Audencia's Alumni Magazine

To meet the challenges of climate change, the redistribution of the energy mix has now become unavoidable. Emmanuel Legrand, 1991 graduate of the CentraleSupelec school and Audencia (Exec MBA 09), is today Director of the Energy and Ecological Transition Department at the Caisse des Dépôts group. He provides us with an update on the issue.

“This is an extremely vast subject at the heart of which lie two existential goals: combating global warming and maintaining biodiversity,” explains Emmanuel Legrand. “In response, France must work proactively towards rebuilding its energy production tool as part of a necessary decarbonisation plan. We have the production assets, notably nuclear power plants, which will gradually reach the end of their life. Choices will have to be made. What types of new assets should we build? These are choices for society to make.” These choices will be clarified in the new multiannual energy programming that will be available by the summer of 2023.

Renewable energy will no doubt be further strengthened, states Emmanuel Legrand. The distribution between photovoltaics, offshore wind and onshore wind is likely to shift in favour of the first two. A new balance will also be defined between renewable energy and nuclear energy. To this end, feasibility studies for the construction of three new pairs of EPR facilities are already underway.”

Another choice, a subject of widespread debate at a European level, is the topic of hydrogen.

“At a time when we are turning away from Russian gas supplies, green hydrogen production, i.e., produced from carbon-free electricity, remains a crucial challenge,” adds Emmanuel Legrand. “However, it will take around ten years for the production costs of green hydrogen to come down to the levels of grey hydrogen generated from fossil fuels.”

Meanwhile, The Mag gives voice to our Audencia alumni involved in all aspects of energy production, right from fossil fuel resources to renewables and the nuclear industry.

Have a great read!

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

From his birth town of Guinea-Conakry to the Ivorian, Congolese, Ugandan, Cameroonian and Nigerian subsidiaries in which he has worked, Imrane Barry (EuroMBA 22), Director of Marketing Specialties and Commercial Sales within the African division of Total Energies Marketing & Services, is wise to the ways of energy transition. In his view, this is achieved through the collaborative building of tailor-made solutions.

“For me, energy transition can be summed up in this one statement by Henry Ford: Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” This cooperation features heavily in his day-to-day professional life to understand the specific challenges facing his clients and get on board to come up with solutions that are better adapted to their situations and needs.

For, in Africa more so than anywhere else, climate issues, access to energy and socio-economic development remain closely linked.

“Our customers know that fossil fuels are declining, before being all but gone, although there will always be a residual amount (according to IEA scenarios). Yet, it begs the question: what can be done? Indeed shipping, construction sites and African mines still rely on traditional fuels to operate. It is not just a question of bringing in bans, but of making a commitment to providing products and energy solutions that are less carbon intensive and can deliver realistic alternatives.”

This co-constructive reasoning is coupled with a proactive, pragmatic approach: “avoid, reduce, offset.” All emissions that can be avoided should be. All those that can be reduced must be. Furthermore, any residual emissions must be offset.

Imrane is a strong believer in the notion of ‘fair transition’ and refuses to accept the idea that some will be left by the wayside.

“When I was a young boy, people used to drive around with petrol jerrycans in the backs of pickup trucks. I still remember the smell. That was before the advent of modern petrol stations that were set up all over Guinea. Today, as a multi-energy company, our role is to deliver cleaner, more reliable, more accessible energy solutions to as many people as we can, to carry on supporting development in the territories where we are based.

Energy transition must adapt to the various contexts and geographical and social dimensions. This will not be done in the same way, or indeed at the same pace, in different regions of the world. Our role is to support our customers in reducing their carbon footprint, work with them to reflect on the subject, and offer to collaborate on how to come up with concrete solutions that create added value for our stakeholders.”

Florence Alix-Gravellier, Editor

Célia Géfart, is a graduate of the Ecole Centrale Lyon and Audencia (Exec MBA 18). This nuclear sector specialist joins us to explore the role this energy holds in the ongoing debates as to the future of the energy mix.

Could you briefly take us through your professional career path?

I have always been interested in the technical aspects of nuclear energy. I started out working for an engineering and consulting company serving major players in the sector. This included crisis management, the containment of radioactive material, safety reviews and decommissioning. I broadened my field of knowledge before becoming Agency Manager, specifically tasked with managing the key projects and partnerships of a group of agencies. Then, I joined a more generalist energy services company, where I discovered more about supervisory operations. In 2017, I set myself two goals: to supplement my skill-set with an Executive MBA at Audencia and to work in the recruitment industry. I work at MacAnders, a firm specialising in direct approach and I support actors involved in the industry as well as those in energy, providing them with my technical expertise and knowledge of the sector, predominantly in nuclear energy.

In light of the structural context, (the decarbonisation of the economy, the war in Ukraine, etc.), how is nuclear energy to become part of the energy mix over the coming years?

Talks centered around revitalising nuclear energy started to emerge in many countries before the war in Ukraine, in the context of decarbonisation. In France, the closure of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant resulted in the reopening of coal-fired power plants and carbon-sourced electricity. This helped in understanding that it is not easy to replace a nuclear plant with renewable energy. Ironically, this therefore allowed us to better grasp just how complementary they are to each other. It is important to note that, although this may seem counter-intuitive, we are going to have to simultaneously reduce our energy consumption whilst increasing our electricity production to substitute for fossil fuels. In this context, studies conducted by the RTE (Electricity Transmission Network) reveal that transitioning towards all nuclear or all renewables is unfeasible. Both are essential pillars of our future energy mix. Not forgetting that renewables and electric cars are heavily reliant on minerals. Therefore, it is important to bear this new dependency in mind when it comes to redefining the energy mix.

Can the plans to build new EPRs relaunch the nuclear industry as was the case back in the 1970s and 80s?

There will be fewer reactors to build, but given the refitting and maintenance work on the current nuclear plants, plans for small modular reactors (SMR), and resumed talks on the 4th generation of reactors, the labour and investment requirements will stretch our budget capacity to the limit. Inter-sector competition should not be underestimated. The nuclear sector stands to generate between 10 to 15,000 new jobs by 2030, but hydrogen matches this, and that’s before factoring in wind and photovoltaic power! There is also the challenge for the nuclear industry to gain acceptance. In my view, I believe it makes perfect sense when the goal is low-carbon energy and that it holds some interesting technical and organisational challenges. In this regard, those with a management school background are a great match for this industry. Finance, sales, contracting, team and project management, customer-supplier relations and more. Such an array of professional options on offer for people with this training background to bring something to the table and thrive career-wise.

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

Alix Comot (GE 21) and Tiphaine Le Guennec (GE 22), both embarked on a career in renewable energy. Comparative perspectives on a future sector which Alix and Tiphaine have long wished to be part of.

“Even prior to joining Audencia, I already knew that I wanted to work in renewable energy,” says Alix, fascinated by wind turbines since her childhood. “I’ve long been convinced that this sector is essential to society. It is an inspiring sector tackling major challenges such as energy supplies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Therefore, the CSR Specialisation, in which environmental issues are widely addressed, proved particularly well suited to Alix’s environmental streak, especially as she also enjoys rising to a challenge. The fact she knew very little about this relatively technical renewable energy sector was precisely what drew her to it. In August 2019, she got a foot in the door at Neoen, one of the French leaders in renewable energy, initially for an internship which turned into a fixed-term contract, followed by an international volunteer scheme (V.I.E) in Zagreb, where Alix is currently working as a wind and solar energy project leader.

“I initially worked for a couple of years in Brittany, where I was tasked with studying the feasibility of the setting up of wind turbines,” Alix continues. “In Croatia, where I’ve been for the past year, there is a great deal of potential when it comes to wind and photovoltaic power. As it is part of the European Union, the country comes under all the major directives in terms of renewable energy development. It’s exciting to work in a sector and geographical area with development perspectives of such vast scope.”

With close to four years’ experience in the field, Alix can now attest that this high-growth sector requires a multitude of skills and is in no way the sole preserve of engineers. This includes project steering, funding, the development of business models and more.

“Don’t worry about not having the right technical skills to branch into a field that is seemingly unknown,” Alix concludes by way of advice for future Audencia graduates.

This sound advice is not to be refuted by Tiphaine Le Guennec, currently writing her professional thesis on the theme of sobriety as part of her Specialised Master in Actor for Energy Transition:

“The renewable energy sector opens up new opportunities for business school graduates,” she explains. “Companies are interested in the diversity of profiles and skills. We contribute something that is both different and complementary, particularly when it comes to leadership and project management.”

