- Programme studied and graduation year: MSc Human Resources Management, 2015
James is Head of International Business at AS Beauty Group, a New York–based beauty company recognised by WWD as the fastest-growing among the world’s Top 100 beauty companies in 2024. He oversees international operations and manages contract manufacturing across Europe and Asia, while contributing to product development and production. He remains closely connected to LSE through mentoring and alumni panels, sharing insights on careers and global business.
What is your current areas of focus, professionally or otherwise?
I am the Head of International Business at AS Beauty Group. I relocated to Europe in 2023 to lead AS Beauty’s international business and oversee operations across Europe and Asia. I lead our efforts outside the Americas, managing strategic manufacturing and supply partnerships and driving growth across key global markets in close collaboration with the executive team in New York.
Outside of work, I stay involved with LSE through mentoring and alumni events. Last year, I mentored a student from the Department of Management, and we met each month to talk about their studies and career plans. It was a great experience and a reminder of how valuable those conversations can be early on. I’m now in my second year of mentoring and have also taken part in alumni panels, giving talks on my experience working in FMCG and global brands. I really enjoy staying connected to LSE, it still feels like being part of a community that has shaped so much of who I am professionally.
Tell us about your career journey since graduating from LSE
After graduating in 2015, I joined Capgemini in London, a global consulting, technology, and digital transformation company. It was a brilliant place to start a career and to learn about business in a fast-paced environment. The projects were varied, the clients were demanding, and I worked alongside some very talented people. It taught me how to think clearly, communicate well, and stay calm when things become complicated.
A few years later, an opportunity came to New York to join AS Beauty. Moving from consulting to beauty was a real shift, but I was curious about working in a more entrepreneurial environment. When I arrived, the company was growing quickly, and I was drawn to the ambition and energy of it all. Over time, I took on more responsibility, moving into operations and eventually international business. It has been incredibly rewarding to help shape the company as it has evolved into a global player in the beauty industry.
Working in beauty has shown me how creativity, strategy, and teamwork come together to build successful brands. I never expected to end up in this industry, but it has turned out to be a great fit.
What skills have you learnt along the way?
The biggest skill I have developed is relationship building. So much of my work depends on trust, whether that is with suppliers, brand partners, or internal teams. Understanding people and their perspectives matters as much as understanding the numbers.
I have also become a stronger project manager. Bringing products to market across different countries involves countless moving parts, and things rarely go perfectly to plan. You have to stay adaptable and keep people aligned, even when challenges arise.
In recent years, I have learned a lot about leadership. Good leadership is less about being the loudest voice in the room and more about listening, being fair, and helping others to do their best work. Leading across cultures has taught me patience and perspective, and I try to bring that into everything I do.
Has your career worked out the way you envisioned?
Not exactly, and that is probably a good thing.
When I left LSE, I imagined a career in consulting, and I never thought I would end up in beauty. Looking back, I am glad it worked out the way it did. The chance to join AS Beauty came unexpectedly, and it led to some of the most interesting and rewarding work I have done.
I have learned that while it is good to have goals, it is also important to stay open. Some of the best opportunities come when you take a chance and back yourself.
What were the most valuable lessons you took away from studying at LSE?
The international community at LSE left a lasting impression on me. Working alongside classmates from all over the world taught me how to collaborate and communicate across cultures. That experience has been invaluable in my career, especially now that I work with teams in Europe, Asia, and the United States every day.
My degree gave me a strong understanding of how organisations function and how people drive performance. I still draw on what I learned about organisational behaviour, particularly how motivation, culture, and leadership shape a business.
Beyond the academic side, LSE taught me discipline and independence. The standards were high, but that was a good thing. It pushed me to think critically, to be curious, and to take ownership of my work. One of the best lessons I took away is that you do not need to have all the answers, but you do need to ask the right questions.
Share with us your fondest memory of the Department of Management
My fondest memory is my dissertation project, which involved consulting for a FTSE 100 company. It was a real business challenge and gave me the confidence to apply what we had learnt in class to a live situation. That experience helped me realise that management consulting was something I wanted to pursue.
More than anything, though, I remember the people. The lecturers cared deeply about their subjects, and my classmates were ambitious, supportive, and great fun. There was genuine camaraderie in the Department. We worked hard, but we laughed a lot too. I made friends at LSE that I still keep in touch with today, and that sense of connection has stayed with me ever since.
If you would like to be our Alum of the Month or if you would like to nominate a Department of Management alumni, please email dom.alumni@lse.ac.uk.