Gregory Pepper’s journey is a compelling narrative of boundless curiosity, pioneering innovation, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact. From the early age of nine, when he crafted his first invention, Gregory has pursued a path defined by creativity and purpose. Today, he stands as a leader in transformative innovation, inspiring others to explore the uncharted and unlock their full potential.
Tell us about yourself and your story, how did you ended up where you are?
My story begins in Switzerland, where I was born to a South African father and a Zimbabwean mother. My childhood was a blend of cultures, speaking English at home and French at school. From a young age, I displayed an immense curiosity for science and innovation. At just nine years old, I announced to my parents my ambition to become an inventor, even sketching out plans for a motorized skateboard.
This curiosity extended to the arts, influenced by my grandfather, an award-winning photographer. By 2010, I had embraced amateur photography and videography, balancing my scientific interests with a creative flair.
At the end of my school years, I faced a significant decision: pursue scientific studies or artistic endeavors. While I considered becoming a movie director, I ultimately chose the business school HEC Lausanne, driven by a fear of not succeeding in the arts. This decision did not hinder my creative pursuits. At university, I engaged in numerous extracurricular activities, fundraising for a rally from Geneva to Morocco and providing educational materials to children there.
My leadership skills blossomed during my time at HEC Lausanne. I worked in university communications and became president of the main student committee for the business faculty. These experiences taught me the importance of standing up for my values and advocating for student welfare, even when it meant challenging senior management.
In 2014, during the final year of my degree, I visited my older brother in Kenya, who was working in impact investment. This visit was a turning point, opening my eyes to the potential of entrepreneurship and innovation in developing countries. I was particularly struck by M-Pesa, the mobile payment system in Kenya, and other groundbreaking innovations in Africa.
This newfound interest in impact-driven innovation led me to organize the first entrepreneurship week at the University of Lausanne, which in turn landed my first job with Seedstars. Here, I worked across 15 African countries, sourcing high-potential tech startups.
To further contribute to scalable impact solutions, I joined the Global Innovation Design master’s program at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College in 2016. This program took me to London, Beijing, and Singapore, broadening my horizons and deepening my understanding of global innovation. In China, I witnessed the country’s transition from a manufacturing hub to a leader in designing and producing cutting-edge technology.
I also immersed myself in traditional Chinese culture, engaging in ceramics, lacquer art, and calligraphy. These experiences enriched my perspective, blending modern innovation with cultural heritage.
In 2018, I started my consultancy and soon became a long-term project manager for Unleash, a global initiative supporting young innovators for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My role involved designing an incubation program to help the best teams from Unleash’s innovation lab translate their ideas into real-world solutions. Over three years, the program scaled from supporting 26 teams to 114.
Today, I focus on two main initiatives: Potentialife and Sense. At Potentialife, I work on scaling the science of human flourishing, addressing cultural pain points for large organizations. I run the foundation, helping people worldwide develop new habits to upgrade their personal operating systems, enhancing resilience and positive leadership skills.
Sense, my second initiative, involves designing and implementing tools to improve the impact of innovation ecosystems. Our goal is to support and increase the success of 63,000 impact startups in the next five years.
What ‘s your biggest lesson learned in your journey?
I would like to share three big lessons:
The first is about balancing our own values with a strong sense of curiosity and openness, and unlearning judgement as a way of seeing the world. The second is about pushing out of our comfort zone: both in our personal experiences but also when creating any type of innovation project, making sure that we are facing our fears and really focusing on what matters which is often uncomfortable. Thirdly it’s the idea of compound interest, which applies to many different areas of life. If we invest in relationships regularly, we benefit from strong networks over time. If we invest in personal development habits (exercise, nutrition, sleep, meditation, creativity) even small changes at the time lead to very big results. And of course, this also applies to finance.
What separates you from competition or other companies?
Potentialife stands out with its focus on addressing cultural pain points that slow businesses down. We tailor our interventions to each organization’s agenda, focusing on habit development to upgrade personal operating models. By enabling leaders to adopt positive habits and share their experiences, Potentialife transforms organizational culture at scale, supported by clear data on individual and organizational impact.
At Sense, we have led incubation programs leading to an 83% startup survival rate after three years. That’s more than double industry standards. We focus on the full lifecycle of innovation programs, ensure that startups have a comprehensive process for building their initiative, and bring a lot of attention to impact measurement.
