Maisonrouge followed in the footsteps of her stepfather as a Sciences Po alumnus and completed the Economy and Finance degree in Business Administration at Sciences Po, which she finished in 1978. She then completed a Master’s in Law at La Sorbonne. When asked about her academics, she reflects on Maître de Conférence Jean Mathiex, who taught history and geography at Sciences Po. Although she did not hold the highest grades in the class, Mathiex asked her to be his assistant in the following year, when she would no longer be his student. “I didn’t understand, I wasn’t the best in the class. His answer was, ‘It is not just about academics in success. It involves many things, and I think you will be a better role model for the students.’ I will never forget that… he really marked me a lot.” Maisonrouge continued to stand out in her profession as an important feature even after her studies.

Maisonrouge describes her trajectory to luxury as an accident. After graduating Sciences Po, she did an internship with the largest auction house in Paris. She fell in love with art, and moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s in Art at the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU. Her career grew organically, and the Comité Colbert selected her to help with their 1989 exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Museum. “That’s where my Sciences Po way of looking at things kicked in,” she says. She spent 15 years as the U.S. representative for the Comité Colbert, advising on decisions such as the creation of the Colbert Promenade, and collaborations between smaller and bigger brands. 

When asked for her definition of luxury, Maisonrouge responds, “The word luxury has been used and abused so much. My definition of luxury is about quality, craftsmanship, and a defense of timelessness… It’s not about fashion. It is a full experience that will make you feel that whether it is an item or a memory, it will be with you forever, and you will cherish it forever.”

Read the article