The Power of Women

Committed to supporting female entrepreneurship through Léia Capital, a 100% female-led investment fund, Mélanie Leroy, Managing Director of Maison&Objet and SAFI, has launched Women&design by Maison&Objet—the first international network for women who want to connect, share their visions and challenges, and harness the power of collective strength and networking. "It will be an inclusive and dynamic international network, because I meet extraordinary women every day, whose culture and modesty often hold them back from fully expressing their talents," says Mélanie Leroy.

At the inaugural talk on September 8th, Mélanie Leroy invited three accomplished professionals to share their experiences: Emilie Viargues-Metge, CEO of Christofle; Caroline Petit-Mason, founder of the ceramics brand Three Seven; and interior designer Daphné Desjeux. For them, Women&design represents a self-promotion network aimed at building confidence and offering visibility to female entrepreneurs, who are well-represented in interior design but often underappreciated.

Speaking with refreshing honesty and embodying the values of Women&design, Emilie Viargues-Metge emphasizes the importance of "self-confidence to bring others along. I always say: try. As Mandela said: 'I never lose; I either win or learn.'" For the Christofle CEO, "People are at the heart of success because even the best idea in the world won't work with the wrong team. You have to activate your network and take the time to give back, so the virtuous circle comes full circle. It may not help right away, but down the line…"

Ceramicist Caroline Petit-Mason adds: "We need to educate the younger generations. I feel an immense strength as a woman, but we still have to prove we're capable… We apologize, we don't want to take up too much space, while men never question whether they're up to the job! We need to stop tearing ourselves down because we're full of resources. For me, as for Emilie, the key is self-confidence."

Daphné Desjeux believes in the links of a virtuous chain: "Among people equally capable of doing the job, you need to work with those who share your values. It's important to engage with a professional network for the right reasons." Emilie Viargues-Metge concurs: "Surrounding yourself with the right people and doing good around you helps you feel less alone when facing uncertainties. I often hear that we need to learn to say no, but I say it's better to say yes a hundred times—except to those who tell you to cut your hair to look more serious. Run from those people!"

The feedback following the talk was overwhelmingly positive. Mélanie Leroy concludes enthusiastically: "It shows how much it was anticipated by the women in our industry, many of whom have reached out. This new network launched by Maison&Objet, which has been committed to revealing talent from around the world for the past 30 years, felt like a natural step… even an urgent one! And I am thrilled to announce the nomination of Faye Toogood as our next Designer of the Year!"

From now on, each edition of Maison&Objet Paris will feature a conference where leading women in design will share their experiences on key themes. This vibrant energy will also be reflected in a new innovation award, and on Maison&Objet’s media platforms, where every other profile will be that of a woman.

The demand for a dynamic organization that incorporates the women leading innovation and creativity is strong, and it also includes men—those who are loyal supporters of these women and who readily involve them in their projects. Antoine Ménard, who hosted the Women&design dinner following Girafe, reminded us of this, showcasing a stunning table set by Cordelia de Castelane. The dinner was warm and deeply inspiring, with rich conversations among the guests. The diversity of profiles illustrated the wealth of connections and the strength of the collective. Designers, entrepreneurs, decorators… with the wealth of female talent embodied by Women&design, Maison&Objet has laid the foundation—there is still much to build, together, driven by the conviction that we are active contributors to change.