From Cartier to Author: Lessons in Leadership from Stanislas de Quercize

On the 15th of December 2023, I took one of my very first calls as a PR Consultant. My nerves were sky-high. I was trying desperately to memorise every intricate detail I needed to present.

What if the client didn’t turn up? What if I couldn’t answer his questions? What if he could hear how nervous I was and think I wasn’t ready for this? This wasn’t just any client. This was Stanislas de Quercize, board member at Christian Louboutin, and former President and CEO of Cartier.

When Stanislas joined the call, he greeted me with a warm, generous smile, and just like that, my worries melted away. He was sitting in a bustling Parisian café — noisy, charming, postcard-like.

Despite the background hum, he listened with patience and genuine curiosity, even stepping outside mid-call just to hear me better. I fumbled my pitch. I rushed through the details. But he never made me feel less than capable.

At the end of the call, Stanislas declined the offer — but for a reason I’ve never forgotten. He explained that his mission was now focused on philanthropy — on helping people and dedicating himself to causes that mattered deeply to him. That call marked a turning point in my career.

Not just because it was one of my first, or because of who he was, but because of how he made me feel — respected, listened to, and encouraged, even though I was clearly still finding my feet. Since then, we’ve exchanged the occasional Happy New Year message or note of congratulations.

But today marks something truly special. Stanislas has achieved a lifelong goal: becoming an author. His new book, Emparadiser la vie, is the pinnacle of a career defined by purpose and people. One of his guiding beliefs resonates with me today: "Quand on est leader, il est plus important de servir les autres que de se servir" ("When you're a leader, it's more important to serve others than to serve yourself.")

These days, Stanislas has traded the luxury spotlight for more meaningful moments — sharing insights from his new book in an intimate gathering of 100 guests at the Société de la Culture in Geneva.

I’m honoured to have had even the briefest of professional encounters with Stanislas, and I continue to follow his journey with admiration and gratitude. Congratulations, Stanislas — for caring, inspiring, and staying true to what matters most. And thank you for giving me a memory that will forever ground my journey in PR.

You can follow Stanislas’ journey here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislasdequercize/