By Julie Charbit, Founder of DORÉE

At 21, I was seated front row at Fashion Week in Seoul.

People assume luck. Or connections. Or a name that opens doors. The reality is less mysterious: a series of deliberate decisions, a willingness to take risks, and the determination to create opportunities rather than wait for them.

Here is what I learned.

1. Results open doors. Titles do not.

I was Country Manager for a French luxury brand in Seoul. My objective was simple: make the brand impossible to ignore.

We built relationships with influential voices in the market, and the brand gained visibility among some of Seoul's most popular influencers and members of one of the world's most recognised K-pop groups.

None of this happened by chance. It took initiative, persistence, and an understanding of what made the brand relevant to its audience.

The lesson: your title may get you into the room. Your results determine whether you belong there.

2. Boldness is noticed. Waiting is not.

I never waited for permission to approach the people I wanted to work with. I identified the right people, introduced myself, and explained why a collaboration made sense.

Boldness is not recklessness. It is knowing what you bring to the table, preparing your approach, and having the confidence to make the first move.

Too many people wait to be discovered, hoping their work will speak for itself. Sometimes it does. More often, someone has to make sure the right people hear it.

The lesson: take initiative. Opportunities rarely come with an invitation addressed to you.

3. Network up, not just around.

In Seoul, I made a conscious effort to build relationships with the people shaping the fashion and luxury industries: journalists, designers, and influential voices.

I learned that a strong network is not about the number of contacts in your phone. It is about the quality of your relationships, the trust you build, and the value you bring to others.

The people at the top of an industry are not necessarily unreachable. They are selective with their time, and meaningful relationships begin with a reason to connect.

The lesson: build relationships beyond your immediate circle. Your next opportunity may come from a conversation you never expected to have.

4. Do the work. The invitations follow.

Over time, something shifted. I stopped chasing every invitation, and opportunities began to come to me: front row at major fashion shows in Seoul, features in magazines, and access to rooms I had once only imagined entering.

From the outside, it might have looked like luck. From the inside, it was the result of showing up, delivering, and building relationships consistently.

I learned that visibility is not something you can force indefinitely. You can, however, build the credibility that makes people want to give you a platform.

The lesson: focus on becoming valuable, not simply visible. Recognition is far more powerful when it is earned.

5. A strong network is an advantage you can share.

Today, as the founder of DORÉE, I see relationships as one of the most valuable assets in business. Over the years, I have built a network across industries and international markets, connecting brands with the people, platforms, and opportunities that matter.

For our clients, this goes beyond introductions. It is about understanding where a brand belongs, who needs to know about it, and how the right relationships can create meaningful opportunities for growth.

My experience in Seoul taught me that even the strongest product can be overlooked without the right positioning and visibility. The ability to connect a brand with the right people can make all the difference.

Why it matters

That seat at Fashion Week in Seoul taught me something I still believe today: being good at what you do is not always enough. People need to understand your value, recognise your relevance, and have a reason to choose you.

Talent matters. So does positioning. And the relationships you build can make the difference between being overlooked and being considered.

You do not need to know everyone. You need to be known by the right people, for the right reasons.

Ready to be chosen? Start a conversation with DORÉE.