Mehdi Rajan has worked in the watch industry for over 11 years, today he is Brand Director at IWC Schaffhausen Middle East, India & Africa.

1. Describe briefly your childhood.

I was born in Belgium but quickly moved to Ivory Coast in West Africa where I grew up surrounded with most of my family. I am very grateful for that childhood where I got the opportunity to be exposed to many different cultures and backgrounds. 

Evolving into a family of entrepreneurs in a foreign country shaped me to be very agile and curious but also to keep very strong values which still guide me to this day. 

2. As a child did you have any driving ambition?

So many! For as long as I can remember, I think I have always wanted to be connected to people and to have a positive impact. As a child, I have alternatively wanted to be a doctor, a diplomat, a musician, a professional tennis player, a comedian.

I think I get that ambition and drive for my mother who taught me to always have dreams as high as the clouds. 

3. What is your first significant memory as a child?

Significant I’m not sure. But I remember vividly playing football with my brother in the living room. We would dress up with our jerseys, close all the doors, methodically move the furniture to create some space and then re play a world cup game with an imaginary cheering crowd. That complicity has never left us. 

4. Have you ever had another profession?

I started my career in strategic consultancy for luxury fashion brands which was one of the best schools possible as I had the opportunity to exchange with people from different countries, backgrounds, cultures and objectives. 

After a few years I felt the need to have a more operational approach and I had the opportunity to join Cartier to work on the Accessories, Leather Goods and Perfume divisions. Such an exciting moment to start a career in a fast-paced and growing market. And then one day I saw a mechanical watch with an in-house movement: a new journey began… 

5. What made you decide to go in the direction you are currently in?

I’ve always believed that the people you meet make the person you are. Every time I took on a different challenge in my career I guess it was after a meaningful conversation with somebody that changed my perspective. In that respect, I remember one day having a random coffee with a senior director at IWC Schaffhausen that lasted more than 5 hours and that ended saying “let’s work together”. 

6. What’s the worst job you’ve had to do?

Every job is an opportunity to learn something new. Whether it’s a competency or whether it’s something about yourself. I’ve had many jobs that were quite repetitive and monotonous, especially when I was an intern or student, which were not very stimulating. I guess that’s what I like to most about my current role: I get to meet new people and learn new things every day! 

7. What’s been the hardest moment in your life so far, and how did you overcome it? 

Saying goodbye is always something I’ve had difficulties with. Learning to accept pain, embrace it and not shield from it has taught me how to move on and focus on the positive.

8. Who has had the strongest influence on you?

My wife. She is my partner, my mentor, my coach and my friend. I pick her brain on the most random thing and she always asks for my point of view (even when she doesn’t take my advice). We make a good team. 

9. What are you most proud of?

My son certainly. I am witnessing on a daily basis the incredible boy he is becoming and I am so proud of him. 

I am also extremely proud of how resilient our team has been during the last few months. It has been a roller-coaster of uncertainty and fear in a constantly changing world. The team truly revealed its strength by adapting quickly, bonding differently, supporting each other even remotely and ultimately, I believe we are today stronger as a team than we ever were. 

10. What advice would you give to a 20 something someone thinking of taking a similar path as you?

The world presents so many opportunities. Experience it, travel, meet people, don’t be reasonable and live with passion. Failure is part of the success and remember that a career, or an objective is always a journey, made with mistakes, lessons and celebrations. It’s important to take time to learn from the mistakes and celebrate the victories. The destination is the journey. 

11. Name three things on your bucket list.

I am currently teaching my son how to play tennis. I look forward to the day he will be able to beat me on the court. 

I had the privilege once to be in a Mercedes AMG car with Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel. What a thrill! I’d love to exchange seats some day and feel the power of a formula car on a track. 

I am planning with a friend to build an eco lodge in South East Asia that focuses on involving guests into the local communities around the ideas of inclusion and sustainability. I’d love that idea to materialize soon. 

12. Where do you think the watch industry is going to be in 10 years time?

Our industry is constantly evolving: from innovative materials to audacious movements, from digitalization of communication to new immersive boutique concepts. There has always been a wind of change in the so-called traditional watchmaking market. What we witnessed, however, recently is the accelerating pace of change. 

The way we do retail is transforming completely blurring the lines between brick and mortar and virtual worlds. Omnichannel and seamless customer experience will drive our approach, even more so after the unprecedented times we live in. 

However, what will fundamentally not change is that purchasing a luxury watch is always an emotional journey. Our ability to connect to our customer, to tell our stories genuinely, our passion for excellence and innovation will ultimately make us relevant for the generations to come.