Gloss Boss Talks by BrandActiv: A Modern Vision of Beauty and Female Leadership
With the launch of the exclusive Elsève Glycolic Gloss range, L’Oréal presents a distinctly modern approach to beauty that combines hair performance, innovation, and empowerment. In this context, BrandActiv has conceived Gloss Boss Talks, an unprecedented panel bringing together three inspiring women to discuss leadership, professional challenges, and the reality of success. This candid and unfiltered discussion took place on Thursday, April 30th, at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port-Louis.
The three guests of the day were Deborah Lemarchand, Regional Brand Manager at BrandActiv, Astrid Arlove, founder of OBOE Ltd, and Pria Thacoor, Managing Director of P&P Link. Through authentic testimonies, the speakers shared their experiences on key themes such as self-confidence, personal assertion in the workplace, entrepreneurship, challenges faced, and the building of their vision and leadership.
Throughout their speeches, they spoke of journeys that, while different, share similarities on many levels. Deborah Lemarchand emphasized the importance of "finding your voice" to "make yourself heard." "Too often, young Mauritian women hesitate to speak up and share their ideas at work. To progress, one must overcome this apprehension and assert oneself. Women have so much to contribute in a professional setting, and even if the ideas aren’t always perfect, it’s essential to take the leap," she shared.
Facing Obstacles to Grow
On her part, Astrid Arlove recounted her beginnings as a young entrepreneur in Mauritius amidst the Covid-19 crisis: "We launched at the end of 2019, just before Covid hit. It was tough; we had a lot of doubts and apprehensions back then. But we didn’t give up, and it paid off. Covid prompted a shift in mindsets, which validated our ecological and sustainable vision, balancing hospitality and culture."
A prominent figure in Mauritian advertising, Priya Thacoor reflected on the challenges she faced early in her career: "32 years ago, there weren’t really any women in executive positions. When I started my business, I was the only woman in an all-male environment. I learned to make myself heard and find my place by facing obstacles with determination."
These careers, marked by various challenges, were overcome by our panelists through determination, discipline, and confidence. Far from scripted speeches, Gloss Boss Talks thus emerges as a dialogue space in tune with the expectations of a new generation of women seeking meaning, authenticity, and impact.