Husband-and-wife team Martine and Prosper Assouline have built their luxury publishing house by doing what feels natural. Since starting in their Paris apartment nearly 20 years ago, Assouline is now a US-based market leader.
01: What time do you like to be at your desk?
By 8.30, so I have time to work with the Paris office.
02: Where’s the best place to prepare for leadership, an MBA school or on the job?
I would say that an MBA is helpful because I never had that experience myself.But, if you don’t have the character to be a leader, an MBA won’t help.
03: Describe your management style
When making a decision, I like to ask the people who are involved in the situation – including Prosper, before I make my mind up.
04: Are tough decisions best taken by one person?
I always consult the manager of each team before I make big decisions. I check Prosper is happy with my decision and it’s done.
05: Do you want to be liked or respected?
I want to be respected. But being liked is a bonus.
06: What does your support team look like?
Each department has its own manager and I work with them directly.
07: What technology do you carry on a trip?
My BlackBerry and iPad.
08: Do you read management books?
No. I didn’t have management teaching but my father was an excellent manager. He was very human but at the same time very fair and clear.
09: Run in the morning? Wine with lunch? Socialise with your team after work?
I hate to run. I love to have a good Bordeaux with Prosper every night. I hope our employees do the same and prefer that than socialising with me!
10: What would your key management advice be?
To be determined but to listen and explain well.
Issue 38
A new instand-image camera from Japan, an independent Berlin magazine and bookstore with a top selection, and DIY e-books in Japan.
Issue 24
A manga about wine has proven a hit with readers in Japan. It’s written by a brother and sister duo, who spin stories while under the influence; there’s a French edition and it is being made into a Korean TV series.
Issue 60
Whether it be picture-laden coffee table tomes or volumes on aesthetic theory, Germany produces some of the finest art books in the world – and that’s not limited to Taschen. Monocle went to Berlin to pore over a buoyant…
Issue 14
Angelika Taschen has given more established book publishers a run for their money and turned the sexy and subversive Taschen Books into a global powerhouse. She chooses simple wurst for her last meal.
Issue 12
The next correspondent in our series looking at foreign coverage of the US presidential elections is Corine Lesnes of ‘Le Monde’. Once frosty, France’s relations with the US have improved with the arrival of President…
Issue 47
Internet advertising that knows exactly who you are, an Istanbul magazine delivered by bicycle - by the editor, plus more media news.
Issue 33
Since resigning as design editors-in-chief at Taschen, husband and wife Peter and Charlotte Fiell have been plotting their own publishing empire. After two years of hard work, they are ready to make their splash. But don’t…
Issue 28
Turkey's religion-themed reality show upsets the imams, an Israeli animation studio aims to out-draw Pixar and we report on the relaunch and redesign of Germany's premier financial newspaper, Handelsblatt - reworked by…
Issue 47
In the rush into digitalisation, US media giants hastily abandoned many of their core values, says the veteran journalist and former foreign editor of the ‘Chicago Tribune’. Elsewhere, old-fashioned values are thriving. We…
Issue 60
Books, films and music to make a date for.
Issue 47
Hilversum was the centre of Dutch broadcasting for the best part of a century, a model media city of daring architecture. Hit hard by changes in the industry, a period of self-reflection has the city searching for new…
Issue 20
For our series on media barons we feature Erick Thohir, founder of the Mahaka Media group in Jakarta. After revitalising the failing paper ‘Republika’ he’s now on a mission to modernise print, radio and TV in a freer Ind…
0:00:00 0:01:00