We, MSc International Business students, are doing an in-company audit with a company from the Sophia campus region. The audit includes: company overview, SWOT analysis, “export audit” and a set of recommendations to optimize the business internationally. The MSc International Business director provided students with a list of 15 companies he had contacted who had agreed to work with students.

Student groups voted to choose their preferred company. Our group, consisting of Anna (Austria), Reshma (Canada), Josephine (France), Jeanette (Norway), Maia (Bulgaria) and Doris (Croatia) decided on the company called SFA Romani. This is a perfume/ aroma company located in St. Cezarre, a town near the world’s perfume centre- Grasse. Our contact there was Ms Viviane Romani-Caruso, the company CEO.

Five of us interviewed the CEO.

“It was great to speak to the company’s CEO as part of our project. We had done desk research about the company and incorporated material from class, but, speaking to the CEO herself provided us with essential information, and then some. We learned how the company does business and on the spot we were able to ask additional questions and clarifications”, Reshma explained.

The CEO gave us candid advice on team-building and leadership: “The company’s greatest asset is people; without my great team, expansion and success would not be possible”. To achieve a great team: communicate, lead by example and take great care of your employees.”

We also had a company and factory guided tour.

“I had never visited a perfume factory so all of this was new to me. We learned and saw how the company imports essential ingredients such as flowers, as well as the entire process of creating a perfume”, Anna added. We” learned that the company makes 92% of its revenue just from international exports. International exports are a great business opportunity for SFA Romani, but there are challenges too which will be discussed in detail in the audit.



Written by Doris Kukuljan, MSc IB 09-10