George-Axelle Broussillon Matschinga is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Sephora. In her role, George-Axelle leads Sephora US efforts including the design, strategic direction, implementation, and business alignment of Sephora’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives.
Since joining Sephora in 2020, George-Axelle has focused on developing an even more effective ecosystem where Sephora attracts, recruits, develops and advances the best diverse talent and fosters inclusion within the company’s internal workforce, clients, and communities. George-Axelle has also built out Sephora’s overall DE&I strategy and governance structure, including a leadership Steering Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She also led the design and launch of the Mitigate Racial Bias in Retail Charter in 2022, in collaboration with non-profit Open to All, which now as more than 70 major retailers to foster inclusive experiences for shoppers of color. Additionally, she oversees the engagement of Sephora’s Equity Advisors and Partners, a group of accomplished leaders at the intersection of race, culture and civil rights organizations advising on how to promote racial equity. George-Axelle also plays an integral role in leading Sephora Employee Resource Groups, and regularly hosts listening sessions and DE&I trainings across LVMH.
A French native and one of the first Diversity practitioners in France, George-Axelle brings 20 years of corporate expertise to Sephora. She started her career at L’Oréal and contributed to the design of the Group’s inaugural global Diversity policy and strategies and to their implementation in Europe and in the US. An innovative thought leader, she contributed to the design of two global gender equality certifications: EDGE and GE-ES. She also initiated and co-wrote the first Encyclopedia of Diversity Management in France. She most recently was instrumental in conducting Sephora’s first national research study on racial bias in retail and is shaping the implementation of its results, advising on implications for the retail industry at large. Formerly, she was the Head of Diversity & Inclusion at leading home solar energy provider Sunrun. Her efforts to make solar inclusive were recognized by a 2019 WRISE Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and a Diversity Leader Award. In 2020, she joined the Retail Industry Leaders Association D&I Leaders Council and the National Retail Federation DE&I Working Group. In 2021, her leadership and work at Sephora were recognized by a Top 100 Diversity Officers Award and DEI Champion Award by the National Diversity Council, and a Diversity Leader Award. George-Axelle is a graduate from Harvard University, ESCP Europe Business School and Sorbonne University.