Tiphaine carried out her end-of-studies internship at Valeco, which have been a major player in renewable energy for the past two decades. Recruited as territorial wind turbine development officer on a permanent contract following her internship, she earned her stripes working on the prospecting phase of implementation projects, during which mapping studies are necessary to take into account the many existing urban, aeronautical and environmental constraints. It is only once these constraints have been clearly defined that the local authorities are contacted, as well as the land owners, to present the project to them and share ideas.

“There’s a challenging side to wind power as this energy is not very well understood,” Tiphaine states. “There’s exciting work to be done in terms of teaching and awareness raising in order to bring the stakeholders on board.”

In addition to wind power, Tiphaine believes that an energy mix is also needed. Solar power also has tremendous growth potential. She may work on photovoltaic projects in the future. “For example, more and more thought is currently being given to the development of agrivoltaics,” she explains.

“This involves the installation of solar panels on agricultural surfaces whilst at the same time maintaining the livestock farming. The aim is to achieve a real synergy between agricultural activity and the production of renewable energy. Research shows this can have a positive impact, particularly on animal well-being thanks to the shade it provides that maintains humidity levels and keeps surface temperatures cool during the summer months.”

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

Decarbonising human activities is a singular challenge for diesel engines driving our construction sites, powering our boats and fuelling our backup generators. Bruno Lescher (Exec MBA 11), engineer entrepreneur with a thousand faces and Chief Impact Officer at the Fétis family group, brings us up to speed on the latest innovations to hit the hydrogen sector that are supporting energy transition.

Abandoning fossil fuels used in industrial activities, where fuel remains popular for its economic affordability and ease of access, merits in-depth consideration on its usages, alternatives and distribution. The Nantes based company Fétis, founded in 1978 by Jacques and Marie-Paule Fétis to distribute and repair diesel engines, is committed to supporting this transition aiming to progressively replace fossil fuels with green hydrogen.

“There are two types of hydrogen,” explains Bruno Lescher, who joined Fétis in 2020, at the request of Damien Fétis, his former class-year schoolmate at ESME. “The hydrogen currently used in heavy industry comes from natural gas, so this does not cut the mustard given the ultimate objective is decarbonisation. However, the other form of hydrogen, produced from wind, solar and water, now this is perfectly renewable and therefore virtuous. Unfortunately, this is still only produced in very limited quantities.”

Production that goes beyond the confidential framework of a few climate pioneers, this is the challenge awaiting the energy sector. Yet, it is also necessary to design and develop engines which can run on these new fuels, adapting them to the machines without compromising on performance but also, and above all else, to convince users to switch to these new engines.

“The savings made in this new sector will be crucial: now is the time to move from prototypes to large-scale production and drastically reduce the production costs, hence sales. Otherwise, the users just won’t go for it. There is also the issue involving the distribution infrastructures. The proximity to a power source, the cost and accessibility of charging facilities, having simple procurement procedures, so everything needs to be rethought on a sector-wide scale if hydrogen is to become a serious alternative to diesel. 

Especially since the future stands to be multi-energy,” Bruno predicts, “with as many sources as there are usages: short battery-powered commutes and longer journeys using hydrogen engines or synthetic fuel. So, delivering all this with a one-stop-shop, this is the ultimate challenge the sector needs to pull off.”

Florence Alix-Gravellier, Editor

Two years after the launch of Audencia’s strategic plan ECOS 2021-2025, the year 2022 saw many fruitful projects coming to life and the time has now come to take stock and catch up on how these various projects are progressing. It is also an opportunity to get a glimpse of the outlook for the coming years.

Gaïa bursts into orbit

First and foremost, this was a year marked by the impressive rise of Gaïa, the school launched by Audencia for ecological and social transition, which welcomed in its first-ever class year of students. In total, no fewer than 300 students on the Grande Ecole programme signed up for a term entirely devoted to the management of ecological and social transition, on the Master 1. Moreover, very active in the field of acculturation to environmental and social issues, Audencia and Gaïa made a positive contribution towards several of 2022’s high points. Featured amongst them, the “Business & Society” seminar, held last June at Audencia’s Mediacampus, bringing together around thirty teacher-researchers in the field of CSR, as well as the “Gaïa Decrypts” web series, and several Open Gaïa conferences for students and staff.

A portfolio brimming with programmes

In terms of programmes, in 2022 Audencia once again demonstrated its ability to keep its finger on the pulse of the latest trends, with the launch of a task force aimed at promoting conversational and/or generative AI, such as ChatGPT, by adding this to the curriculum and adapting it to course assessments. AI which, in parallel, is being rolled out on the Grande Ecole programme, with 5 new digital courses delivering 24 hours of lessons for first-year students, and incorporated on the Audencia Bachelor in Management syllabus.

In general terms, the portfolio of Audencia’s programmes is growing. Hence, it should be noted that, while the original aim was to introduce 20 new initial training programmes, there are in fact 26 programmes which have started or are due to open between 2021 and 2023, including 17 new MSc, 3 Bachelor’s hybrid degrees, and 3 Bachelors of Science in China.

Active learning

Another of our flagship projects endorsed in 2022 and being implemented at the start of the new school year: the opening of a brand new 7,000 m² campus near Paris. At this new location in Saint-Ouen, to replace the former campus of Montparnasse, some 500 students, 240 of whom serving apprenticeships, are due to start as of September 2023, with 2,000 students by 2025. What a great way to celebrate our 10th year in Paris! On this occasion, new learning spaces will be created, featuring modular furniture, a range of seating, write-on walls, and multiple learning areas to facilitate active learning. Changes will also be affecting the outside spaces of Audencia’s Atlantic Campus in Nantes, with the arrangement of future outdoor spaces dedicated to Gaïa pedagogy. Innovation made in Audencia cultivating the well-being of its stakeholders.

Eléonore de Vaumas (SciencesCom 11), Editor
© Thomas Louapre

In the first term of 2023, we have hit the ground running and there have been three main high points. To begin with, there was the Career Connections Week, our 3-day event dedicated to students and to developing their professional career plan. This was followed by the eagerly awaited graduation awards ceremony for the class of 2022, held in February, and the specialised masters’ celebration soirée held in the following month. Events for which the guiding principles were reconnection and sharing, and all taking place in a festive and friendly atmosphere.

From 16 to 18 January, it was time for the Career Connections Week at Audencia! A 3-day programme during which our first-year students on the Grande Ecole programme were given the opportunity to take part in career development workshops, interact with alumni and meet with our corporate partners.
The objectives? To discover the corporate world and its various professions and sectors of business activity, get inspired, help students find the right fit when building their academic and professional path, hone in on their choices as to whether to opt for a 2-month internship abroad or a long internship in France or overseas (4 to 6 months) in June 2023. All in all, to enable them to act now to advance their future career! This event was also an opportunity to meet up again with 12 alumni who came along to share their experience, talk about their own pathways and give advice to students. A huge thank you to Marie-Aude Boscher (GE 02), Charlie Cassam Chenai (GE 10), Diane Delval (GE 20), Victor Fernandez (GE 17), Damien Garot (GE 10), Claire Marc (MBA 04), Coline Mazeyrat (GE 11), Marion Mechali (GE 14), Katia Paré (GE 18), Jérôme Pasquet (MBA 06), Philippe Rol (MOS 18) and Léa Thomas Torrecillas (GE 19).

Smiles, memories, and anecdotes

Another eagerly awaited moment: the graduation ceremony* for the class of 2022. On 3 and 4 February, attendees gathered at the Zénith in Nantes. This marked the culmination of several years of study at Audencia and the start of their pursuit of a promising professional career. The event was an opportunity to congratulate the new 1,856 alumni members!

As for the Atlantic Campus in Nantes, on 8 March it opened its doors to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Specialised Master® MASC and the 20th anniversary of the Specialised Master® MCI!

“We were delighted to meet with the students and graduates! It also provided the chance for us to thank all those who are actively involved in the programmes and support them at every stage of their training pathway”, expressed Olga Batrak, head of the Specialised Master MASC.

Around a hundred people were in attendance. On the programme of this anniversary evening: a tour of the campus and all the new features and a conference given on the theme of “International risks: how to successfully manage a development project in sensitive environments”, with Yves-André Lagadic, who started his career at the Ministry of the Armed Forces, primarily mandated with sensitive operations at sea, before taking up responsibility for security in a large international group. Also, in the company of Claire Venard, affiliated to Team Export France who has international experience and supports business leaders and their companies. Rounding off this special evening, there was a cocktail reception, where the various class years got to mingle and enjoy a time of sharing with one another. This was a great way for them to share their memories and swap anecdotes on their past times spent at Audencia.

“Congratulations to our MCI alumni on your magnificent career paths!” concludes Beatrice du Mesnil, in charge of this programme, who was delighted to share in these moments of conviviality.

*Specialised Masters Programmes® - MBA Community - Executive Programmes - Bachelor - Audencia SciencesCom – International Masters - Grande Ecole

Florence Falvy, Editor

Victoria Mandefield, honoured as the 2023 Influential Leader by AACSB

Victoria Mandefield (GE 18), at 28 years of age, is the CEO of Solinum, a social impact startup founded during her engineer-manager studies at Audencia to create Soliguide, an online platform providing vital information for people in difficulty.

Today, Soliguide is deployed across 29 French departments, delivering close to 50,000 vital services for the most vulnerable, thanks to 34 employees mobilised throughout these regions.

In such a heavily male-dominated field, this young woman’s profile stands out and is highly convincing: for public authorities, Victoria is regarded as a key ally, facilitating decision making in the field of solidarity. Since 2021, Victoria Mandefield has also been a board member of the French Red Cross.

“We are pursuing a strategy which seeks to diversify the profiles of those being put forward for these award nominations,” explains Katie Francois, in charge of alumni community development both internationally and across the MBA programmes. “It is clearly a great way for them to gain recognition from their peers and to celebrate their achievements, but it’s equally a way to showcase all the various facets of our Audencia programmes. Victoria is a fine example of this school of a thousand faces.”

Discover the Iconic Alumni portrait of Victoria Mandefield

Audencia becomes hat-trick award winner at the AMBA evening gala

On 9 December 2022, the traditional AMBA and BGA Excellence Awards Ceremony was held in London, during which Audencia and graduates of the school became the proud recipients of three distinguished awards.

• Commended for Audencia’s Gaïa programme, first of all with the congratulations of the jury in the “CSR Initiative & Sustainable Development” category. It was a close runner-up to the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies School of Business, honoured for its “Training global talents with CSR competency and a sense of sustainability” initiative.

• Damien Demoor (Exec MBA 15) was awarded first prize in the “Startup of the Year” category for Greenov, the new player in maritime CleanTech, involved in promoting blue growth by reducing harmful underwater noise pollution, vessel collisions with marine animals, pollution caused by ships, and other negative human impacts.

• Finally, Jérôme Pasquet (MBA 06) became the proud recipient of the “Entrepreneur of the Year award”, for PeeKin, the mislaid objects’ management solution for professionals, founded in 2017 and incubated at Audencia. “I am glad and proud for PeeKin and Audencia, and very happy for Damien Demoor’s well-deserved award,” he stated in his acceptance speech, in which he highlighted the quality of entrepreneurship education at Audencia.

Florence Alix-Gravellier, Editor

A global 18-day, whistle-stop tour bringing together our international alumni communities, with thirty or so planned gatherings, and so much more. Many alumni have been beavering away to ensure this annual Around The World event is a resounding success. Focus on this 5th edition, coming soon from 24 March to 10 April.

This event brings our alumni communities together, as well as the 8,500 graduates outside France spread far and wide across 5 continents, from Barcelona to Seoul, and the United States, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Algiers, Montreal, to Munich. As we storm into this 18-day trip across the globe, the Audencia Around The World event is shaping up to be a real triumph, thanks to our alumni ambassadors organising the festivities. Starting orders for this year’s 5th edition will be given on 24 March. For each leg of the tour, the same goal: “to inspire solidarity,” highlights Katie Francois, Alumni Relations Manager.

Make way for thirty or so events!

Kicking off the tour, on 25 March, the Audencia Alumni Association board will be stopping off in Barcelona for an urban hike in the heart of the city. Featured activities, which make sense of and fall totally in line with CSR policy, include two groups of students who will be taking part in a clean-up of Westerpark, Amsterdam on 29 March at 6 p.m. Then, the following day, there’s a gathering at the Clock Hotel, in the unmissable Surry Hills, overlooking Crown Street in Sydney. Our alumni attendees in New York are not to be outdone, since we have a treasure hunt in store for them taking place on 4 April, with Grand Central Station providing the starting point, followed by refreshments at Luke's Lobster. Alumni from Azerbaijan, spread across the globe (Switzerland, Dubai, etc.,) will also show up in response to the call. This is a great opportunity to make way for some wonderful reunions.

