A 360° View of Product: Insights from Louis Vuitton′s HORIZONS Graduates
A 360° View of Product: Insights from Louis Vuitton's HORIZONS Graduates
Louis Vuitton invests in nurturing future leaders through the HORIZONS Product program, a tailored, rotational experience designed for recent graduates.
Over 18-24 months, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the product lifecycle, initial product briefing and conceptualization to the final client experience—covering areas such as Marketing, Merchandising, Retail, and Digital. Mentored by seasoned experts, they rotate through various teams, culminating in a position of increased responsibility. Meet Yuqi and Riccardo, two HORIZONS Product graduates, as they share their unique journeys and insights into this dynamic program.
Yuqi is a graduate on the HORIZONS Product program, currently on a rotation in Paris.
Thank you for being here, Yuqi. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your career journey so far?
My name is Yuqi, and I’m originally from China. My background is quite diverse — I earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics and statistics in the UK, but I have always had a keen interest in fashion. As a child, I was a professional dancer and I’ve always been fascinated by costumes and design. Although I initially focused on economics during my early years, I eventually decided to pursue my true passion, which brought me to Paris for a master’s in international fashion and luxury management. That journey led me to Louis Vuitton and the HORIZONS program.
What motivated you to apply to the HORIZONS Product program?
I was browsing on Louis Vuitton’s careers website and came across the program. I was immediately drawn to it for many reasons. It highlighted an inclusive and accessible framework for individuals from all backgrounds, providing a unique pathway to gain experience. The strong emphasis on product knowledge, client experience, and the chance to rotate through different departments motivated me to apply immediately.
How are you finding your initial rotation in retail?
I started my retail rotation at the Louis Vuitton store in Galeries Lafayette in September and I’m really enjoying the experience. It’s fascinating to learn from the visual merchandisers and floor managers while observing client behavior; it’s such a dynamic environment. What’s been especially rewarding is using my language skills—Chinese, Japanese, English, and French—to ensure international clients have an exceptional in-store experience. Assisting with translations and helping clients find the products they’re looking for has been a valuable learning experience and a great opportunity to improve my French.
What has been your most memorable moment in the program so far?
Visiting the Ateliers d’Asnières during the Onboarding Week and seeing where it all started for Louis Vuitton was unforgettable. This whole week exceeded my expectations, with visits to various ateliers and the Maison de Famille — it felt like a dream come true. The meticulous craftsmanship behind each product is remarkable and witnessing it firsthand was a privilege.
Like your fellow graduates from the Onboarding Week, your program rotations are tailored to your interests. Could you tell us how this personalization process works?
The HR team at Louis Vuitton has been exceptional. They provide a range of options after carefully listening to our preferences. I was fortunate to receive my first choice—women’s leather goods. The teams encourage open communication and make every effort to accommodate individual interests.
How do you see your career evolving once you complete the HORIZONS Product program?
Since I’m still at the beginning of the program and have more rotations ahead of me, I can’t yet determine what my next steps will be. Each day, I’m gaining a deeper understanding of the business and discovering new aspects and interests. Regardless of the role I take on after the program, my primary focus will be on improving product development based on client feedback and needs—client satisfaction is my ultimate goal.
If you could describe the HORIZONS Product program in one word, what would it be?
Self-exploration. The program gives you the opportunity to discover new aspects of the job and yourself. It has pushed me into roles I hadn't yet had the chance to experience, like Retail and Merchandising, and I know I will learn so much from each one. It’s a unique journey of discovery and an unparalleled career boost; I feel very fortunate to be part of it.
What advice would you give to someone considering the HORIZONS Product program?
Stay curious and open to new experiences. Don’t be afraid to apply, even if you don’t have a background in luxury. The HORIZONS Product program is a unique opportunity to explore this dynamic international business — it’s open to anyone who is eager to learn and grow. Take full advantage of this opportunity and embrace the feedback you receive—it’s all part of the learning process.
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Riccardo is a graduate on the HORIZONS Product program, currently on a rotation in Madrid.
Hello Riccardo, thank you for joining us today. Could you introduce yourself and share how you came to join the HORIZONS Product program?
Thank you for having me. My name is Riccardo, I am originally from a small town in the center of Italy and studied International Management in Milan. To be honest, it was not initially in my plans to come to France, but when I found out about the HORIZONS program through my university I thought it was an amazing opportunity.
What was it about HORIZONS Product that caught your attention?
I am really interested in understanding the world of product from different perspectives. In my eyes, luxury offers clients a way to express themselves, but is also an opportunity to create an emotional connection with a Maison that you have shared values with. The rotational structure of the program affords us graduates the possibility to understand how the whole world of product works: from what clients want in retail, to how collections are created with merchandising and design teams, then developed and produced before being adapted to different global markets. Usually graduate programs have a rigid structure, so I was not expecting such a unique and personalized path. With HORIZONS, the HR teams match your interests with your rotations.
What has your HORIZONS Product experience been like so far?
We started with the Onboarding Week which was amazing. It was a unique opportunity to meet experts from various fields: design, materials, merchandising, production, logistics, retail. Starting like this, we were able to start building a general understanding of how the Maison works. We met some of the Maison’s leaders and asked them questions directly: this is not something I expected to be able to do, it was super valuable to hear about their experiences.
Meeting so many other amazing graduates has been great, networking is a big advantage of the HORIZONS global community. All 30 from the Onboarding Week are still in touch, we share our experiences of the rotations and learn from each other. For example, one of my colleagues following HORIZONS Retail told me that when we are in the store, that is when we can really understand what the client is looking for and take this information back when we work in Merchandising.
You are currently completing your first HORIZONS rotation in Retail, how are you finding the experience?
Yes, we have started our 7-week rotation in Retail. Two of the HORIZONS Product graduates are in Paris, one is in Amsterdam and I am in Madrid. I have learnt so much about how the store works as a business, things that you don’t necessarily see from the outside: how targets are set, stock management, operations. I also learnt about the selling ceremony. How important it is to stay calm in a busy store environment and provide a luxury experience to each client, regardless of how busy it may be. After shadowing and supporting other Client Advisors and Managers, I have started to develop my autonomy and make some independent sales. I told my colleagues here that I am enjoying it so much I don’t want to leave. The energy you can feel in the store is something… I don’t know how to explain it. The team is amazing and developing relationships with clients brings a dimension that I haven’t experienced before.
Which Métier will you be discovering next?
My second rotation will be in Manufacturing at Asnières and Vendée workshops, before moving into the longer rotations with Product Management & Merchandising teams. Firstly with Collection Merchandising, so really in direct relationship with designers – I will be joining the Men’s Shoes teams for 9 months. Then, I will be joining the Women’s Leather Goods teams in Retail Merchandising: this is where I will learn how the collections are commercialized and launched across different global markets. I am looking forwards to experiencing both and seeing how they complement each other.
It sounds like there is an exciting journey ahead, discovering many different Métiers.
Exactly, yes. Before joining, I thought that it might be a little challenging to navigate the fashion world, but everybody I have interacted with so far at Louis Vuitton has been super welcoming, helpful and transparent. To those thinking of applying, I would say that there is nothing to be afraid of: just be curious. Everyone here is happy to help you, to listen to your questions. That’s what I hope to do for future HORIZONS graduates as well.
Overall, how would you summarize your experience of HORIZONS Product so far?
A graduate from the first edition of HORIZONS Product shared something with me that has stuck in my mind. I asked him the same question, ‘how is the program going so far?’ and he said, ‘it couldn’t be any better’. I totally agree with him.