MBA Luxury Brand Management

MBA Luxury Brand Management
Class of 2016-2017

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

International New York Times Luxury Conference Day 1 - Morning Sessions

Shiraz Mehra, MBA in International Luxury Brand Management 2015-2016, India

The annual International New York Times Luxury Conference came back to luxury’s roots this year: spanning three days, the conference gave attendees the chance to mix, mingle, and learn from some of the industry’s leading figures in the opulent setting of the Trianon Palace in Versailles.

Day 1 started with beautiful opening remarks from Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, President of the INYT, who spoke movingly about the attacks on Paris last November, and of Vanessa Friedman’s concerted efforts to keep the conference in Paris. He also touched on some of the broader themes from the agenda: the concerns of unrelenting consumerism and sustainability, the need for luxury companies to embrace digital innovation, and the pulling together of the industry after tragedy. His opening remarks were followed by a touching video from Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, whose remarks echoed the theme of this year’s conference – “Values Beyond Product” – as she spoke of the special relationship between Paris and the luxury industry. “You can count on Paris”, she intoned, to stirring applause from the room.

The day moved on swiftly, first to a short introduction from Vanessa Friedman, the NYT’s Fashion Director and Chief Fashion Critic, and then to the morning’s keynote speech from Maureen Chiquet, former CEO of Chanel. Chiquet is notable for having been one of the few women in a leadership position in the luxury industry, and so it was especially valuable to hear her advice for leadership: not to ignore those qualities typically considered more “feminine”, to listen to history, your team, customers, to be curious, and to lead with empathy. “What is precious in this world is changing”, she said, and these are powerful words to consider for luxury: a reminder that flexibility and agility are valuable assets in a dynamic world.


The first panel of the day was also one of the most controversial: moderated by Roger Cohen, Bernard Kouchner, Nouriel Roubini, and Nader Mousavizadeh discussed contemporary issues outside the luxury industry and the effects within the industry. The panel was a very timely, and welcome, reminder that there is a wider world outside what sometimes seems like a luxury bubble: the panel touched on the war in Syria and the refugee crisis, the world’s failure to adequately address what is happening as a result, fears of terrorism, and the upcoming US elections, to name but a few. The discussion brought quite a few questions from the audience as well, but the take-away from the panel was clear: in a world where luxury is widely perceived to be the domain of the 1%, the members of the luxury industry cannot ignore or forget the larger context in which we survive.

After a short break, the discussions continued, first with a keynote from Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, who spoke at length about one of the fashion industry’s hottest names, Alessandro Michele, and his reinvention of the classic Gucci logo. Is the logo really over? No, said Bizzarri, and then ‘no, but –‘. Bizzarri’s speech echoed some of the things that had been said earlier in the day: logos are powerful brand symbols, and cannot be left behind or ignored. But to maintain the dream factor that is so essential for a luxury brand, reinvention is a requirement, and a brand cannot rest on its laurels and assume that what worked for ten years previously will work for another ten. The panel that followed discussed this at length: Andrew Keith of Hong Kong’s luxury multibrand powerhouse Lane Crawford and Maurice Lévy of the Publicis group joined Mr. Bizzarri for a lively discussion on the reimagining traditional motifs, how new blood invigorates heritage brands, and a short segment on the problem of designers leaving maisons after only a few years.


The final session before the lunch break was one of the more contemporary sessions of the day: Vanessa Friedman moderated a discussion with director Luca Guadagnino and Acne Studios co-owner and chairman Mikael Schiller on reimagining the aesthetic environment. Attendees were first treated to a lengthy look at a scene from Guadagnino’s upcoming A Bigger Splash. The panel that followed considered a very interesting question: can a scene or a physical space have an aesthetic so identifiable that the vision of it is enough to inspire desire? Schiller and Guadagnino came at the idea from very different perspectives - from retail spaces and the shopfloor to the silver screen – but their perspectives were similar: that in working outside the common creative capitals, they were creating their own aesthetics, and the only way to create successfully is to create with authenticity.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Field trip to Italy 2016

By Teresa Chen, MBA in International Luxury Brand Management 2015-2016, Australia/Taiwan

As part of our very busy and action-packed curriculum, we were spirited away to Italy for a week to meet Italian luxury companies in Milan and Florence, and to observe first-hand the main differences between French and Italian luxury brands. 


The first most obvious observation was the way warmth and hospitality naturally poured out of Italians; they embraced our class with their inherent friendliness and generosity. We were invited to breakfast with Ferragamo in their grand headquarters - a building of renaissance architecture that is also the home of the Ferragamo museum. Throughout the week, we also had meetings with Altagamma, Acqua di Parma, Zegna, YOOX, and Valentino; we were all instantly made to feel welcomed and a part of the family. 

Which lead to our next conclusion about Italians brands; they were all about people. They listened to their customers and they care deeply for their employees, because they know and value the importance of family, and by working for the brand or being a customer of the brand, you become a part of the family. We definitely got the family treatment when we visited the historical and magnificent Palazzo Pucci and were personally welcomed by Madame Laudomia Pucci! 

The third observation was the Italian craftsmanship, detail to attention, and style; you can't miss it from a mile. We visited the workshops of Valextra in Milan and saw with our own eyes how their leathergoods were made; from the cutting of the leather, to the gold foil embossing, to each tiny leather buttons, each part was fashioned with painstaking care and passion of the craftsman.

This trip made our class even more accurately aware of the key ingredients required for a luxury brand to succeed, and many classmates have been converted by la dolce vita and the Italian craftsmanship and am convinced to return and work in Italy in the very near future.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Meet the Students - Keli Chew from Singapore


  • What were you doing before you joined the MBA in International Luxury Brand Management program?

Before joining the program I was the Regional Marketing Manager taking care of South-East Asia for Baume-et-Mercier (Maison under Richemont). I was handling trade marketing, advertising, PR & Communications and brand management strategy for the subsidiary based in Singapore. I have 10 years of experience as a luxury marketer for different watch brands and menswear labels.     


  • Why did you decide to join the MBA?

I am passionate about luxury and wanted to gain more in-depth knowledge of the luxury industry as well as the different sectors within it. This MBA was an obvious choice due to the excellent reputation of the school and program and its strong ties with industry leaders like LVMH and L’Oreal. The diversity of nationalities was also a draw for me as I will be able to exchange and gain valuable insights of other markets. Lastly, where else better to be than at the heart of luxury?

  • What do you hope to achieve throughout the year?

The program has given me insights into the french luxury business model and a taste of the different verticals within the industry, on top of the different networking opportunities with the industry’s top companies. I look forward to learning more about the different verticals and more exchanges with my colleagues from different cultures and backgrounds. And at this moment, the opportunities to learn about luxury in Asia and the Middle East in our upcoming field trips!  

  • What are your professional goals after you finish the MBA?

Having had experiences in Asia, I hope for an international exposure in positions outside of South-East Asia. But more importantly, in a role whereby I am able to integrate my past experience with the knowledge that I have acquired from this MBA for the next phase of my career.

  • What advice would you give to someone who is applying to the program?

The only piece of advice I have is that he/she needs to have a true passion for luxury. Passion will be the fuel to go on in this intensive 1-year program specific to luxury.