Growing up in Grand Cascapedia, a small town of just 300, nestled in the Gasp茅 Peninsula, Quebec, Laurie-Ann Willett, BCL鈥�09, LLB鈥�09, found joy in flipping through the Sears catalogue, cutting out carpet samples to compare the colours, watching 鈥淔ashion Television鈥� on CTV with Jeanne Beker, and imagining a world far beyond her immediate surroundings. 鈥淚 just loved fashion and makeup,鈥� she recalls.
Today, she leads the legal function at Chanel Canada, advising on not only governance, compliance, commercial and employment law matters鈥攂ut also guiding strategic decision-making, risk navigation and ethical leadership across the organization.
Her path to this role in one of the world鈥檚 most iconic fashion houses was anything but linear. Raised in modest circumstances by a homemaker mother and a millwright father who also served as town mayor, Willett was the youngest of three and learned early that being heard sometimes meant being loud. 鈥淚 always wanted more,鈥� she says.
From leaving home at age 16 to finish high school at MIND in Montreal, working retail jobs while studying literature and languages at John Abbott College, to persevering through the heartbreak of losing both parents to cancer in a short timeframe, and even working aboard cruise ships for Royal Caribbean before commencing her academic journey, Willett鈥檚 story is one of grit and reinvention.
Post John Abbott College, and after spending some time working in sales in the electronics distribution industry, she returned to school with higher aspirations, and graduated from Saint Mary鈥檚 University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a Bachelor of Commerce, summa cum laude. She听won multiple scholarships, including the prestigious Frank H. Sobey School of Business Excellence Award, founded in 1989 to support the development of future business leaders in Atlantic Canadian universities. Throughout her time at Saint Mary鈥檚, her eyes were on the prize of someday becoming a lawyer鈥攁nd attending the top university in Canada, 91直播.
Unfortunately, she did not get accepted into 91直播 Law on her first try. Undeterred, she applied again and was accepted on her second attempt鈥攁 testament to her tenacity and resilience. 91直播 Law鈥檚 transsystemic approach to legal education (allowing students to learn both common law and civil law at the same time) was a big factor for Laurie-Ann as it would not only teach her to think critically as she was learning, but also open up doors to practice internationally.
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"Law is hugely creative. There鈥檚 what the law says, and there鈥檚 the business or human side. It鈥檚 so important to be curious and always ask questions."
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In fact, as a second-year law student, she had the privilege to work as a Summer Associate in New York City at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 鈥� an opportunity that she credits to her good marks and the 91直播 name. Upon graduating with distinction, she passed the New York State bar but ultimately decided to practice in Quebec.
She then built a career spanning private practice at Stikeman Elliott, pharmaceuticals at Pfizer, and fashion at Joseph Ribkoff and finally, Chanel. Willett credits 91直播 - along with very hard work, tenacity and resilience, and an unwaveringly supportive husband - with being where she is today, while also balancing life as a busy mom. 鈥�91直播 opened up so many doors for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 say it often enough, but I鈥檓 very proud and very thankful for the opportunity that 91直播 has given me.鈥�
Her current role at Chanel is not just about legal oversight鈥攊t鈥檚 about enabling creativity while protecting integrity. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to get in the way of good ideas,鈥� she says. Whether it鈥檚 securing permits for dazzling client events or mentoring the next generation of lawyers, Willett鈥檚 approach is pragmatic, empowering, and deeply human. 鈥淟aw is hugely creative,鈥� she adds. 鈥淭here鈥檚 what the law says, and there鈥檚 the business or human side. It鈥檚 so important to be curious and always ask questions.鈥� For instance, when a team brings forward an exciting idea, Willett steps in to help ensure all the legal details鈥攍ike permits or insurance鈥攈ave been thought of. 鈥淪ometimes, they come to you with their shoes untied, full of energy and ready to run,鈥� she says with admiration. Rather than slowing them down, she sees her role as helping them lace up and move forward safely. Where a junior lawyer might say 鈥淣o鈥� to a risky situation鈥攖he easiest and most tempting path鈥擶illett focuses on how to say 鈥淵es鈥攁nd here鈥檚 how we鈥檙e going to get there.鈥� To her, being a good lawyer means finding a solution while keeping risks tolerable鈥攅ven if it鈥檚 not a straight line.
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"You don鈥檛 want to get in the way of good ideas."
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While readers may think that Laurie-Ann鈥檚 role is filled with glamour 鈥� Paris Fashion Week, however, is reserved for clients, press, celebrities and influencers only. Even Willett doesn鈥檛 pierce the exclusive world of Chanel clientele. 鈥淚 watch the fashion shows live online, the same as everybody else.鈥� (Though she did once have the inside skinny on a new fragrance months before it launched, which was a thrill.)
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"[Chanel CEO] Leena Nair and Gabrielle Chanel wrote their own stories. I aspire to do the same鈥攁nd to help others write theirs."
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In many ways, Willett鈥檚 journey echoes that of Chanel鈥檚 global CEO, Leena Nair. Both women have defied expectations鈥擭air as the first female, first Indian, and youngest-ever CHRO at Unilever before joining Chanel, and Willett as a small-town girl from Grand Cascapedia who now helps guide one of the world鈥檚 most iconic brands through a complex legal landscape in Canada. While Willett doesn鈥檛 see herself as rewriting the rules of leadership, she embraces her role as a mentor and role model for women aspiring to lead. Her work ensures Chanel Canada navigates risk with integrity, enabling bold ideas to flourish within a strong legal framework. A framed photo of Willett and Nair is proudly displayed in Willett鈥檚 home office鈥攁 symbol not just of achievement, but of possibility. 鈥淏oth Leena Nair and Gabrielle Chanel wrote their own stories,鈥� Willett says. 鈥淚 aspire to do the same鈥攁nd to help others write theirs.鈥�
In that vein, Laurie-Ann feels that it is important to help give back to the next generation of women lawyers and leaders. She participates in Chanel鈥檚 mentorship program, championing young women, and has also hired two 脡cole du Barreau students. She takes this responsibility to heart. 鈥淚 aspire to be a good teacher, mentor and role model, and hope that in 20 or 30 years they can look back and think I鈥檝e helped them get to where they are.鈥� She is a firm believer in the expression 鈥淚f you can believe it, you can achieve it鈥�, and hopes to inspire others to believe the same maxim.
