A fashionable business - two alumni talk about their careers in luxury fashion Hult Blog

Despite the global economic downturn, luxury brands continue to thrive. We speak to two Hult alumni in two very different roles in the world of luxury fashion; Monica Savini manages Private Client Relations at Louis Vuitton, and Thomas Drischel has his own business creating luxury accessories for men. Monica Savini, Class of 2011, One-Year MBA What were you up to before joining Hult? I was working in the Marketing and Communication department of Louis Vuitton in Paris, overlooking global events. I was in charge of everything from big store openings to product launches and corporate projects. I had a great time, being inspired by great leaders, and learning so much along the way. I used to travel quite often, all over the world, and was privileged to have access to the most important communications strategies for the brand. What made you decide to join the MBA program at Hult? Since I was 27, I have had this idea that one day I would like to do an MBA program. Having already completed Master in Arts and Humanities, I often felt that I was lacking the analytical and quantitative approach often needed to tackle large-scale business projects. I wanted to complement my artistic side with numbers! Pre-MBA, I often described numbers as a â€Å"big ocean,† but now I feel the MBA has actually helped me to stay afloat, and feel comfortable when dealing with numbers.[Tweet Why an MBA? I wanted to complement my artistic side with numbers!] How do the skills and knowledge you acquired at Hult help you in your current role? The skills I acquired at Hult certainly allowed me to become more confident, and helped me to focus on the quantitative side of my job. I felt that the MBA turned me into a more rational person, and provided me with the experience of working within an international team. At Hult, I also developed my presentation and communication skills, which has definitely better prepared me for the leadership element of my role. What do you see as the major challenges and opportunities in your industry over the coming years? I think the most challenging aspect would be to stay at pace with technology, and the younger generation of luxury fashion consumers. Any historical brand will, at some point, face the same question; how do we integrate technology from a social perspective without jeopardizing our brand identity, or the aspirational and emotional feelings attached to luxury goods?[Tweet How do we integrate technology from a social perspective without jeopardizing our brand identity?] What advice would you give to other Hult students or alums looking to move into the luxury goods industry? I feel that being passionate about the product and the brand you work with is extremely important. Also, showing humbleness in going about your day-to-day duties is vital—the luxury industry should not scare people; it should be part of an aspirational journey. Thomas Drischel, Class of 2014, Executive MBA What were you up to before joining Hult? Before joining Hult, I was working as General Manager for Galeries Lafayette, a French retail company specializing in fashion and luxury goods.  I was based in Metz, 200km east of Paris, and in charge of a store with 300 employees, and a turnover of â‚ ¬32 million. What made you decide to join the Execuitve MBA program at Hult? Before working as a General Manager, I completed a master degree in Strasbourg, and an MBA in Paris. However, I always wanted to study at a top international business school and challenge myself studying alongside international students and inspiring professors. Even though I was fluent in English, I still wanted to get out of my comfort zone and face new and exciting challenges. With the great international exposure Hult offered, I knew it would be the best way be inspired and gain the latest business tools for my entrepreneurial project. The amazing network that I had the opportunity to build was also a strong point. Leaving an amazing job in a renowned company in order to launch a personal brand requires knowing yourself and your abilities—Hult’s EMBA was definitely the perfect way for me to realize my entrepreneurial and personal ambitions.[Tweet Leaving an amazing job to launch a personal brand requires knowing yourself and your abilities.] How did the skills, knowledge, and network you acquired at Hult help you to achieve your dream of setting up your own brand? By creating Robert Kerr, a luxury accessories brand for men, I had the obligation to understand the market on an international scale, and adapt my value proposition to customers. That’s why, having the opportunity to do the Executive MBA over two years, studying and working in groups with students from all over the world, helped me to better understand the purchasing behavior of other countries. During the first year of the EMBA, my professors helped me to build my business plan, by sharing with me their business knowledge and experience. Other students, who are now close friends of mine, helped me to better understand myself, by giving me valuable feedback and advice. It was an amazing and unforgettable personal experience. What advice would you give other Hult students or alums looking to go it alone in the luxury goods industry? Passion and love are the most important things, when going it alone in any industry—you truly need to believe in yourself, your product, and what you want to achieve. Be patient, determined, curious, and open-minded all at once. The market is so difficult and surrounded by big, influential companies, and multi-million dollar marketing campaigns; you really need to know your customers in order to provide them with the perfect product. Don’t be afraid to take time to prepare your business model, and roundup your financial obligations when starting out. In the luxury industry, customer experience, attention to detail, and consistency are essential for long-term success. Also, don’t be afraid of sharing your idea with family and friends who are not in your business field; they will give you an outside view on how your brand is perceived.[Tweet Don’t be afraid of sharing your idea with family and friends who are not in your business field.] If you decide to venture alone into the luxury industry, take the time to be surrounded by talented and professional people, because nothing is more important than being around people you can trust and rely on. And, most importantly, don’t be scared of working 24/7 when you start out—being an entrepreneur comes at a price, but the extra hours certainly pay off. Step up your game with executive education at Ashridge agile business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Why there’s no time like the present to start your Executive MBA, or firm up your exec career footing with a Masters in International Business from Hult. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you learn everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .