Catherine Henry is the joint Co-Founder of Genus.
1. Describe briefly your childhood.
Born in Valais, I was always outside in the open air. My parents had vineyards alongside their work in the countryside. I was always with them and other children. We worked while having fun. As a young child one does not necessarily make a distinction between the working the land and having fun. It was fun and not a constraint, for example looking after bees or picking fruit and eating it at the same time. Also, it was great because at the time, in winter as our school was very small, when we could go skiing, the teacher would take us to ski. The whole class took the bus and that was school too, adapting to the outside conditions. It was magical ! My attachment to nature is strong. My childhood could be summed up by fresh air and freedom. I have fond memories of it.
2. As a child did you have any driving ambition?
Learn foreign languages and learn about other cultures.
3. What is your first significant memory as a child?
Being with my father, high in the mountains, and this, during my entire childhood.
I still practice “la Haute Montagne” (mountaineering) today. Reaching the top appears to be the goal, however, the training, the desire, what is experienced during preparation, and during the ascent marks one significantly. At every stage, we must listen to the environment, and accept the reality that permits, changes, or constrains the climb. An alpinist vigilantly analyzes all the surrounding signs, and in case of doubt or uncertainty, asks for advice from experienced mountain guides. When roped together, all are attentive to the other climbers, and strive to stay aware of what each member of the team is experiencing physically and/or personally. There is no stronger, weaker, or individual performance. The state of the sky, the ice, the wind, the altitude, are all indicators to watch regularly. If conditions change, it is necessary to adapt and modify the path even if it means reviewing and changing the destination objective or postponing it entirely.
Nature is the big boss, in the high mountains or on a glacier. Before putting one foot in front of the other, we must be certain of what we are doing. The high mountains are a school of wisdom and humility.
4. Have you ever had another profession?
I had the chance to start my career in multinational companies as Executive Assistant to the CEO.
After many years, I decided to set up my own business, in the field of sport, and in 2011 was awarded the Swiss "Prix de la femme Romande Entrepreneure" (Female Entrepreneur of Romandie Award – Women In Swiss Business). After many years, I sold the company which is still active today.
5. What made you decide to go in the direction you are currently in?
Life, the luck of chance encounters, but also the momentum.
6. What’s the worst job you’ve had to do?
One summer I had a job working for a florist who was also an undertaker. We would prepare and, if requested by the family, would then deliver floral decorations to the crypts of their deceased family members. I admit that it wasn’t very fun! Nevertheless, I have great memories of the team I worked with – they were extremely joyous. We always had the radio on full-blast in the delivery truck and we would sing-along, very loudly as if no one was watching!
7. What’s been the hardest moment in your life so far, and how did you overcome it?
The birth of my son – for sure the hardest, but the most beautiful.
This has required a profound reorganization from me, not only in my way of conducting business, but to ensure his development and my role as a mother, while allowing a slice-of-life for me also. I juggle a lot!
8. Who has had the strongest influence on you?
Some of my former CEOs, my mentors and currently one woman in particular, who is my mentor and who means a lot to me.
9. What are you proud of?
In this context, the launch, continuous development, and improvement of the GENUS brand.
In the beginning we kept our project completely secret. We unveiled our independent watch brand, GENUS, and its first creation the GNS 1.2 WG for entry in the 2019 GPHG watchmaking competition (Geneva Horology Grand Prix). A few months later, GENUS was awarded the coveted and prestigious first prize in the “Mechanical Exception” category.
Some weeks later, we exhibited at our first industry show. The 2019 Dubai Watch Week exhibition was extremely important and a huge success for GENUS. The level of orders prompted us to completely rethink our logistical chain and production flow and this allowed us to significantly cut costs. Thanks to the economies of scale, we opted to make a significant Suggested Retail Price adjustment right away, for the benefit of all customers. We realize this was an unusual thing to do, but our decision to immediately reposition the SRP to reflect the new true value of our timepiece was very, very well received by our partners and clients in general. I am immensely proud of the honesty of this decision.
A few months on, we are happy to say that our watches are now available at Les Ambassadeurs in Geneva and will be at Seddiqi & Sons in Dubai Mall from mid-April 2019.
10. What advice would you give to a 20 something someone thinking of taking a similar path as you?
Trust yourself, be humble, passionate, have conviction, work hard, and maybe more pragmatically, prioritize as much as possible!
Prioritization is difficult but it keeps you from getting dispersed and allows you to get to the end of things. Choose 5 priorities and out of these 5, complete 2 perfectly. There is always so much to do, that prioritization is one of the best ways for me to stay focused on my goal.
Above all, do not be afraid of making mistakes.
11. Name three things on your bucket list.
- Travel in space to see the moon and earth up close
- Ski trek the alpine « Haute-Route » from Chamonix to Zermatt
- To see the Aurora Borealis in Winter
12. Where do you think the watch industry is going to be in 10 years’ time?
I do not have a crystal ball (even if I wish I did!) and cannot know with precision what will be, in 10 years’ time. What I can say, today from our experience in these last months, is that we are extremely grateful for the guidance and the support shown to GENUS by some of the “big players” in the watch industry. We feel their strong encouragement is firmly rooted in the desire to enhance and promote creativity in Independent Watchmaking and its up-and-coming talent. Such acts of kindness and solidarity are vital cornerstones upon which new talent can reliably enter the watchmaking scene. By supporting GENUS Watches, our mentors promote all the watch industry and the next generation of watchmaking innovation.
Times have drastically changed with the Covid-19 virus. For sure, this crisis is going to trigger and accelerate a lot of structural changes. But, when we look back upon the origin of Fine Watchmaking being an act of precision, attention to detail, unbounded creativity, and beauty, all of which are everlasting and will thus overcome all challenges. That is magical, and the journey of magical things never ends.
To learn more about Catherine Henry