Entrepreneurship with Mahault de Guibert (M.13), co-founder of La Rosée

From the initial idea to achieving success, with the business model in between, the path of entrepreneurship is filled with obstacles. To gain insights and inspiration from the experiences of others, HEC Stories has chosen to engage with key players in the dynamic beauty industry, where our alumni are thriving.

After speaking with Flore des Robert, co-founder of La Bonne Brosse; Ning Li (H.06), founder ofTypology; Sabrina Herlory (H.02), CEO of Aroma-Zone; Fleur Phelipeau (H.09), founder ofD-Lab Nutricosmetics; and Paul Michaux (H.15), founder of Prose in New York, we had the opportunity to chat with Mahault de Guibert, co-founder of La Rosée, the fourth-largest brand in the highly competitive dermocosmetics market.

3. Partnering… or Not

Some entrepreneurs believe that having a business partner is the beginning of problems, while others think launching a business alone is an impossible mission. There are two schools of thought. In my case, I could never have done it alone. We are best friends, equal partners in the company, and highly complementary—that’s our strength. I manage the brand and products, while Coline oversees pharmacy development and international expansion. In my view, it takes two to make the dream a reality.

1. Developing the Idea

The idea for La Rosée was born on campus. As part of my Master’s in Entrepreneurship at HEC, I had to pitch a business idea. My co-founder, Coline Bertrand, and I were both pharmacists, and ten years ago, we realized that a cosmetic revolution was underway. Customers were starting to ask questions about product ingredients and were becoming more informed about what they were putting on their skin. This led us to envision a transparent business—an honest, natural brand that cares about the planet.

        2. Building the Business Model

Our business model was clear from the start: La Rosée was designed specifically for pharmacies. This has always been at the core of our brand strategy. We are not available at Sephora or large retail stores, only in a few Monop Beauty locations.

       4. Adapting to Market Evolution

Your project will always be in constant evolution. When we launched the brand in 2013, no one was talking about eco-responsibility, yet we were already taking steps in that direction from the start. Twelve years later, our goal is to go even further in our ecological commitments. We aim to become a regenerative brand—one that gives back more to the planet than it takes—by using upcycled ingredients and recycled, bio-based packaging.

       5. Leveraging the Campus Years

I learned everything in school: the boldness to take the leap, perseverance, resilience, and the right approach to entrepreneurship. Without HEC, we would never have created La Rosée—it’s thanks to their teachings that we were able to bring our idea to life.

       6. The Importance of the Testing Phase

We were working in pharmacies when we developed our first products, which allowed us to refine our offerings based on feedback from pharmacists. But the testing phase never really ends—customer feedback on our products continually helps us improve them.

       7. Managing Failures

I don’t like to see challenges as failures but rather as obstacles to overcome. It’s an integral part of being an entrepreneur—the key is always to find solutions and backup plans to tackle the problem. True challenges shape the journey, and we built our motto around this mindset: “No matter what happens, always stay undiscourageable!”

Bonus: Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

Trust your instincts and don’t overthink! If you think too much at the beginning and wait for everything to be perfect before starting, you’ll never take the leap. That’s what entrepreneurship is all about—you grow and learn along the way.