Les Ettes founder Carmela Fleury interview inspiration on Transworld Business

Before Nixon, selling watches in a skate shop would have been unthinkable. The same goes for headphones and Skullcandy, but now both are pushing nine figures in sales and retailers are reaping the rewards. Carmela Fleury is hoping her brand, Les Ettes, can do the same for perfume, and with virally spreading distribution, she may just be right.

Fleury is the definition of an international woman. Growing up in eight countries before settling in Japan with fiancé Ivar Fougstedt, Burton's executive marketing director for Asia, she earned an engineering degree from Tufts University, worked at High Cascade Snowboard Camp, Mammoth's Looney Bean, Vice, Onboard, and Burton. Then, Fleury and a group of friends decided to take a risk, based on Fleury's favorite business tool, the flip of a coin.

We caught up with Fleury recently to learn more about why she made our list of this year's most influential women in action sports, and those of so many of her peers:

Share a little personal background on where you're from, etc.

Grew up living in 8 different countries (within Europe, US, and Oceania). Got a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Tufts University. Worked summers at High Cascade Snowboard Camp, Looney Bean Coffee Shop in Mammoth (toughest job so far), Vice Magazine, Onboard Magazine, and Burton Snowboards. French father, a Spanish mother, two older brothers, 7 nieces and nephews, in laws, a vegetable garden...

How did you wind up in Japan? 

My Finnish-Swedish fiancé grew up in Japan (yes, our future kids are going to need speech therapy). Two years ago he got offered a job to work for Burton in Tokyo.

What were your goals when you were younger?

If my goals were literally represented by soccer goals I guess they were always moving. I've always wanted to do it all.

How have those changed today? 

Haven't really although I guess I try harder to follow my grandmother's mantra "que me quiten lo bailado"- literal translation- "take away from me what I've danced." Which means nobody can take away the fun you've had. So with that in mind I've been trying to keep the ball rolling while enjoying it all.

What have been your biggest accomplishments personally and professionally? Personally, being able to share life with the man of my dreams, having the luxury to travel to visit friends I adore, and being able to spend quality time with my family. And professionally being able to work with something I feel passionate about and with people that inspire me daily.

Where did you get the idea for Les Ettes? 

It seems like a great niche that hadn't been addressed before. In 2007 with a couple of friends we concluded that there were no cosmetic brands on the market that directly spoke to us, reflecting and catering to the lifestyle we liked. So we decided to create products that we wanted to use.