Influential Woman · Luxury Retail

Behnaz Salemi

Regional Retail Director, TOD'S Group

Miami, FL

27Years experience

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Studies and Communication Degree McGill University (2006) Degree MBA in Executive Management Degree McGill University (2007-2009) Cert GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Cert DCA (Diamond Institute of America) Cert MBA Executive Management Member Gemological Institute of America Member Diamond Institute of America Member McGill University Community

Her Story

About Behnaz

I have spent 25 years in the luxury retail industry, building my career in management and multi-unit leadership. Currently, I serve as a regional director where I oversee luxury stores across multiple locations, with store directors reporting directly to me. My responsibilities span the full spectrum of retail operations, including hiring, onboarding, store openings, product training, and sales management. I work closely with teams to create goals and action plans, conducting frequent store visits across markets in cities like Chicago and New York. Previously, I held the position of national director for Burberry, where I oversaw all of Canada. Throughout my career, I have worked with various luxury products including jewelry, diamonds, watches, and Italian luxury goods, always staying within the luxury sector. My educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Studies and Communication from McGill University, followed by an MBA in Executive Management, also from McGill, which I completed between 2007 and 2009. I am also a certified gemologist through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a certified diamondologist (DCA) through the Diamond Institute of America. One of my proudest professional achievements is my consistent track record of rapid advancement. At every position I have held, I have been promoted within 3 to 7 months, while most people in the industry take 3 to 5 years or more to achieve similar promotions. Outside of work, I enjoy boating, horseback riding, swimming in the ocean, and going to the gym. I am passionate about the water and love living in Miami, despite the challenges of hurricane season.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Behnaz

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say my drive. I have a drive. I definitely want to achieve and exceed. I don't settle for mediocre, I don't settle for okay, I settle for excellence. And excellence is definitely my motivation. I think that good is good, but great could be excellent. So my motivation is definitely that drive for excellence.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I ever received was from one of my vice presidents. He told me to always give my 100%, and when I go to him with a problem, to also come with the solution. That has really been my key to success, and I'm a solution-oriented person. He also told me to go for it and not to be afraid, that how high is high, basically. It's never too early to achieve and exceed, and time or title doesn't mean anything. If you want it, you can get it, and nothing can stop you. That advice has helped me a lot, though it came with a lot of hard work. Reporting to that VP was not an easy job, since I always had to go in with the solution. Often you see your superior for solutions, not to go to them with the solution, but that person definitely trained me at a very young age to already come in with having an action plan, having a solution, and having a solution-oriented mindset.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Hard work. I mean, success comes with hard work. There is no shortcut to it. You need to commit, you need to deliver, you need to work hard, and you need to be motivated. You need to come in every single day and give your 100% in everything that you do, but mostly, of course, career-related. Definitely come in with that. And of course, the advice that I received, always see the solution in the problem.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

In the luxury field, you always have competition. There are so many different brands out there, like 400 different luxury brands. There's also the environment we live in today, with everything that's happening in the world, the war in the Middle East, and there have been so many things that have impacted the industry. COVID was also one as well during that time, but then COVID also had a rebound for a lot of businesses. Today, with the luxury industry, everyone is looking to expand and open many stores, and as we are seeing with all these big brands like LVMH, they're actually downsizing. I think the challenge that the luxury business in general is facing is that they are going too fast and just expanding rather than staying consistent and generating where it works. Where it works, we don't change, and where it works great, then we expand, but not just expand for the sake of expanding.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say trust is definitely one of my most important values, along with respect. Having empathy is also crucial. We're in a career where things are going fast, and we're moving so fast, and we're always demanding and asking for our teams to deliver, deliver, deliver. But we also have to realize that without them, we wouldn't be here. So recognition, for me, is the most important thing. Trust, empathy, and leading by example are definitely my most important values.

Keep Exploring