Caroline Scheufele On Why Women Have A Role To Play In The Industry

Chopard’s co-president Caroline Scheufele on growing up in the family business and why women have a role to play in the industry

- Melissa Kong

You’d think that being Caroline Scheufele would mean living in a world of luxury and opulence, surrounded by the biggest showbiz stars on the planet. Well, maybe. But away from the glitz and glamour, Scheufele is also incredibly down-to-earth and perfectly happy to share heartwarming childhood anecdotes with us.

When we mention our website featured a picture of her as a little girl, Scheufele is surprisingly eager to see which photo we had used (your average CEO would have just offered a polite smile). Upon seeing it, she explains that that was a picture of her on her first day of school, clutching a schultüte – a large paper cone filled with sweets – given to every German child on their first day of school, so they would be happy to begin their educational journey. We reckon that would have made Singaporean kids enjoy school a whole lot more too, but that’s beside the point.

Sweets aside, Scheufele also recalls an early gift from her parents when they returned from a trip to Disneyland. “It was a Mickey Mouse watch with a plastic strap that you could change for different coloured ones,” she explains. “The purpose of that watch was so that I would learn how to read the time – 10 past two, 12 past five – it was more important than saying A to Z.”

It’s an endearing side to the woman who, together with her brother, Karl-Friedrich, helms one of the most glamorous watch and jewellery brands in the world. After all, Chopard is regularly seen on the red carpet and has been an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival since 1998.

Creative Spark