Our Audencia teams will also be mobilised. Firstly, on 30 March in Casablanca, when Christophe Germain, the Dean of Audencia, will be in attendance. On the next day, what a perfect opportunity to meet up in Algiers with faculty member Olga Batrak. German Professor, Uwe Supper, is due to attend events in both the Netherlands and Germany. Also, Matthieu Bonnamy, Head of Audencia Alumni, will be heading over to Montreal and New York to reconnect with graduates.

There’s still time for you to get involved!

Before the festivities commence, there’s one last message Katie Francois would like to address to our ambassadors:

“Please know that it’s never too late for you to take part in this Around The World event, to suggest an activity, launch a challenge, or quite simply get together. Feel free to send in your photos for the Audencia team to share on social media.”

All that remains now is for us all to unleash our creativity and get inventive.

Florence Falvy, Editor

There are countries where access to energy, particularly electricity, is by no means a given. This is the case in Cameroon, where Baptiste Arnaudo (GE 19), the holder of a double degree from Audencia and Centrale earned in 2019, has worked as a project engineer for EDF on a hydroelectric project conducted as part of his studies.

It was at the school of Centrale Nantes, where he was pursuing a double degree in engineering, that Baptiste Arnaudo was to first develop a keen interest in renewable energy. This interest proved instrumental in orienting his professional internships then, after graduation, in steering his career towards the sector.

“During my internships, I had the chance to work on a range of projects linked to solar power in Africa and the Middle East. Initially, from France and then out in South Africa where I worked on site in a solar power plant,” explains the engineer, who also holds a Grande Ecole master earned at Audencia in 2019.

Three years after this experience, wanderlust set in again. This time, he headed out to Cameroon, where the young man had landed a one-year VIE (Volunteer for International Experience) with EDF.

“My work involved studying environmental and societal issues as part of studies being conducted into a new hydroelectric project,” he adds.

Inequality of access to electricity

There, the engineer would often go into the field, where he discovered a vast country of contrasts. In the South, where the bulk of the dams are concentrated due to it having the largest rivers, the electricity network is more developed and the electrification rate can reach up to 90%, chiefly in the major urban areas of which there are plenty! However, to the north of the country, the landscape gives way to large expanses of desert, while the central region alternates between high mountain plateaus and savannas. In these predominantly rural areas, electrical coverage can fall below a rate of 20%.

“There are significant disparities on this level, especially since the electricity grid is also highly fragmented and particularly as there are no cables to connect the electric production sources in the south to the more remote areas in the north of the country. Not to mention the problem of underproduction which is still a real issue,” Baptiste Arnaudo explains.

Large-scale projects

To address this challenge, programmes to deliver on electrification and energy access are frequently conducted. Major infrastructure projects are also examined to increase the production of electricity. The Cameroonian state is very willing to act on this issue. Having observed this first-hand, the engineer confirms:

“The new hydroelectric projects are eagerly awaited as, over time, they will enable the production of over 30% of the country’s electricity production.”

Now back in France since the end of 2022, Baptiste Arnaudo will not be directly involved in the roll-out of these projects which will take several years to complete. Nevertheless, he continues to pursue the same goal he set himself at the end of his studies: to use his double degree to support renewable energy.

Eléonore de Vaumas (SciencesCom 11), Editor
© Thomas Louapre

Two years ago, Louis de Casabianca (2022 Grande Ecole Programme) benefitted from the support of the Audencia Foundation when launching his Terroir des Anges company. This year, he is committed to giving back by becoming a donor to help support students in need. He shares his story.

Terroir des Anges seeks to raise the profile of French spirits amongst consumers. How did you initially come up with the idea?

I’m very fortunate to originate from several different regions across France. Indeed, my family roots are in Corsica, Gironde, Champagne and Normandy. All these regions have strongly shaped their local characteristics in terms of spirits. This is where my sensitivity to this field originally stems from. Spirits are part of the French art de vivre and I have long wanted to make this into my career. Furthermore, the Terroir des Anges company was born at a time when the commercial development of French whisky was really starting to take off. Terroir des Anges is an online marketing platform for French spirits aimed at private individuals, notably on a subscription box basis. But we have also grown our B2B, by including wine and champagne.

You launched your company during your final months of study and received support from the Audencia Foundation. Just how critical did this support prove?

