Jeanne Habashi

Jeanne Habashi combined ancient Egyptian ingredients with cutting-edge techniques. Launched in 2006, Jeanne Habashi – Le Caire is a luxury local cosmetics brand featured in five‑star hotels and spas in Egypt. Jeanne eventually plans to expand into the retail and international markets and establish the country’s first aesthetician school.

How did you come up with the concept for Jeanne Habashi – Le Caire?

I’m French but I moved to Egypt with my husband in 2004. When I got here, I became interested in the beauty secrets of the ancient Egyptians. In my research, I found papyrus documents with very detailed formulas. But people wouldn’t put some of those things, for example ox gall, on their faces now. So I imagined what ingredients an Egyptian queen would still use today—lotus flower, linen, hibiscus and orange blossom water—and decided to combine them with the latest technologies to create a premium local cosmetics brand.

How did you get into supplying cosmetics for Egypt’s top hotels and spas?

In 2006, I met a spa manager for a chain of American luxury hotels. She was having problems importing the beauty treatments she needed for the hotel spas because of the complicated and expensive paperwork required for each product. We developed a full line of products for her in a few months, using orange blossom water and jojoba oil, and she loved them.

I realized I had discovered a great opportunity. These hotels and spas need premium products for the services they offer their guests. There are hardly any international brands in Egypt because of the government’s regulations, and local luxury cosmetic companies are scarce. So I have a perfect market for my products.

What have you been working on since then?

I’ve been developing more products: I now have 50. I’m trying them out on the market so I can see what works and what doesn’t. I’ll register the most successful ones so they can be launched in perfume stores and retail outlets and of course internationally.

You’ve built up a successful cosmetics brand in less than three years. What are your secrets?

• Believe in what you do. Otherwise, you will not be able to go on.
• Think positive. Every problem has a solution, and there is no such thing as a mistake.
• Take action. We all have ideas, but you have to try them out to know if they’re any good.
• Build a strong network to provide mutual support.
• Adjust your attitude. Be stubborn enough to stick to your plan, but flexible enough to let it evolve and to take in feedback along the way.

As a female entrepreneur in Egypt, what challenges do you face?

People feel women should be listening to men. For example, taxi drivers think they know where my office is better than I do! When I ask my male employees to do something directly, they have to figure out a way to change the task so they don’t lose face by obeying a woman. This is a challenge every day.

How do you see yourself as a role model for other women in Egypt?

I actually want to be a role model for businessmen in Egypt. I hope to show by my example that a businesswoman can be an honest and respectable woman.