Meet Claude Lefrancois Jillian Shepherd

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claude Lefrancois Jillian Shepherd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Claude LeFrancois, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

On a business front, our ability to take risk came from observing others. Luckily, before starting this business, we worked for other companies, where had the opportunity to experience risk assessment processes, along with seeing first-hand the failures and the successes associated with risk taking. And from living through those corporate risk decisions — either igniting pure fear or empowering adrenaline — we gathered quickly that extremes risks are never productive, but that certain calculated risk are essential to grow and discover new perspectives.
Now, Jillian and I see risk as an incremental process to build tolerance, without necessarily sacrificing all that we have built to date. But honestly, risk is inherent to all businesses. And even when the outcome is undesirable, we tend to stay away from large gambles, but we accept risk as part of a learning process that will naturally drive change and future new perspectives.
On a personal front, growing up in smaller towns with limited opportunities, we grew to understand that not taking risk was just as risky. For example, Jillian decided to bypass college altogether to try modeling. This was not an easy decision for her, but she accepted this gamble knowing that modeling jobs could be few and far between. But as a model, Jillian soon smartly observed and studied the inner workings of the industry, and did so in case she later wanted to use this knowledge for advancement. Indeed, someone eventually noticed her solid fashion awareness, and she was eventually recruited as an agent. Again, Jillian had to assess this new risk, not fully sold that this would be the correct choice. Yet, it paid off. Having managed models for more than 25 years, her initial risks gave her a two-sided career and eventually the ability to create BEST MANAGEMENT in 2024 — her own model agency along with me as a partner.
As for myself, I left Canada to trade a bureaucratic job for self-employment in the US. This wasn’t simple. Not only did I learn to survive by scraping every dollar possible, but I had to create business to prove my myself and my worth to US immigration. And since I could not fail, this forced me to take risks, to work hard, and to persist. I started a small school and a research division dealing with learning disabilities. In less than three years, my business flourished. Twenty years later, I sold the business and retire early — or so I thought — until I joined Jillian in our BEST MANAGEMENT venture.
Looking back, every risk we took allowed Jillian’s fashion experience to merge with my finance background, bringing us full circle to yet another strategic risk, which is completely worthwhile.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Jillian began as model, travelling worldwide, until she was eventually recruited to be an agent. Because of her worldwide experience, she understands first-hand the needs of clients and the required preparation from models, not forgetting the accompanying expectations, the travels, and all the required planning to attain success and rewards. Having seen Jillian in action, her greatest asset her ability to do the job of three people, effortlessly. Simply said, this role was intended for her — and in most cases, this role is a knack that is natural, not unlike artists or performers who have an undeniable gift.

My background slightly differs. I studied educational neuroplasticity but ended with a post graduate degree in business. And having never stepped into a modeling agency, my first job was to acquirer two Canadian agencies for an investor in New York. Once I had completed that task, I was made the Chief Operating Officer to oversee the business, where I pushed myself to work in every department, to better understand all the inner workings of this industry. After 4 years, I left the modeling world to pursue my original degree work in neuroplasticity and I created my own business in the US. Years later, I’ve come full circle to co-owning Best Management with Jillian Shepherd, where every day we get the pleasure of introducing and launching models correctly, since our job is to create the talent’s image so that we can also create a returning demand.

Having said that, Best Management is constantly looking for new models and it’s also important to mention that the industry is now more flexible than ever in terms of look, size and age. And even though most models never imagined that they would ever be selected to be part of this business, so we encourage everyone to apply, providing height and body measurements fit their category and the industry standards stipulated by the paying clients.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Jillian and I have always been helpers and teachers. But above all, we possess great observation skills, which constantly permits us to filter out problematic situations and sometimes problematic people, so that we can continue our professional engagement to provide personalized and strategic management. Our advice to those endeavoring in a new journey, is to keep the eye on realistic goals and to never anticipate overnight returns until the work, the commitment and the learning has taken place. Every model should learn now that success is an extended mission of details that is well-crafted along the way by several hands.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely.
We always welcome new models to contact us directly and the same applies to agents or scouts who wish to connect and collaborate.

We we are currently looking for a main scout in LA, and also the ideal person to head the Atlanta office. Our main market is currently Los Angeles, but we have a satellite office in Salt Lake City, and now building Atlanta, since our corporate office is already located in Newnan, Georgia.

Most importantly, the right additions to our team will share the business, rather than becoming employees. This makes a huge difference for those wishing to join progressive team.

For anyone interested, please email Claude@best-mgmt.com. Don’t be shy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://best-mgmt.com
• Instagram: @bestmodelmgmt
• Other: Claude@best-mgmt.com
  Jillian@Best-mgmt.com

Image Credits

Photography:
Tony Duran
Matt Clayton