Any tip/advice for young professionals or entrepreneurs?
I advise young professionals and entrepreneurs to focus on self-leadership. By knowing how to lead themselves sustainably, they can achieve their goals and ambitions. Setting a vision, defining purpose, and identifying core values, even if rough at first, are essential. Authenticity and positivity are crucial, as the world benefits when people pursue their passions to the best of their abilities.
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I envision enabling people at scale to thrive using all forms of intelligence, with technology augmenting human potential. I aim to lead a portfolio of companies creating significant social and environmental impact.
What keeps you motivated every day?
To stay motivated, I regularly reflect on my life and ensure I live intentionally. I review my life across 11 pillars every three months and revisit a Dreamline inspired by Tim Ferris, focusing on my short, mid, and long-term goals. This process helps me align daily tasks with my bigger picture, reframe negative experiences, and stay present.
What is your favorite quote of all times?
“Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all your glory.” – Jim Carrey
What are the main factors that led you to where you are right now?
Living in six countries and working in 25 exposed me to disparities in opportunities and significant challenges. This experience drives me to develop impactful systems, products, and services. My adventurous spirit was instilled by my grandfather, David Paynter. My desire to unleash people’s potential stems from realizing my own late personal blooming and the impact of the right tools and support.
Who is your role model or inspiration in your life?
My sources of inspiration include my partner Stacey, my brother, my parents, my uncle and many mentors. In terms of a role model that I know personally, my godfather Jeremy Chennells, a successful lawyer and winemaker, embodies my notion of success through his adventurous spirit, community involvement, and wisdom.
What are the top 3 core values in life?
My three main values are adventure, love, and health. I believe values are personal and I encourage others to discover their own.
What are key moments / turning point of your life?
Key moments in my life often involve saying yes to seemingly crazy opportunities that feel intuitively right. These include rapping at a festival, confidently approaching Alisée de Tonnac for my first job, and officiating my brother’s wedding. I recall Jean-Claude Biver’s advice on seizing invisible golden threads of opportunity.
What personality traits makes a good leader?
Good leaders understand and leverage their strengths. I highlight four critical traits: self-leadership, deep listening, enabling others, and being result-oriented.
What is the best and the worst part of your job?
The best parts of my job include interacting with people globally, enabling their development, public speaking, and simplifying complexity compellingly. The worst parts are administrative tasks and managing conflict.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome it and what did you learn from it?
I have faced physical challenges like sleep deprivation and mental challenges like financial hardship. Overcoming these required perseverance, patience, and trust. Setting intentions and focusing on key traits helped me navigate intense work periods.
What do you look for when outsourcing or hiring?
When outsourcing, I look for good communication skills and critical thinking. For hiring, I prioritize attitude, a growth mindset, willingness to learn, and the ability to get things done.
What strategies do you use to stay ahead of the curve in your industry?
I stay ahead by learning through conversations with thought leaders, subscribing to key newsletters, reading both non-fiction and fiction, and occasionally joining webinars or listening to podcasts.
In what ways do you foster innovation and creativity within your organization?
At Potentialife, me and my team follow our energy, explore new methods, and gather feedback to continuously improve user experiences. Our authentic and creative approach fosters innovation.
At Sense, we constantly surface and share the latest innovation and trends emerging globally, and have surrounded ourselves with a diverse group of experts that advise us on a regular basis.
How do you balance the pursuit of wealth and success with personal fulfillment and happiness?
I believe wealth is only one component of success. I balance it with meaningful relationships, personal fulfillment, good health, and broader impact. Regular reflection helps me live intentionally and align with my vision of success.
Name three books that changed your life and what did you learn from them!
Three books that changed my life are:
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris: Defining and optimizing what we truly want.
- Future Perfect by Steven Johnson: Enhancing life through technology and networks.
- Daring Greatly by Brené Brown: Embracing vulnerability to live fully.
Gregory Pepper’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and a relentless drive to make a positive impact. His journey offers valuable lessons and inspiration for anyone aspiring to lead with purpose and innovation.
BY Egli HAXHIRAJ, Anamaria MESHKURTI and Jonida GJUZI
© All Rights Reserved Moneys Media Ltd Geneva, Switzerland.
