Younes L.: from Morocco to an international career in the luxury industry, via SKEMA Business School

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your studies? 

My name is Younes, I'm Franco-Moroccan and I grew up in Casablanca. After the baccalaureate, I attended a university of technology in Bayonne, in the French Basque Country, where I studied business and administration management, specialising in finance and accounting. I then joined SKEMA Business School's Grande École programme, a 4-year course on the Sophia Antipolis campus.

After a more general first year, which introduced me to several aspects of management, I did two 6-month work placements: first, as a management controller at BFM TV, then at Sodexo to deepen my knowledge of management control.

During my Master 1 at SKEMA, I was given the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. It was something I really wanted to do. I went to China, to the Suzhou campus, near Shanghai. It was an extraordinary experience and allowed me to immerse myself in a culture completely different from our own.

For my Master 2, I returned to Nice and specialised in Corporate Financial Management. In the second semester, I went over to the Belo Horizonte campus, which had just opened in Brazil. Those six months made a huge impression on me and reinforced my desire to pursue an international career.

Why did you choose SKEMA?

As a Franco-Moroccan, I've always wanted to travel and live abroad. I was particularly interested in the school because of its international dimension and its overseas campuses.

What stands out the most about your studies at SKEMA?

The first thing that stands out is the open-mindedness at all levels, whether faculty, staff or students. It's something I felt as soon as I arrived and it was very enriching.

Here's something I kept in mind during my studies at SKEMA: we're all very different, but we're all enriched by each other's differences.

There were over a hundred nationalities at the school, and during the four years I spent there I was lucky enough to meet countless different people. It really was an incredible experience.

From an academic point of view, I really appreciated the variety of study options, which gave us a huge amount of freedom in building our career path, with additional modules, masters degrees on different campuses in France and abroad... I really enjoyed this flexibility.

Another strong point is the international aspect of the school. SKEMA is constantly opening new campuses abroad. This is an incredible opportunity to spend six months, as I did, in China, Brazil or elsewhere. It's almost possible to spend most of your studies abroad!

These experiences were really valuable and helped develop my ability to adapt to new situations.

How was your transition to the working world after graduating?

SKEMA had partnerships with several companies offering final year work placements. When I got back to France from Brazil, I received some interesting offers. I was drawn to the luxury sector and saw that the school had several partnerships in place with some top luxury houses. Chanel interviewed me for a six-month work placement in the fashion division, within the finance team in Paris. This placement was a great chance for me to see how a big luxury house works, to put the knowledge I'd gained to use, and to prepare for the rest of my career.

At the end of my internship at Chanel, the company offered me a VIE (Volunteer for International Experience) contract in finance, in its fashion division. I'd always dreamed of living in New York. I wanted to explore new horizons and improve my English in a professional setting, so when this opportunity came up, I knew I had to take it.

That job was my first real work experience as a graduate. I managed the expenditure budgets for our New York boutiques.

It was extremely rewarding because it was my first time stretching so far beyond my comfort zone. It's these challenges that have allowed me to feel fulfilled in my work today.

When my VIE contract was up, I was fortunate to be offered a position at Fondation Chanel in London, a cosmopolitan city offering similar advantages to New York.

I started as a junior in finance at the foundation, and over time I worked my way up to a managerial position.

After three years at Fondation Chanel, I had the opportunity to join Chanel's Perfumes & Beauty division as Finance Manager for the UK, Canada and Ireland region, still based in London. It was an area I knew nothing about and I felt it was an opportunity to discover a new activity and take on a new challenge.

That's really what motivates me in my daily life: the desire to dive into the unknown, even if it scares me a little every time. Paradoxically, this fear keeps me motivated, dynamic, and feeling alive. It drives me to give the very best of myself.

My years at SKEMA prepared me to face the unknown and to see challenges as opportunities for growth. The skills I developed there have been essential to my success in adapting quickly to new environments and understanding what is expected of me.

Can you tell us about your experience at Fondation Chanel?

Fondation Chanel is the philanthropic foundation of the House of Chanel. Its main mission is to promote the well-being of women and girls around the world. It supports initiatives in areas like health, education and entrepreneurship. Each year, the Chanel parent company allocates a budget to the foundation which is then redistributed to NGOs working in these areas. Fondation Chanel was created a few years ago and has a well-established network worldwide.

My job was essentially to manage these funds and ensure they were used properly to maximise the impact of philanthropic activities.

Where does this desire to have a social impact come from?

I've always liked working with figures, which is why I trained in finance. But I've also always really enjoyed human contact, which is what drew me to the job of management controller. The management controller plays a central role in ensuring that financial management is correct, viable and honest, while maintaining contact with the whole organisation.

And growing up in Morocco, I was confronted with situations that weren't always easy. I was often struck by the injustice of certain situations that made no sense to me. Very early on, I told myself that if one day I could have a positive impact through my work, I would do it without hesitation.

Do you still have ties with the School?

Yes, I do. I still have ties with SKEMA, particularly through the alumni community, and I’ve attended several events organised by the school in different countries. It's a great way to expand your professional network and it can ease the transition into the working world.

With SKEMA, you feel like you're part of a global community, which is really great!

What advice would you give to students and young SKEMA graduates wanting to pursue an international career?

My first piece of advice is: get to know yourself and don't hesitate to step out of your comfort zone. That's crucial. I also advise you to seize the opportunities that present themselves, even if they seem daunting. Imposter syndrome is something that many of us experience. For me, the way to combat it was to confront my fears, to go towards what I was afraid of. My career hasn't always been easy, but difficult moments are also part of the journey. You have to learn to recognise them and overcome them. And remember that we all have the ability to bounce back and nothing is ever set in stone. 

Interview by Le petit journal for SKEMA Alumni