What business school won’t teach you about luxury. How do you work in luxury fashion? This is inside LVMH's playbook.
This week, I'm joined by Pauline Brown, former Chairwoman of LVMH North America, Harvard Business School professor, and author of Aesthetic Intelligence. Pauline shares the lessons she learned leading some of the world's most iconic luxury brands. We cover a lot, from why climbing the corporate ladder doesn't always bring more freedom, to the mistake most people make when planning their careers, and why she believes taste will become one of the most valuable skills in the future of work. We also dive into what luxury brands understand about consumer psychology, how Dior and Chanel think differently from startups, what it really takes to break into companies like LVMH, and why Pauline convinced Harvard Business School to create a course on The Business of Aesthetics. Whether you're building a brand, growing your career, or simply trying to develop better taste, this episode is packed with frameworks you'll think about long after listening.
In this episode, we cover:
- Navigating a career pivot
- How she transitioned from consulting to fashion and beauty
- The biggest career mistakes young professionals make
- Why taste matters more in the age of AI
- How to stand out when applying to luxury brands
- The psychology behind iconic brands like Dior and Chanel
- Why attention doesn't always lead to sales
- Three questions to ask before starting your own company
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Follow Pauline Brown:
IG: @paulinegarrisbrown
Book HERE
Brunello: The Gracious Visionary
Watch the documentary film HERE
IG: @brunelloilvisionariogarbato
Thank you to this episodes's sponsor Blue Fox Entertainment!
Thanks for listening!