MY JOURNEY
Candice Fernandez MARKETING DIRECTOR LA PRAIRIE GROUP IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN BEAUTY, AND HOW HAS YOUR PASSION EVOLVED?
WHAT ARE YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AS MARKETING DIRECTOR AT LA PRAIRIE?
I’ve always had a deep fascination with fashion and beauty magazines since my early years, often attempting to recreate the latest trends in hair and makeup, even though I was probably too young to be doing so. It was evident to me from a young age that I was destined for a career in marketing. When I relocated to London at the age of 20 and secured a temporary position at Estee Lauder, followed by a move to Chanel, it felt like a dream come true. Over time, my passion for the industry continued to grow, prompting me to actively seek opportunities to work with both prestige and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) beauty and personal care brands. I was driven by a desire to gain insights from both segments of the industry. Eventually, I expanded my horizons into the broader lifestyle sector, where I had the privilege of working with local businesses. Throughout my journey, I’ve had the chance to experience a diverse range of business types, varying in size and scale, which has proven to be an incredibly fulfilling and enriching experience.
I am very fortunate to work for La Prairie, a true luxury skincare house. My role is to bring to life the brand vision of La Prairie in ANZ via the products and innovation, client experiences and client events, instore experience and physical spaces, and through our media, online and digital strategies. While I host and attend beautiful events, do some travel and of course experience the beautiful products – what makes the role most fulfilling are the people. And by this, I mean the La Prairie team and also our valued clients. They are warm and passionate and genuinely love to be part of the La Prairie family.
26| RETAIL BEAUTY SUMMER 2023
HOW HAS YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE EVOLVED?
I try to stay curious for longer and help people bring their ideas to the surface by asking more questions vs giving answers and directions too quickly. I think it’s important to slow down and look for every opportunity to create more simplicity and clarity within the business. I think
