Building a thriving career in the luxury industry.
๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐
๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐
- How Are You Growing Your "Mountain of Values"?
In the luxury industry, where exclusivity, quality, and prestige are expected, holistic personal branding is THE most important asset one should prioritise and craft intentionallyโI call it the "Mountain of Values." Personal branding includes everything from mindset and etiquette to appearance and style, from in-person communication to online presence.
When I refer to someone who inspires me with their personal branding, I often share the story of my mentor, Christina Abbott. Christina is a true expert in luxury clientele and has earned the loyalty of clients worldwide, from celebrities to royal families. She is a visionary leader who pioneered the first global Private Client function in the luxury industry for Burberry. I had the honour of working with her to build the function for APAC markets in 2010, and she has been a mentor ever since. Here is a sneak peek of how she inspires:
โค๏ธ Christina exemplifies a true luxury mindset: Christina prioritises caring for her "internal clients" - people who work with and for her. One example is Christina always ensuring that we get into taxis before her whenever we are out for event hosting or meetings. She holds the highest standard of professionalism and treats everyone with equal respect regardless of one's title or seniority. Even when I started to work with her, she respected my perspective and would ask if it was okay to give her opinion. When taking care of the "external clients", Christina is thorough and discreet. She consistently exhibits good manners, and seeing her in action is a joy.
โค๏ธ Christina always presents impeccable style and elegance. She likes her black or white blazersโthey can be styled up with chic leather pants or a well-shaped pencil skirt or dressed down with vintage jeans. Her nails are always meticulously done in her favourite beige or burgundy red. Christina recommends focusing on quality rather than the brand name and looking for the best quality pieces within one's budget. She taught me how to build a wardrobe with the core essentials and add pieces that gradually define my personality.
โค๏ธ Christina is a clienteling expert who lives and breathes her value: Whenever we were in London for a business trip, she always prepared a lovely welcome note with a small gesture in our hotel rooms. When she conducted my induction, she brought me to the Botanic Garden in London to experience quintessentially British traditions. She remembers her clients' birthdays and the things that matter to each of them. One of her favourite lines is " Service over sales; service comes first, and sales will follow." Christina has her "little black book" of the "must go" places and will get us a table where we otherwise have to wait for months. She taught me how to build a client profile from scratch and make the effort to grow it over time.