I first started to develop Terroir des Anges as part of the entrepreneurship specialisation, which provides a great support hub, with a team of faculty staff specialised in various fields of business creation. Sébastien Ronteau, a lecturer and co-head of the Exploration and Entrepreneurship Centre, has been advising me from the very outset of my venture. He initially put me in touch with the Audencia Foundation, which provided me with financial backing. The Audencia Foundation supported me with a monthly grant aimed at covering the living costs of entrepreneurs embarking on a startup project. I was a beneficiary for a period of six months. When starting up a business, any financial support you can get is crucial to help keep the business afloat before it can then go on to stand on its own two feet. This certainly proved the case for me with the support I received from the Foundation.

This year, the opportunity has arisen for you to get involved yourself by giving back to support students. So, how exactly have you done this?

Audencia entrusted Terroir des Anges to customise their 2023 class-year bottles of champagne. During the graduation ceremony, held recently on 3 and 4 February this year, the graduates were able to purchase a bottle in the colours of their class year. For each bottle sold, 4€ went to the Audencia Foundation helping to support students in difficulty, a total of 2000€ donation. Our active involvement in this sale as an act of solidarity is an opportunity for me to express my gratitude to the Foundation. It’s my turn now to be in a position to offer a helping hand and play my part for an institution that has supported me well!

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

Holder of the Actor for Energy Transition Specialised Master (MS APTE) in 2022, Mylène Magnon benefitted from the support of the Audencia Foundation to launch Du Flocon au Colibri (From Snowflake to Hummingbird), her consultancy business helping companies to navigate their corporate transformation.

The creation of your consultancy practice is the result of a career change you embarked on a few years ago. Can you tell us about this?

For twenty or so years, I held a range of positions as a Corporate Social and Environmental Safety Quality Manager, working for both laboratories and mass-distribution purchasing centres, as well as in industry. Over time, I wanted to move more towards CSR and energy transition. By setting up Du Flocon au Colibri, I wanted to have a greater impact on organisations in terms of change and environmental transition. Formerly, by taking part in a linear economy, I was a snowflake, never feeling responsible for the avalanche. Today, I am a hummingbird, doing its part to help put out the fire.

Why did you choose to follow Audencia’s Specialised Master ‘Actor for Energy Transition’?

The MS APTE Master was ideal for me to train and gain credibility in terms of the entrepreneurial project I had been refining for some time. I completed my professional thesis on industrial and territorial ecology, which constitutes one of the branches of the circular economy. It corresponds to the procedures used for pooling by-products or waste which can then go on to become raw materials for other firms, in other words valorising the dormant stock stored in companies. This constitutes one of the issues I’m seeking to build my business around. At the same time, I have become a speaker on CSR for the school. I have designed a course for second-year students on the Bachelor’s programme, built on the different concepts of CSR.

The Audencia Foundation has decided to help you in setting up your company. How are you going to make good use of this support? 

The Foundation has indeed decided to award me a start-up grant for my business creation. I really wasn’t expecting it, and it came as a great surprise! It saves me time in the process of setting up my business. I have a three-pronged approach: supporting companies during their CSR and energy transition transformation, teaching in higher education, and subcontracting for consultancies as well as training organisations that at times need to call on the help of freelance consultants.

The Audencia Foundation helps us carry out our projects and makes them more tangible. Its action is essential! I also hope, when my company breaks even, to go over to the other side of the fence and become a donor in my turn, in return for the help I have received.

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

Armel Le Blanc, holder of an Executive MBA from Audencia earned in 2015, cofounded the KERANUM company in 2021, which assists local authorities in their digital transformation and energy sobriety strategy. The stakes have never been greater, to help tackle the unprecedented rise in energy costs.

Over the past few months, the world has been in the grip of an energy crisis that is weighing down heavily on local authority budgets. Better management of their electricity and water consumption is becoming a challenge they cannot shy away from. To this end, support is required. In any case, this is the observation made by Armel Le Blanc, associate director at KERANUM, who supports them throughout their energy efficiency initiative by bringing along his digital expertise to help transform the technical systems of these territories.

“The latter are exceedingly constrained by their budgetary capacity and must now make real trade-offs. They are on the lookout for concrete solutions, both immediate and long term, to be able to respond as best they can to their energy shift and make valuable savings.”

