Capucine | Business Analyst, Shiseido

I completed my third year of undergraduate studies at Bocconi University in Milan. During this exchange year, I discovered subjects that were previously unknown to me – Management, Finance, Marketing – and I found them to be very enjoyable! I decided to pursue this path by enrolling in the Finance and Strategy Master's program.
I also had in mind that this master's program offered numerous career opportunities – from finance to marketing or consulting – and I liked the idea of not closing any doors, even while specializing.
Lastly, its reputation among professionals reassured me in this choice.

After spending a few years at LVMH, working at Parfums Givenchy and Parfums Christian Dior, I am now a Business Analyst at Shiseido, a large Japanese cosmetics group.
I am part of the Global Fragrances team, responsible for the development of licensed perfume brands such as Narciso Rodriguez, Issey Miyake, and Zadig & Voltaire.
In my role, I have three main missions: firstly, I am responsible for analyzing the performance of the brand portfolio. I dissect growth drivers by product line, distribution channels, compare these results to market trends and our main competitors, and make recommendations to inform strategic thinking.
Secondly, I actively participate in building strategic plans for the fragrance department (3-year plans, budgets, strategic presentations & business plans), which allows me to be close to the products and marketing plan while maintaining a business reality.
Finally, I assist the marketing and business development teams by conducting specific studies (market sizing, competitive analysis, etc.) and helping to manage the margins of upcoming innovations.

The Finance and Strategy Master's program has provided me with fundamental knowledge in financial analysis and corporate strategy, and I still use most of the knowledge acquired during these two years of master's study.
Furthermore, the complementary nature of the highly academic lectures and the methodological conferences allows for the practical application of knowledge through real case studies.
Most of the instructors are professionals, and the sharing of their experiences and business visions is very enriching.
Finally, the professional aspect of the master's program really prepared me to enter the workforce by providing the opportunity to take a gap year and complete several internships, organizing information sessions and company presentations, and benefiting from professional advice throughout the whole program.

Above all, don't limit yourself, listen to what you enjoy – sector, profession – and take advantage of internship opportunities to refine your preferences.