Photo © Forever Institut
Nothing seemed predetermined. Or rather, everything did, but never in a straight line. It is in this in-between space, between inheritance and self-construction, that Rachel Polla’s journey has taken shape. Now at the helm of Forever Institut, she has followed a path marked by detours, instinct, occasional doubts and a determination to find her own way. For behind the image of a self-assured executive lies a more nuanced story: that of a woman who never simply “took over” a family business, but reinvented it, infusing it with her sensitivity, depth and singular way of embodying her role.
Rachel Polla was born in Geneva and left for Boston with her parents at a very young age. She has only a few memories of that period, but the family’s years in the United States proved decisive. It was there that her father took part in the rise of medical laser technologies, which would later lead to the creation of Forever Institut, an entrepreneurial venture that very quickly became part of family life. “There were seven of us: my parents, the four girls… and the company,” she says. The business was more than a project. It was a fully fledged member of the family.
Back in Geneva, Rachel Polla grew up in an environment where high standards went hand in hand with passion. Yet nothing destined her to take the helm. A rebellious teenager with little appetite for school, she dreamed of theatre and film. She took to the stage and imagined herself as an actress, driven as much by her own aspirations as by the enthusiasm of a father who believed every passion deserved to be pursued with ambition. But even then, a certain realism had set in. “I was too nice, too naive for the film world,” she acknowledges today.
Rachel ultimately chose a more conventional path, without any real conviction at first. She enrolled in international relations at the University of Geneva, out of necessity rather than any sense of vocation. “I had no idea what I wanted to do,” she admits. Yet that uncertainty became a space for exploration. Her career took its first decisive turn at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), where she joined the communications department. In this demanding environment, she learned fast. Very fast. Copywriting, internal projects, strategic communications: she turned her hand to everything. “It’s a company where, if you want to prove yourself, the opportunities are endless,” she says. There, she developed discipline, rigour and a keen understanding of organisational dynamics.
In 2015, Forever Institut’s board offered her the chance to take over as chief executive. The offer came sooner than she had expected. She was not really prepared for it, and yet she accepted almost instinctively.
She has led the institution since 2016, and lead is precisely the word she prefers: she finds it more accurate and less hierarchical than its French equivalent, diriger. The nuance speaks volumes, because Rachel Polla does not identify with traditional models of power. Under her leadership, Forever Institut has grown, added new cutting-edge medical services and launched an innovative concept, first in Lausanne and then in Nyon, designed to demystify aesthetic medicine. It is a vision inherited from her father, which his daughter has carried forward in her own way.
Her style, however, lies elsewhere: in listening, intuition and a certain restraint. A self-described introvert, Rachel embraces a different way of leading. For a long time, she saw this as a weakness. Today, it has become a strength. She shuns the social whirl, chooses her interactions carefully and finds her balance in family life, quiet moments, the mountains, sailing, reading and running. “I recharge by getting away from people,” she says candidly. It is an unusual stance in a world where visibility is often seen as essential. But perhaps it is precisely that distance that allows her to see more clearly.
At the helm of Forever Institut, Rachel Polla stands within a family legacy while firmly asserting her own vision, one built on two pillars: hard work and kindness. “Nothing is simple, even when everything seems simple,” she insists. Behind the polished image of a well-established company lie difficult choices, constant questioning and even crises. She believes deeply in effort, but rejects brutal methods. “Kindness may get you there more slowly, but it will take you just as far,” she says. In an age that prizes instant results, this philosophy stands apart. And yet, it works.
Rachel Polla’s path has been anything but linear. It has been shaped by intuition, boldness and a certain faith in what she calls her “lucky star”: a way of navigating between control and letting go.
What is also striking about her is the gap between appearance and reality. A sensitive woman, a young leader, the heir to a family business: the clichés are plentiful. But they quickly fall away. “People realise there is much more depth than they had imagined,” she says. Her friends describe her as “people-smart”, empathetic and deeply generous: someone who is genuinely focused on others and driven by the desire to leave a meaningful mark on those around her. “Doing small things, but making sure they have a real and positive impact,” she sums up. In a world saturated with images and simplified narratives, Rachel Polla reminds us that no journey is ever as straightforward as it seems. And that real influence is measured not by the force with which you impose it, but by the way you build it. With consistency. With purpose. And, above all, with humanity.
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