Anne-Sophie Casellas (SKEMA 2011), Ambassador of the Bordeaux Chapter

Could you tell us a little about your journey since graduating from SKEMA Business School and what motivated you to become an ambassador of the SKEMA Alumni Bordeaux Chapter?

After graduating, I wanted to gain some sales experience in the field first, to get a behind-the-scenes look at the perfume industry. I was Area Manager for Bourjois (formerly part of Chanel) in the Île-de-France region, and then in the South-West. I then wanted to gain a broader view of sales negotiations and the management of major retail and web accounts, which led me to join Polaar in Paris. Since April 2023, I've been Senior Business Developer at Omum in Pessac (Bordeaux), where I develop the brand's retail and e-commerce distribution in France and abroad, across channels including perfumeries, beauty salons, department stores, organic/health food stores and pharmacies.

As ambassador, how do you plan to bring energy and life to the Bordeaux chapter? Can you share any ideas for initiatives or for events you’d like to run?

First and foremost, I want to make the alumni aware of the chapter's existence, so that they can contribute to its development. I do this by monitoring LinkedIn and contacting alumni in the region to invite them to join our Facebook and LinkedIn groups. I've also set up a WhatsApp group that is growing steadily. After surveying the alumni to find out their expectations, I plan to organise two or three after-work events a year. I'd also like to develop other event formats, like visits to factories or places of interest.

What message would you like to send to our alumni to encourage them to join and become actively involved in the SKEMA Alumni Bordeaux Chapter?

Above all, I want to tell them not to be afraid to come along, even if they don't know anyone! The atmosphere is always very friendly, everyone shares ideas and no one is left out.