You are an international speaker, professor and author. How do you manage to juggle these different activities and what do you think connects them?
It’s simple: my passion is sharing knowledge.
Every conference, training course, or book gives me the energy to juggle two full-time jobs.
Everything is linked by the same themes: leadership and enhanced customer experience through Relational Intelligence — subjects I have experienced first-hand during fifteen years in management positions at L’Oréal, Marionnaud, and Estée Lauder Germany.
When I founded Merk Vision in 2010, I was able to combine my expertise and passion through conferences and training courses. Because when you act with passion, it’s no longer work, but pleasure.
In my other role as a professor at Audencia Business School, I share my experiences and prepare future leaders, particularly in the luxury sector.
This knowledge of the sector led me to create a Master of Science in Sustainable Luxury Management to train the next generation.
But Relational Intelligence applies far beyond luxury: I also lead seminars for anyone who places people at the heart of their success.
It is this diversity that stimulates me: each intervention is a new adventure.
You have worked and taught in more than 30 countries. What observations have you made about the evolution of gender equality?
Unfortunately, equality is still far from being achieved. In my profession as a professional speaker, which I have been doing since 2009, nearly 80% of speakers are men. At large events, I am often the only woman on stage.
In my opinion, this can be explained in part by the fact that many women still feel a certain inferiority complex and do not dare to speak in front of a large audience. For me, the stage is a real playground — a source of pure pleasure. And the audience can feel that.
But after my lectures, many women come up to me and tell me that they would never dare to speak like that.
The differences vary from across the world: in Germany, my native country, traditional roles remain very entrenched, whereas in China, where I often speak, women are particularly ambitious and competitive. Conversely, some parts of the Middle East remain very unequal: I remember a lecture in Saudi Arabia, facing 800 men in thobes and only two veiled women — a powerful image of how far we still have to go.
You have just published “The Power of Relational Intelligence”. Why do you think this topic is so important for leaders and their teams today?
Without relational intelligence, our society cannot function.
It is the key to all collaboration, especially in a world where teams are increasingly diverse and projects are becoming ever more complex in the age of artificial intelligence.
Working in silos is no longer possible: we need to combine expertise and learn to cooperate beyond professions and differences.
This talent for human connection, which I call the power of Relational Intelligence, allows us to connect with everyone, regardless of age, gender or experience. We all possess it, but we must consciously activate it to make it a strength in our daily lives and at work.
This is what I explore in my book Le Pouvoir de l’Intelligence Relationnelle (The Power of Relational Intelligence, published by Dunod), the result of hundreds of interviews around the world, a doctoral thesis and numerous training courses.
This power applies everywhere: in leadership, sales, teamwork and, more broadly, in all human relationships.
If you had to sum up in one sentence the power of relational intelligence in the age of AI for tomorrow’s leaders, what would it be?
The power of Relational Intelligence must always guide and frame Artificial Intelligence – never the other way around.
JFD encourages women to dare and innovate. How does this resonate with your commitments?
We can only move forward if we dare to take risks. This is a deep-rooted belief of mine. Being bold means going against the grain, choosing a path that is not necessarily the easiest one.
In every lecture I give, I demonstrate boldness and innovation. I always tailor my speeches to my audience and the company, whether I’m speaking to 50 people or 2,500, in exceptional venues such as the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes.
On stage, I dare to do the unexpected. As a former elite gymnast, I sometimes illustrate my key messages with my body. For example, to evoke the importance of going against the grain — of daring to surprise — I do a headstand, upside down, and continue to speak. At that moment, everyone understands what “daring” really means.
Often, people in the audience later tell me, “I would never have dared to do that!”
Daring is what drives progress. If I had chosen a conventional speaking style, I would probably never have obtained the two most prestigious international labels in public speaking, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) and GSF (Global Speaking Fellow) assigned by the Global Speaker Federation.
Today, I am the only speaker in Europe to hold both distinctions – and that in a male-dominated environment.
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Prof. Dr. Michaela Merk, Founder of Merk Vision and JFD Club Member
Michaela Merk is an international professional speaker, professor, author and expert in relational intelligence. She helps companies thrive in times of transformation by strengthening teams through strong human connections that boost customer experience, collective performance and leadership.
Acclaimed by prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel and Tiffany & Co., Michaela has inspired audiences in more than 30 countries, speaking in English, French and German.
The only speaker in Europe to hold the two most prestigious international certifications in public speaking — Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and Global Speaking Fellow (GSF) — she has been featured on TEDx, in Forbes, the Financial Times and several television programmes.
With over 25 years of experience in luxury and high-end goods, she held senior positions at L’Oréal Luxe and Estée Lauder before founding her consulting firm. Michaela sits on the board of directors of the Champagne Lanson BCC Group and coaches over 6,500 executives within the Association Progrès du Management (APM).
She holds a PhD in Marketing from the Sorbonne and HEC, and is a Professor of Marketing at Audencia Business School, where she directs the Master of Science in Sustainable Luxury Management programme.
She also hosts the podcast and videocast “Luxury Leadership Talks”, where luxury CEOs discuss innovation, leadership and sustainability.
Her new book, Le Pouvoir de l’Intelligence Relationnelle – 30 Règles d’or pour un leadership gagnant et des équipes performantes (The Power of Relational Intelligence – 30 Golden Rules for Successful Leadership and High-Performing Teams) has just been published by Dunod, following her first book, Manager les vendeurs du luxe (Managing Luxury Salespeople).
Site Web: https://michaela-merk.com/fr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelamerk
Books: https://michaela-merk.com/fr/livres/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelamerkconferencier/
Podcast: https://michaela-merk.com/podcast/
