The global licensing community is powered by an incredible group of professionals whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. We profile one of these professionals each week, and in this special edition of the People Profile series we are introducing one of the 2024 Rising Stars Award recipients to shine a spotlight on their success.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find you)?
From my earliest internships, I worked in the cultural and publishing sectors as I have a strong personal interest in comic books. That’s how I discovered the world of licensing. I worked for a few years on partworks and cultural products at Hachette Collections—this early experience with publishing and product management gave me a strong foundation and ignited my passion for cultural licensing. That’s how I ended up working as a marketing manager for Asterix, the best-selling European comic book in the world, and then for Le Petit Prince, a cult French tale that has been spreading a message of hope, love, and friendship around the world for over 80 years. These are characters that have always made me dream, ever since I was a child, and today I’m extending the story with licensing and making them even better known!

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
I think just about everyone in this business would agree that no two days are alike! On my side, I’m creating new designs to extend our style guide, going out to meet our licensees and agents, inaugurating a new exhibition, attending a trade show, seeking out potential licensees for new collaborations, and preparing press releases in close collaboration with our press agency. It’s impossible to explain what a “typical” day is like, because it doesn’t exist for me! That’s what’s so great about this job, the fact that you never get bored, but also that you never fall into a rut—you’re constantly in touch with the market, consumer expectations, and trends.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
Being a major player in the launch of the new Asterix album (two million copies) in France in 2021 has been incredibly stimulating, challenging, and formative. It was a unique experience to be at the heart of the Hachette group’s main annual editorial operation and has given me many keys to growth for heritage brands like Le Petit Prince.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
The shift toward digital engagement and the rise of platforms like TikTok have changed how brands connect with audiences. This requires a real watch to keep abreast of trends and offer things that are perfectly adapted to the target. Licensing has evolved to require a more direct, digital-first approach to stay relevant and capture the attention of a younger generation.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
Finding fresh ways to engage audiences and ensure Le Petit Prince’s message resonates across cultures keeps me on my toes. Balancing brand authenticity with local appeal in diverse markets is an ongoing challenge, but it’s also what makes this work so rewarding. I’m constantly trying to adapt it here and there to suit each market or target as closely as possible.

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
Adaptability is essential! Every market has unique challenges and opportunities, and being able to customize strategies is key to maintaining relevance and fostering growth. Adaptability is essential if we are to continue growing, entering new territories, and winning over new customers.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
It’s very important to listen to the market, which is constantly evolving, in order to adapt, follow trends, and renew ourselves. In addition to this, look at what other IPs are doing, even the ones which don’t necessarily have the same positioning, because benchmarks and store checks are often invaluable for learning about market trends and inspire ideas of new collaborations. To sum up, don’t hesitate to think outside the box and develop new style guides where the brand isn’t necessarily expected.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time? (It doesn’t have to be one that was signed by you.)
Talking about Le Petit Prince, I’d like to say that my favorite licensing deal will always be the next one! That’s what motivates me to keep looking for better and higher! 2024 was a pretty incredible year in terms of deals for Le Petit Prince but the most unexpected and exceptional, with very high expectations and innovative products, was our collaboration with Pop Mart! It featured a dozen figurines in blind boxes that flooded the world, with people lining up in front of the stores.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
Without a doubt, something to do with my two passions—drawing comic books or making music.

The last licensed product I bought was…
A plush of the Phryge, the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, for my baby girl. She loves it!

What does it mean to you to be named a Rising Star?
It’s incredible and quite unexpected! I’m very happy to have this honor and to join my fellow Global Rising Stars. It’s really motivating and makes me want to keep giving my all in this industry, finding innovative ways to grow the brand I work for. And it also makes me want to keep developing my network, meet even more people and keep learning about licensing!

The Rising Star Awards recognize the next generation of leaders around the world for their commitment, passion, and contributions to their company and the licensing industry. This year’s Rising Stars will be recognized and celebrated at the Hall of Fame Gala Luncheon in New York City on December 4th, 2024.