FCM women in the spotlight for International Women's Day
Discover the interviews of FCM women executives
Solenn Le Brazidec
Solenn, can you introduce yourself ?
My name is Solenn. I'm originally from Brittany and I have been living in Paris for 18 years. I am the mother of a little Louise, who is 3 years old and the mother-in-law of Albane, who is 9 years old. I took over the general management of FCM France & Switzerland 3 years ago.
From a professional point of view, what are the challenges you are passionate about on a daily basis ?
There are many challenges when you manage a company of more than 300 employees in the business travel industry, but the ones that excite me the most are those that allow you to compare opinions and to work as a team. I am lucky enough to work with passionate and committed people. The exchanges are therefore rich and that's what makes daily office life interesting !
What does it mean to you to be a female leader ?
It's a great source of pride. I have been working for a long time in a sector that is generally quite feminine. However, the leading positions were often held by men. In recent years, things have changed a lot and that's very positive.
Personally, I have never felt that I had to prove more because I am a woman, but I imagine that this is not the case in all sectors. So I am proud to see and participate in my own way to this evolution.
With the recent announcements of management changes at Orange and Veolia, there has been a big spotlight on women executives. You are one of these women. What does that mean to you ?
CAC 40 companies have evolved a lot in the last few years and these two appointments confirm it, but there is still a long road to go. Executive committees have increased female representation, especially in functional positions such as marketing or HR; management or operational positions are still very often held by men. The evolution of companies follows the evolution of society, so it is not surprising to see this delay in large companies.
If we look at our grandparents' generation, many women did not work or held low-skilled positions because of a lack of diplomas. Society, on a professional level, valued men much more. Today this is no longer the case.
Public authorities have also made it possible to initiate these fundamental changes in companies by asking them to engage in gender equality and equity issues. I am confident that things are moving in the right direction.
Is there a woman who particularly inspires you ?
Yes, my mother ! She raised 3 children while working alongside my father in the family business. Today, I know how difficult it is to reconcile a professional and personal life. It's a lot of organization, a lot of stress to succeed in combining everything. But I didn't feel any difficulty when I was a child. So I try to learn from my mom to be able to do it all at the same time !
If you had to give one piece of advice to a 20 year old girl today, what advice would you give her to help her thrive in the workplace ?
To do things with your heart !
Justine Salvi
Justine, can you introduce yourself ?
My name is Justine, I am Country Manager Switzerland at FCM Travel and I am also the mother of a 5 months old boy.
From a professional point of view, what are the challenges you are passionate about on a daily basis ?
What I particularly appreciate in my job are the exchanges and the human contact, the proximity with the teams and the customers. I am also keen to get involved in the company's development and to represent it as best I can !
What does it mean to you to be a female leader ?
It's brand new ! I took this position very recently, so it's a real challenge. But it's also a great opportunity to highlight the women’s place in the workplace.
With the recent announcements of management changes at Orange and Veolia, there has been a big spotlight on women executives. You are one of these women. What does that mean to you ?
It's reassuring; it's a sign that society is evolving and that women and their place in the professional environment are increasingly being recognized. But it's also a pity that it took so long to get here. Fortunately it is not like this everywhere. At FCM, for example, we do not judge the skills or the possibility of career progression of a person according to their gender but rather according to their skills.
Is there a woman who particularly inspires you ?
It's the women around me who inspire me! The ones I work with on a daily basis, the ones who juggle between their career and their family, the ones who create their own adventures, the ones who fight for their convictions or against an illness.
If you had to give one piece of advice to a 20 year old girl today, what advice would you give her to help her thrive in the workplace ?
I would tell her to trust in herself and her abilities, to dare and share her ideas, not to be afraid of her ambitions and that hard work and dedication always pay off in the end. When you think about it, I would give her exactly the same advice I would give to a 20 year old man !
Aude Kremer
Aude, can you introduce yourself ?
As a young mother, I juggle this role with the management of the Barcelona Lab and the tech teams. I have been based in Barcelona for 4 years. That decision was motivated by the desire to find a living environment that was a better fit for me. After 12 years in Paris, I wanted to go abroad again. Having spent my young years abroad as an expat, that leaves a mark.
From a professional point of view, what are the challenges you are passionate about on a daily basis ?
I work in a tech team, but the human aspect remains a priority. I am committed to making sure that the team feels good, has a pleasant environment and good working conditions. This is very helpful to keep them engaged longer.
I am committed to our external customers' satisfaction with zero defect implementation, the right tools and the right support, but also to our internal customers by trying to improve their tools and processes on a daily basis. It's very exciting and you never get bored. The techno & process topics are very diverse and evolve every year.
What does it mean to you to be a female leader ?
Society defines that differentiation, but from a personal perspective, I don't feel like I lead based on my gender or have that label. There may be more emotional intelligence and caring in my approach, but that's an approach we all have at FCM, it's part of our values. Apart from that, my team and I are all about getting results and delivering all our projects on time.
I often hear that women are more aggressive in this type of position to prove they deserve it and to impose on men. But I am very lucky, because at FCM and FCTG, I have never felt the need to do so.
With the recent announcements of management changes at Orange and Veolia, there has been a big spotlight on women executives. You are one of these women. What does that mean to you ?
It's very positive to see that society is moving towards better equal opportunities. To be able to have role models for our female students and show them that it is possible to succeed is very important.
Is there a woman who particularly inspires you ?
I have lived in Myanmar for many years. Since I was 11 years old, I have admired Aung San Suu Kyi, who opposed the military junta and dedicated her life to her country. Her character has certainly suffered from some criticism but it is always difficult to be set up as a model. She remains a woman with her shortcomings like the rest of us.
If you had to give one piece of advice to a 20 year old girl today, what advice would you give her to help her thrive in the workplace ?
Don't give in to the impostor’s syndrome. Don't think that you won't be able to do this or that job. Men don't ask themselves that kind of question. Each job change was a huge stretch for me but each time the challenge was worth it.