#11 – Helen Zhou "You don’t need to pretend to be somebody else"

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]”.

Om Podcasten

Il y a des moments dans une carrière où tout change. Des moments qui marquent un avant et un après. Et qui resteront gravés.  Tips to the top vous emmène à la rencontre de 12 femmes du groupe LVMH. Des femmes aux parcours inspirants, aux métiers très divers, parfois inattendus.  Elles sont Directrice des Ateliers Louis Vuitton, Cheffe Pâtissière adjointe à la Grande Épicerie de Paris, Ambassadrice Métiers d’Art, Directrice internationale e-commerce chez Christian Dior Couture, ou encore Directrice de Production des Eaux-de-vie chez Hennessy. L’une s’est dépassée pour ouvrir la première boutique de sa marque au Japon, l’autre a appris qu’elle pouvait être manager grâce à une expérience formatrice au Koweït. La troisième s’est tout simplement autorisée à réfléchir à ce qu’elle voulait vraiment. Des quatre coins du monde, elles racontent ce jour qui a tout changé. Elles partagent leur vécu, leur trajectoire, leurs réussites, leurs doutes aussi.  Des histoires qui résonnent comme autant d’expériences personnelles et professionnelles où passion rime avec ambition. --- There are times in a career when everything changes. Turning points after which nothing will be the same. These moments remain carved in our memories. The podcast series Tips to the Top meets with 12 women from the LVMH group. They are women with inspiring life stories – with diverse and sometimes unexpected career paths.  They are Leather Goods Manufacturing Director at Louis Vuitton, Deputy Pastry Chef for the Grande Epicerie de Paris, Métiers d'Art Ambassador, International E-Commerce Director at Chrisitan Dior Couture or Director of Spirit Production at Hennessy. One surpassed her limits and opened a flagship store for her brand in Japan, another learned she could become a manager thanks to a formative experience in Kuwait. A third quite simply admitted to herself what she really wanted. From all over the world, they tell about the day that changed their lives. They all share their experiences, journeys, successes, and even their doubts.  These are personal and professional stories where passion and ambition go hand in hand.