What does your role involve, exactly?
I work for L’Oréal Luxury cosmetics as International Product Manager for Yves Saint Laurent make-up. My background and job title is in marketing but L’Oréal is a marketing-driven company and therefore any marketing function is very management oriented.
I am responsible for conceptualising a product and seeing it through the development process, from just an idea through to being in the consumer’s hand. This can involve working with our lab technicians on new formulas and textures, developing shade ranges, designing the packaging, shooting the visual, briefing our support teams, resolving country-related legal issues through to presenting to Vogue. It is an extremely rich experience almost impossible to define as no day is ever the same.
What was your career experience prior to getting this job? What are your qualifications?
I studied a dual bachelor in Law and Business specialising in marketing at Adelaide University. However in my final year I made the decision to study for a year in Paris. Studying at Sciences-Po was a window into the most competitive, high-paced world I had ever known, and here I specialised in luxury marketing and economics. Despite having some internship experience with Penfolds Wine, L’Oréal Luxury was my first employer once graduated.
How did you land the role at L’Oréal?
From my experience there are two ways into French companies: 1. You are head hunted from another company after many years’ experience. 2. You intern fresh out of school (often for free) and work your way from the bottom up.
My experience was the latter; I met L’Oréal Luxury at a forum at my university in Paris only several weeks before I had planned to leave the city to come back to Australia. Less than three weeks later I was interning at Giorgio Armani Cosmetics. At the end of my six-month internship I was lucky to be one of the handful of interns to be permanently hired.
I started in operational marketing developing the business plan for the distribution roll-out strategy of Giorgio Armani Beauty in the Travel Retail sector. After one and a half years in this position I moved to Ireland in a commercial role for Lancôme. Six months alone on the road selling perfumes into stores large and small was a very eye-opening experience for understanding the market and the competitors. Following this position I moved back to Paris to start in development marketing for Yves Saint Laurent make-up.
Did you have to make any sacrifices to get where you are?
Yes I have made a lot of sacrifices, but they have always been my decision. I think it’s easy to let sacrifices control you in this industry instead of you controlling the sacrifices. Of course moving far from family and friends is hard but it’s a decision that I bear for the short-term because I am passionate about what I do. The biggest sacrifice and constant balancing act is between professional and personal time. My job is far from 9-5 and I am still learning how to step back. I am literally never switched off; coming up with some of my best product concepts halfway through a yoga class is not uncommon.
What’s the best part of the job?
The most rewarding experience is the ability to change the way women think and feel about themselves. To truly believe in the product you create is unbeatable. The other day I was in the metro and saw a woman pull out of her handbag one of the products I had spent over two years developing. Watching her confidence grow in front of me made all the long hours of tiny tweaks and changes worth it 100 times over.
Is there a language barrier?
When I first moved to Paris I didn’t speak a word of French. Some basic grammar and vocabulary got me through for the first few months. I was thrown into working in French from day one and whilst it was an incredibly daunting and exhausting process, it is undoubtedly the most effective way to learn. I now work entirely in French with my team, from presentations, briefs and even writing product concepts. Even though I am now fluent I don’t feel like the same person in each language. At first this was a frustrating process but I have learnt to embrace the different ways to express myself in the two languages – whilst completely different, both are me.
Was the transition to move overseas challenging at all?
I travelled and moved around a lot, growing up in London for four years. The experience ignited a sense of adventure in me, so when I saw the opportunity to study abroad I grabbed it without further consideration. I was 20 years old when I made the jump to Paris and instantly fell in love with the city, the people and the lifestyle. The first few months were hard; I was alone, I didn’t know a soul and I didn’t speak the language. But I learnt a lot about myself and I will never regret the decision despite how difficult it was.
Do you enjoy your Parisian lifestyle?
Paris is an incredible city full of surprise. In a single moment it can be the most beautiful city with its buildings and cafes and it can also be the ugliest city, with its massive homeless issue and riots. But for me this realistic” beauty is the most beautiful. It doesn’t hide or pretend but is honest about what it is.
My quality of life is unparalleled and I love my lifestyle. The Parisians know how to enjoy the simple things such as sitting on a sun-filled café terrace in the afternoon and just watching life go by. Though waiting in line for 40 minutes in the post office to send a letter is still painful.
Where would you like your career to go from here?
Living and working in other countries and cultures from a marketing perspective still continues to inspire me. New York holds a great calling card for me as does Asia, potentially Hong Kong. However my end destination and long-term plan is most definitely Australia. I would like to remain in luxury but if I have learnt anything from my experiences it’s never say never – any door may open at any time and staying open to possibility is the most exciting option of all.