason. Early planning and data-driven due diligence are key to protecting both creative ambition and budgets. With 15+ years of experience, we combine local price benchmarks, long-term partnerships, and alternative scenarios to ensure projects stay on track. When challenges arise, we move swiftly to Plan B, creatively reconsidering the purpose of the investment without compromising quality or vision.

Where does real value creation happen in a project: concept, engineering, or execution?

In Switzerland, the tradition follows a very phased approach: each stage is developed with separate partners, and value is created gradually, phase by phase. True and complete value often only emerges during the execution phase. Although this approach offers control at each step, it slows value creation and weakens end-to-end accountability. Our design and build approach transforms this model. We integrate concept, engineering, and execution from day one. By entering the technical and operational details early, value creation begins immediately and continues consistantly consistently throughout the entire project – not sequentially, but simultaneously.

What makes us unique is our ability to delivery deliver exceptional design without ever compromising technical performance. We do not just design, we build what we design. Our team of architects, designers, engineers and construction managers works as one integrated unit. This cross-disciplinary expertise ensures feasibility, precision, and quality from the very first sketch. Value doesn’t wait for execution. With us, it starts on day one.

What strategic direction will shape your next few years?

We are reinforcing our core strength: a fully integrated design & build model where advisory, engineering, architecture, and construction work as one. In a world shaped by economic pressure, climate challenges, regulatory shifts, and AI, complexity is increasing. Fragmented approaches no longer work. Our strategy is to lead with expertise that connects concept, feasibility, and execution from day one. This integration allows us to create value earlier, manage risk better, and deliver with precision. Design alone is not enough. Engineering alone is not enough. The future belongs to those who can combine both, strategically and operationally. We listen, we simplify complexity, and we execute with excellence. That is how I plan to shape the next years.

Five years from now, how will retail and workplace environments look different - and where will your company stand in that transformation?

In five years, I believe multi-functional spaces and adaptative adaptive leases will become standard. Functionality, flexibility, quality, sustainability, and low-risk investments will remain essential, and that is where we excel. Diversified strategies for both retail and workplace environments will be key. Our company positions itself as a truly integrated partner, brought in at the very start of a client’s project. We’re not just a separate supplier ; we work hand-in-hand with the client, collaborating closely, sometimes even from within their own spaces. That is how deeply client-oriented and reliable we aim to be, driving transformation together.

When clients choose your company, what are they really choosing beyond a fit-out?

When clients choose us, they are choosing more than a fit-out, they are choosing a reliable partner. One who adapts quickly, find solutions, delivers consistently at the highest quality, and understands every challenge from start to finish. We act as a single point of contact, always agile, transparent, solution-oriented, and uncomplicated. Our values and the results we deliver speak for themselves. The journey begins with a conversation, whether you are planning a new concept, a rollout or transformation, our team is available at welcome@codes.ch to support you next steps.

Mlle Caroline HABAYE