Questrom School of Business recently welcomed Mathilde Delhourne-Debreu, Global Brand Officer at LVMH, for the latest Insights@Questrom Live event—a captivating conversation titled “The Art of Crafting Dreams.”
Drawing on her extensive background in consumer goods and brand management, Delhourne-Debreu shared insights into how luxury brands build emotional connections and enduring value. Before joining LVMH, she spent nearly two decades at Procter & Gamble, developing deep expertise in global marketing and brand strategy. Today, she helps guide LVMH’s many Maisons by strengthening their brand positioning, refining communication strategies, and shaping the storytelling that unites the Group.
LVMH stands as a world leader in luxury, uniting 75 iconic Maisons across six sectors: Wines & Spirits, Fashion & Leather Goods, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Watches & Jewelry, Selective Retailing, and Other Activities. Its legendary brands include Christian Dior, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, and Veuve Clicquot, to name a few.
As Global Brand Officer, Delhourne-Debreu ensures consistency and excellence across LVMH’s 75+ houses, leading the Group’s center of expertise in media, customer research, brand image, and content development.
At Questrom, she shared an inspiring presentation centered on her framework of the Four C’s – Exceptional Craft, Elated Customer, Extraordinary Creativity, and Elevated Culture. This philosophy, she explained, guides LVMH’s ability to stay modern and relevant while remaining true to each brand’s distinctive DNA. Through rich visuals and storytelling, Delhourne-Debreu illustrated how LVMH’s brands bring these values to life – revealing not only what they create, but the deeper purpose, craftsmanship, and imagination behind how they create.
She concluded her presentation with a quote from Pablo Picasso: “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Delhourne-Debreu reflected on how true innovation requires mastery of one’s craft – understanding the foundations so deeply that breaking convention becomes a meaningful act of creativity. It’s this philosophy, she noted, that fuels LVMH’s ability to continually redefine luxury and shape cultural moments around the world.
Following her remarks, Delhourne-Debreu engaged in a dynamic Q&A with students, sharing insights on brand storytelling, creative leadership, and the delicate balance between heritage and innovation that keeps LVMH at the forefront of global luxury. She also explored questions around strategic collaborations, including brand and influencer partnerships, emphasizing how thoughtful alignment and authenticity are essential to sustaining brand equity in an evolving digital landscape.
Delhourne-Debreu’s visit offered students a rare glimpse into the artistry behind the world’s most admired luxury brands – and a reminder that the essence of great leadership, like great design, lies in the balance between discipline and imagination. Her message resonated well beyond the world of fashion: to craft something timeless, one must first master the rules, then have the courage to reimagine them.
