Helen Zhou was born in Shanghai, where she was raised by her grandmother. She graduated from the Sun Yat-sen University in English and Business and started her career at a beauty brand in Guangzhou. She is now General manager of Guerlain, China.
In 2013, she applied to Sephora, her first job within the LVMH Group. She had to be interviewed by the Group's President for China. To her great surprise, when she opened the door, the President turned out to be a woman, Anne-Véronique Bruel.
Anne-Véronique, who is now CEO of FRESH, asked her to sit down not in front of her, but beside her: "And this has completely changed the relationship, because sitting on the opposite side as I used to do to report to my line manager, it gives some kind of hierarchy." Helen remembers.
This particular moment made her realize that women can reach the highest positions, while remaining true and authentic: "Being a female leader doesn’t request being a copycat of other leaders”.
Since then, Helen has completely changed her way of being a manager, she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings to her team, to talk about her own difficulties. Finally, Helen realized that « [she can be true to who [she is]”.
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Helen Zhou was born in Shanghai, where she was raised by her grandmother. She graduated from the Sun Yat-sen University in English and Business and started her career at a beauty brand in Guangzhou. She is now General manager of Guerlain, China.
In 2013, she applied to Sephora, her first job within the LVMH Group. She had to be interviewed by the Group's President for China. To her great surprise, when she opened the door, the President turned out to be a woman, Anne-Véronique Bruel.
Anne-Véronique, who is now CEO of FRESH, asked her to sit down not in front of her, but beside her: "And this has completely changed the relationship, because sitting on the opposite side as I used to do to report to my line manager, it gives some kind of hierarchy." Helen remembers.
This particular moment made her realize that women can reach the highest positions, while remaining true and authentic: "Being a female leader doesn’t request being a copycat of other leaders”.
Since then, Helen has completely changed her way of being a manager, she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings to her team, to talk about her own difficulties. Finally, Helen realized that « [she can be true to who [she is]”.
#1 - Charlotte Toubeau "Je me suis sentie capable"
Confidences particulières
6 minutes 49 seconds
5 years ago
#1 - Charlotte Toubeau "Je me suis sentie capable"
Charlotte Toubeau est Cheffe Patissière adjointe à la Grande Epicérie de Paris. Elle gère au quotidien une équipe de 25 personnes.
Avant d'en arriver là, elle a fait des études de droit et de compta-gestion, a tout repris de zéro, passé son CAP et a gravi les échelons à Lyon, puis à Paris.
Quand Charlotte commence ce métier il y a une quinzaine d’années, il y a très peu de femmes. Cinq ans plus tard, le métier commence à se féminiser. Pour autant, les gros postes ne sont pas pour les femmes.
Un jour, en 2013, elle voit une annonce pour un poste de management au Koweit. Elle postule, comme on jette une bouteille à la mer. Et à sa grande surprise, elle est prise. La voilà qui débarque à 27 ans pour prendre la tête d’une équipe exclusivement masculine. En quinze secondes, le déclic se fait dans sa tête : « Si on t’a mis à ce poste, c’est que tu en as les capacités ».
Aujourd'hui, de retour en France, elle revient sur son expérience et nous raconte comment cette étape lui a permis de gagner en confiance, d'évoluer à des postes à responsabilité et d'affirmer ses méthodes de travail et de management.
Confidences particulières
Helen Zhou was born in Shanghai, where she was raised by her grandmother. She graduated from the Sun Yat-sen University in English and Business and started her career at a beauty brand in Guangzhou. She is now General manager of Guerlain, China.
In 2013, she applied to Sephora, her first job within the LVMH Group. She had to be interviewed by the Group's President for China. To her great surprise, when she opened the door, the President turned out to be a woman, Anne-Véronique Bruel.
Anne-Véronique, who is now CEO of FRESH, asked her to sit down not in front of her, but beside her: "And this has completely changed the relationship, because sitting on the opposite side as I used to do to report to my line manager, it gives some kind of hierarchy." Helen remembers.
This particular moment made her realize that women can reach the highest positions, while remaining true and authentic: "Being a female leader doesn’t request being a copycat of other leaders”.
Since then, Helen has completely changed her way of being a manager, she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings to her team, to talk about her own difficulties. Finally, Helen realized that « [she can be true to who [she is]”.
