The Start of Something New: My Journey into Global Luxury Management

Bonjour tout le monde! The school year has officially begun for me, and I'm excited to share the experience with you. On Monday, October 1st, I had my first day of orientation at the Sup de Luxe campus in La Villette, Paris. I met my classmates who are entering the second year of the Global Luxury Management MSc program (where I am starting since I have a master's degree). It felt surreal—this moment I had imagined for so long was finally here. I couldn't help but reflect on the journey that led me here, all the way back to the United States, approximately two years ago, where I began asking myself the question: If money were no issue, what would I truly want to do?

At the time, it was difficult to answer. I had such a narrow perspective, worrying about retirement funds and health insurance—who would cover that if I didn't have a "proper job"? Isn't money always an issue in America? It took me a couple of months to allow myself the freedom to think beyond those concerns and really consider what would bring me joy.

As I peeled back the layers and thought deeply about my true desires beyond the obvious—good health and financial security—I began to ask myself: What would genuinely bring me happiness? What have I always wanted to do but never had the time or space to explore? I found myself returning to childhood memories, to passions I'd set aside for practicality.
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I remembered my fascination with Paris from my 30th birthday trip here. Even earlier, I used to watch episodes of CNN's Runway and dream of the life Brenda from Beverly Hills 90210 had when she went to Paris for an internship, or maybe just because she was wealthy and wanted to have fun. I also recalled a particularly tough time in my career when soapmaking became my creative and analytical outlet. It wasn't just a hobby but a way to channel my frustration into something beautiful. I loved thinking through the process—how a batch of soap would look, smell, and feel—and the chemistry behind mixing oils and fragrances to create a luxurious product.

Then, I had a part-time job at a contemporary furniture store in Walnut Creek, California. I took that job simply because I wanted to be surrounded by beautiful things. I especially loved the holiday season when I wrapped gifts, making sure that no matter how much someone spent, they went home with a beautifully wrapped present, a touch of luxury.

These moments reminded me of what truly excites me: creativity, beauty, and luxury. That's when I knew—I wanted to be fluent in French, and what better way to achieve that than moving to Paris and immersing myself in the culture? Perhaps even restarting my soapmaking business. But how? Uprooting my life meant I needed a solid plan.

I started researching programs to learn French and explore fields that would genuinely make me happy. These programs gave me new insights into industries I hadn't yet worked in, but one thing I knew for sure—I didn't want to return to healthcare or public health. As I refined my research, I kept thinking about my love for Parisian shopping. Wouldn't it be incredible to be a part of the luxury industry, specifically luxury fashion, which had brought me so much joy as a client?

Fast-forward to today. Stepping onto my chosen school's campus felt like a dream come true. The campus is relatively small and modern, with several other schools housed in the same building. It's more of a management school setup, different from the sprawling university campuses we might think of in the U.S. But despite its size, it felt right.

During orientation, we filled out the necessary forms, and I received my student ID, which I'm quite excited about because now I can take advantage of the student discounts in Paris! We went over academic policies and expectations of professionalism. One thing that stood out to me was the strict policy on timeliness—if you're more than five minutes late, you're not allowed in the classroom. That's definitely a cultural adjustment for me. In the U.S., especially in a master's program, it's understood that life happens—whether it's work, kids, or other priorities. But here, the system feels a bit more traditional, almost as if students abused the privilege of flexibility in the past. It'll be an interesting adjustment, for sure.

As for the class schedule, it seems manageable—around three to four days a week with time to work in groups or even for a company. Some students in the program work as their companies cover their tuition. There are also some exciting aspects this year, like a field trip to Milan, a business case competition, and the chance to put together a business plan for either a new luxury product or a relaunch of an existing one. It's all hands-on learning, which I love. This case-study method reminds me of my previous graduate studies at Columbia, where we used real-world scenarios to learn. Harvard pioneered this method, and I'm grateful to have experienced it before—I'll certainly be drawing on those lessons in this program.

We also met the student coordinators and the director, and I was thrilled to learn that we can take French lessons through a partnership with the Sorbonne. Knowing that the Sorbonne is one of the world's leading institutions gives me confidence that my French skills will skyrocket if I apply myself.

Finally, the dress code is one of the most exciting aspects of the program. Every day, we're expected to dress as if we were working in the luxury industry. This will be a shift for me, as I usually prefer sneakers while walking around Paris. It could be more appealing to wear delicate shoes and outfits, only for someone to accidentally step on them or scuff my jacket on the metro. But I'm sure this will feel normal after a few months—just like when I used to dress up every day in New York.
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Stay tuned for an upcoming post, where I'll dive into my experience with Saint Laurent and how power dressing can elevate your wardrobe, Parisian style.

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