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Taking your career international with Kristina Likhovid (BCom ’03)

Hand rotating globe in a modern workspace with office items.

Taking the leap from Canada to the international stage can be daunting — especially for recent graduates. For industries such as luxury goods and cosmetics, many alumni, including Kristina Likhovid (BCom ’03), turn to the European market to launch their careers.  

From finance to strategy 

Kristina completed her bachelor’s in finance at the Telfer School of Management and had a chance to experience life abroad through her exchange at NEOMA Business School in Reims (France). After graduation, she dove into the luxury cosmetics industry, with finance internships at L’Oreal Luxe in Paris and Moscow.  

Kristina realized early in her career that while it’s good to develop skills in finance, it’s also important to understand the other business functions that interact with it: marketing, retail and strategy. This point was driven home when she became finance manager at Guerlain, a subsidiary of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) group. Later, Kristina utilized this knowledge in her work at Estee Lauder Companies, supporting the senior leadership team in defining and executing Canadian strategy.  

With a solid foundation in finance and business strategy from Telfer and her international work experience, Kristina decided to pursue an MBA at Bocconi University in Milan (Italy). During her program, she went on an international exchange to the China Europe International Business School, where the curriculum emphasized the Asian market. She says, “High-paced digital innovation is something that I was not exposed to as much before. Being in very mature markets previously, such as Canada, U.S., France and Italy, didn’t allow (her to observe) the same speed of adaptation of new tech.” 

After her MBA, Kristina intended to return to the luxury and beauty industry, but life had other plans. She received a job offer from Nike Europe in Amsterdam and decided to take a leap into the apparel and sportswear industries. Kristina says, “This was a completely different animal from the other experiences I had.” 

Her passion for the luxury beauty industry took her back to Paris, where she joined the team of the global CFO at Sephora, alumnus Arnaud Sabadie (MBA ’03), returning to LVMH. From there, she moved to Dubai with a partner organization, the family-run Chalhoub Group, leading business intelligence and strategic projects focused on the Middle East and global outlook. Working in Dubai exposed her to new cultures and an ever-changing market. 

Kristina standing with a hand on a railing.For the past year, Kristina has been working independently as a luxury consultant out of Paris, where she applies the knowledge she’s gained from her experiences. She says that every step in her career has added a unique skillset and perspective, which is very important for career growth. Kristina is also passionate about giving back to the community; she runs a nonprofit organization supporting artists in Paris and recently volunteered with the Canadian Olympic team at the Paris Olympics.  

Developing a global perspective at Telfer 

Kristina fondly remembers her student club activities and internship experiences. Experiential learning outside of the classroom is a fundamental part of the Telfer experience. She appreciated how the school let her have a flexible class schedule during her internships. In her final year, she was able to complete internships at both the Mexican and United States embassies, while completing her courses.  

Kristina’s multicultural experiences helped her develop valuable, transferable skills and broadened her global perspective, contributing to her successful international career.  

Sustainability in the luxury cosmetics industry 

Kristina standing on a lit terrace near the water at night.From an international perspective, Kristina acknowledges that sustainability must be a collective responsibility. Cosmetics and fashion companies, consumers and the government all play a role. She says, “Let’s be realistic: without proper regulations — without the proper framework to unite in this industry and in this space — it’s quite difficult to move in the right direction.” For instance, enhanced regulations for supply chain transparency would require companies to audit all of their practices, potentially spotlighting sustainability problems to address. 

Kristina also encourages people to educate themselves about the environmental impact of product ingredients and packaging. Questioning personal consumption habits is a great starting point.  

Stepping outside your comfort zone 

Reflecting on her career, Kristina stresses the importance of seeking opportunities outside of one’s comfort zone. 

Kristina has applied this philosophy throughout her studies at Telfer and her career journey. Her bold moves have allowed her to develop a wide range of skills and build a network of international connections. She concludes, “Staying true to yourself yet challenging yourself is a path for growth.” 

This article was written by Etana Dang.Etana Dang

Etana Dang is a fourth-year business technology management and marketing student at the Telfer School of Management who serves as a special projects and communications assistant with the Alumni and Community Engagement team at Telfer.