Delphine Gardère ’25 MBA

Leading a legacy brand with heart 

No two days are the same at Rhum Barbancourt, and that’s exactly what keeps Delphine Gardère ’25 MBA energized. As the majority owner and CEO of the Haitian-based rum distillery and distributor, she is driven not only by the non-stop pace of her job, but also by the legacy her family has built over generations.  

In 2017, following the passing of her father, Delphine moved to Haiti to take the reins of the family business. She was 32 years old, navigating life as a new mother, and stepping into the role of CEO. Though she brought a solid foundation in marketing, she recognized a need for stronger leadership and management skills to protect the legacy her father had built.  

“When you’re in a family business, you’re not thinking about the short term,” Delphine says. “You’re also thinking about the longevity of your business. You know that every action you’re taking, every strategic move that you’re making is going to trickle down for your children.” 

As Rhum Barbancourt entered a period of rapid growth, Delphine began to reflect on the type of business she wanted to run and what she wanted her own story to be. The timing felt right for her to pursue an Executive MBA.  

Kellogg had always been on Delphine’s radar, but the unique aspects of the EMBA in Miami Program made it her top choice. The ability to start classes in the winter and be present in the fall for the start of her daughters’ school year was appealing, while gaining access to the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprise would help her achieve her goals as a second-generation business owner. 

“The more I spoke to people, the more I interviewed alumni and got familiar with the culture, it just seemed like there was no other place for me,” Delphine says. 

The business of family 

Haiti is at the heart of Rhum Barbancourt’s identity. The company was founded there and employs more than 600 people in the community while partnering with 2,000 local farmers to produce its signature rum.  

“As a family, my father, me, generations before that, we’ve been committed to being in Haiti,” Delphine says. “Part of being committed to Haiti is going out and taking some of the best practices that I’m getting at Kellogg and bringing it back to the business to make it grow.” 

Even after purchasing her family’s shares in 2020 and becoming majority owner, Delphine still considers Rhum Barbancourt a family business. As CEO, she’s applying the lessons she’s learned in courses such as Family Enterprises: Success and Continuity taught by Matthew Allen and Advanced Negotiations taught by Nour Kteily.  

“There’s a lot of complexity working in a family business because you must deal with people who are your family,” Delphine says. “Sometimes people are transferring over emotions from one setting to another and that requires a lot of emotional intelligence.” 

Empathy in action    

One of Delphine’s most cherished aspects of the EMBA in Miami Program is the opportunity to exchange ideas with classmates who bring different perspectives yet share cultural touch points that resonate with her own.  Their support has been instrumental to her success at Kellogg.  

In 2024, when unrest in Haiti shut down the airport for three months, Delphine was forced to attend classes remotely for an extended time. Her professors and classmates rallied around her, embodying Kellogg’s values of empathy and community. The experience helped Delphine define her own Kellogg leadership journey.  

“Being a Kellogg Leader means leading with empathy,” Delphine says. “Being aware of cultural differences [and] personality differences, learning how to read the room [and] who your neighbor is and growing together as we build a relationship over time.”

The constant travel between Haiti, France and Miami has been challenging, but for Delphine, it’s a small price to pay for the chance to grow as a leader while honoring her family’s legacy and continuing to build a business rooted in community. Each leg of the journey reinforces her commitment to work that matters.

“You need to love what you do in life. If you wake up every morning and you’re not comfortable, you’re not excited to go to work, then you find you don’t really have a purpose.”