Kristina Hellmich

From private to public companies, we learned about each and every type of luxury company and in all the sectors

The HEC Paris Summer School Program on Luxury Management is a unique opportunity to learn the behind-the-scenes of the luxury world. The program begins with insightful theoretical content given by HEC Paris expert professors, and follows with an intensive week of guest speakers, who come to share the specificities of the luxury world from their experience.

At the beginning of the program, we were given a business case to be solved over the course of the two weeks. In my cohort, the case required us to develop and “sell” a brand extension strategy employing the knowledge acquired during the program. We were encouraged to compete with one another, as only a few groups had the chance to present their final solution. This immersed us into the industry setting and led us to work hands-on at all times.

I believe this business case truly enhanced our learning experience. In fact, tackling the project from the start of the program encouraged us to relate every theory learned in class to the case, and develop our solution accordingly.

A considerable part of the program included guest speakers from leading luxury companies (including the French ones). From private to public companies, we learned about each and every type of luxury company and in all the sectors, including perfume, makeup, fashion, accessories and jewellery categories. This delicate mix of theory with practical elements is a real asset of the program.

Moreover, apart from the knowledge, we had some insights about building a career in the industry and the career specificities of the industry. This course is a stepping-stone for a career in the Luxury industry.

Last but not least, I had a great time with the very diverse cohort of students, including those from other programs!