Building a Global Luxury Career: Charlotte Berlioz on the MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing
Charlotte Berlioz
Charlotte Berlioz, alumna of the MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing (class of 2014) at emlyon business school and today Customer Experience Manager at Diptyque, knows what it takes to build a career in luxury. Her journey shows how this MSc combines academic depth, practical experience and international exposure to prepare students for the competitive world of luxury brands.
A Programme Designed for Luxury Career Builders
The MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing is an 18month programme taught in English that prepares students to excel in the global luxury industry. Students begin with foundational courses in Paris, gaining a deep understanding of how luxury brands create and maintain value. The curriculum then allows students to build on this foundation with specialised learning experiences in strategic international hubs: London, New York or Rome, each offering a different industry focus from fashion and lifestyle to design and luxury business. Graduates leave equipped to work across sectors such as jewelry, haute couture, retail and luxury services, with a prestigious professional network and strong employer visibility.
This international design reflects the fact that luxury is inherently global: understanding how culture, consumer behaviour and market dynamics vary across regions is essential. emlyon also supports professional development with conferences, workshops and direct interaction with leading brands.
A Learning Experience That Goes Beyond the Classroom
Charlotte’s experience illustrates how the MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing blends academic rigour with real‑world relevance. She recalls:
“I really enjoyed being part of the MSc LMM programme. The course content was very rich and covered a wide range of topics across the luxury industry, delivered by highly skilled professors who were experts in their respective fields.”
What makes the programme distinct is its commitment to applied learning. Students work on group projects that mirror actual industry challenges. This isn’t theory for theory’s sake : it’s learning that prepares you for decisions you’ll make as a professional.
Core strengths of the programme include:
- A curriculum that balances luxury strategy, brand management, retail operations and digital marketing (reflecting key industry competencies)
- Hands‑on projects with real deliverables and regular feedback
- A cohort of diverse students, fostering international perspectives and peer learning
Charlotte highlights the value of this environment: “I also really valued the small class size only 30 students representing 14 different nationalities which made the experience culturally enriching and allowed us to exchange diverse perspectives on the luxury industry.”
Meaningful Industry Experience with Cartier
One of the most formative experiences for Charlotte was her in‑company project with Cartier:
“We worked on a market study focused on men’s watches, comparing Cartier with its main competitors. We met with the Marketing Director and Sales Director of Cartier China and conducted field research by visiting 40 boutiques across three different cities. We then presented strategic recommendations to help Cartier strengthen its competitive positioning.”
This project went beyond simulation ! Charlotte and her team worked on a concrete assignment for a global luxury house. The experience gave her deep insights into consumer behavior in an important market and taught her how to translate research into strategic recommendations. As she says, “knowing that our work could be used by the company made the experience even more meaningful.”
A Supportive Community and Lifelong Network
The MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing is also about building relationships. Charlotte describes the cohort as a close community:
“Because we were a small group moving across countries together, it quickly felt like a family. We spent time together outside of class, built friendships, and developed good connections with our professors.”
This sense of connection extends into graduates’ careers through emlyon’s alumni network, which plays a key role in professional development. Charlotte explains:
“Through alumni connections, I was able to access job opportunities and expand my professional network. The strong ranking and reputation of emlyon are also highly valued by employers, particularly in France.”
emlyon also gives access to an exclusive alumni club dedicated to the luxury industry and regularly organizes events that support career growth and visibility among employers worldwide.
From First Internships to Leadership Roles
For Charlotte, the impact of the MSc LMM is evident in how it jump‑started her career:
“The MSc LMM was a real career booster. It enabled me to secure my first internships in the luxury industry at Christian Dior and Van Cleef & Arpels—highly competitive opportunities that are not easy to access. Having a specialised master’s degree from a renowned school played a key role in opening these doors and gave me the credibility needed at the start of my career.”
She went on to work at Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney and Guerlain, and today manages customer experience at Diptyque. Her path shows that early professional credibility, strengthened by programme experience and network, can set the trajectory for long‑term success.
Charlotte also underscores the reality of the luxury job market: persistence and resilience are indispensable, especially at the beginning of your career.
What makes the MSc LMM Worth It?
For students considering the luxury industry, Charlotte’s advice is pragmatic:
“If you are aiming for a career in luxury, a specialised master’s such as the MSc LMM is a real advantage… The quality of the programme, combined with its humansized classroom and international diversity, also allows you to build strong relationships and gain valuable cultural exposure.”
In a sector where competition is fierce and expectations are high, this blend of practical expertise, international insight and network advantage gives graduates a meaningful edge.
Curious how the MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing can shape your professional path?
Discover the programme details and how it prepares you for a global career in luxury.