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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I grew up in a small town in India where pursuing engineering was a negotiation, as not enough women from my town had ever gone for it.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Resilience is crucial; I often joke that I have a thick skin, which has helped me navigate the challenges of being a woman in leadership.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I learned to take every opportunity with both hands and never take it for granted, especially when I was going for my MBA, which required a long journey from my hometown.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

'Lift as you climb' has become a huge mantra for me; I focus on making it easier for those who come after me in their careers.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I believe in the power of affirmation and actively seek mentors and sponsors to help me navigate my career, especially since I lacked role models in my immediate family.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Embracing failure has been important for me; I see it as a learning experience that allows me to take more risks and be more audacious in my decisions.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

To transform company culture, senior leaders must model the behaviors they want to see; they need to walk the talk consistently, with no exceptions.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Achieving gender parity in management roles at Unilever required hard work, supporting women, engaging men, and changing the culture simultaneously.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Supporting women means helping them express their ambition and confidence, as many are conditioned to doubt their capabilities from a young age.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

When Chanel approached me, I was shocked and initially resistant, but after much reflection, I realized it was an opportunity I couldn't ignore. I was compelled to join Chanel because it's the most iconic brand, followed on all Western media platforms, and has a legendary founder, Gabrielle Chanel, who created revolutionary designs for women.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

At Chanel, I experience a variety of roles, from fashion to being the world's largest fragrance maker and the second largest makeup maker, making every day a new challenge.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The luxury sector is dynamic, valued at $370 billion today, and the luxury market has tripled in the last 20 years, with Gen Z expected to make up 30% of luxury consumers by 2030.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Transitioning from a mass consumer goods company to a bespoke luxury brand required me to unlearn and relearn everything, as luxury is about creating unique, precious items that evoke desire rather than mass production.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

In my first months at Chanel, I focused on understanding the craftsmanship and stories behind our products, which helped me adapt to the luxury mindset that values rarity and artistry.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The fundamentals of business and leadership skills are transferable; I relied on my strengths from Unilever while maintaining humility to understand Chanel's unique culture before implementing changes.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I believe in holistic leadership that considers brand integrity, client satisfaction, employee happiness, and sustainability, ensuring that business and nature thrive together.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Sustainability is non-negotiable for Chanel; we aim to reduce carbon emissions and invest in circularity, creating upcycled products and promoting women's autonomy in our value chain.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The Chanel Foundation supports women and girls globally, focusing on safety, economic autonomy, and climate resilience, with projects like Radio Begum in Afghanistan providing education to girls.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I envision Chanel as a beacon of inspiration for the next 100 years, continuing Gabrielle Chanel's legacy of liberating women and making a positive impact in the world by investing in human skills and craftsmanship.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

People never remember what you said or did, but they remember how you made them feel; I always think about what I want people to feel and take away from our interactions.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I want my 11-year-old self to be proud of the leader I've become, knowing that I've tried to make a difference and uplift others while breaking every norm that exists.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

In luxury, you never look at competition; you're creating a work of art that people dream and yearn for, focusing on long-term brand strength rather than quarterly results.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Chanel is committed to a long-term perspective, continuing to invest in China and other emerging markets, believing in their growth potential despite short-term fluctuations.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

AI is transformative, and while luxury must engage with it, my focus is on ensuring that AI supports human creators and maintains the integrity of our craftsmanship.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I believe in integrating a humanistic approach in AI, ensuring that our creators have the freedom to do their best work while maintaining our ethical standards.

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Leena Nair

10/25/24

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

We are getting our organization AI-ready by establishing the necessary infrastructure and data governance, while experimenting with productivity tools like chatbots.

Leena Nair, Global CEO, Chanel

Takeaways