Green and connected

The approach of KERANUM is comprehensive and overarches all the issues related to environmental and energy transition, including opportunity and feasibility studies, the development of well-mastered plans, assignments as Assistant to the Contracting Authority (ACA) and Contract Project Management.

“Beyond the technical skills we provide to local authorities, we also help them a great deal on a strategic level. The idea is to get them to grasp the benefits of initiating these transformations for themselves but also to consider the impact on their organisations,” Armel Le Blanc explains.

At a time when ecological and energy transition is required on all fronts, local authorities can rely on the entrepreneur’s experience, as he is already well versed in these issues.

“When the question of resuming my studies came up, it was at a time when I was in full ecological awareness. As a forerunner in terms of its CSR initiative, Audencia already ticked this all-important box. However, this wasn’t the only one as, on the course I followed, I found all the theoretical and practical answers I needed to set up my own company,” shares the telecom engineer by training, having taken advantage of a redundancy plan around the age of 40 to embark on a professional change in direction.

He went on to spend five years as a sales director for the SPIE CityNetworks group based in western France, that helped seal the deal as to his conviction that the future, for both his company as well as himself, would be green and connected.

Eléonore de Vaumas (SciencesCom 11), Editor
© Thomas Louapre

Today, energy is everywhere you look. This sector certainly has some great professional opportunities on offer. That is provided you heed some of the sound advice given by fellow alumni who have embraced a career in this sector.

Destined to work in the field of mass distribution, Christophe Menger started working in this sector a little by chance, when he first set foot in Kazakhstan. Following experiences in Moscow, he was spotted by the Anglo-Saxon company NES Fircroft. Now settled in Manchester, he made it to Managing Director. His role: to recruit engineers on behalf of customers in the energy sector.

Get the training you need

“There’s no need to go to engineering school and have a background as a technician. However, you should be aware that while the energy market is a strategic sector that invests massively in R&D, it is also closed. So, before diving in, you’ll need to put in the groundwork early on and do the training, as was the case for me at the IFP School (the French Institute of Petroleum) in Paris, focussing on the energy sector and the oil industry more specifically. To enhance your professional experience, it is also essential to step up the number of internships.”

Get yourself out there

“It’s important to seek contact with market players who are approachable and keen to share their knowledge, get yourself along to the trade fairs etc.”

Become proficient in the language of Shakespeare

This sector has an international resonance, offering you the chance to travel abroad. Consequently, having a good level of English is a must. Clearly, you need to be willing to expatriate and be able to adapt to other cultures.”

Sarah Diouri wanted to work in an impact sector. After joining teams at the World Bank and working on topics related to agriculture and the environment, she went on to join an engineering firm in Morocco focussed on energy efficiency and renewable energy, before working for an incubator supporting start-ups with a social or environmental impact. Since 2020, she has been Director of R&D and Innovation at IRESEN in Rabat. Her mission: the establishment of programmes to support innovative projects promoting energy transition.

Keep up with current events

“Global events (the war in Ukraine etc.,) affect the sector and indeed major decisions are made on an international level. My top piece of advice: keep up to speed with the news and remain on permanent standby. Hence, the importance of attending events (annual COP meetings, etc...) as well as conferences and so forth, to keep informed on current technological and geopolitical trends. Good to know: the World Bank provides free online seminars.”

Stand out from competitors

“You need to be aware of the strategic nature of this ever-shifting market. This is a sector where the places come at a premium and remain highly coveted. To stand out, what’s essential is getting the right training, and maybe even specialising.”

Make room for innovation

“You need to have an aptitude for innovation if you are to support energy transition. Indeed, energy is one of those areas where you need to come up with alternatives. It is therefore a question of technological innovation but it equally entails supply sources and strategic dynamics (private/public partnerships for instance).”

Florence Falvy, Editor

• Friday 24: Around the World in Hong Kong
• Friday 24: Around the World in Dubai
• Saturday 25: Around the World in Los Angeles
• Saturday 25: Around the World in Barcelona
• Sunday 26 : Around the World in San Francisco
• Tuesday 28: Around the World in Montréal
• Wednesday 29: Around the World in Amsterdam
• Wednesday 29: Around the World in Geneva
• Wednesday 29: Around the World in Sao Paulo
• Wednesday 29 : discussions about « Métavers, création et propriété intellectuelle »
• Wednesday 29: Interalumni evening - Le Mans
• Thursday 30 : COACHFERENCE™ « Le pouvoir de l'Engagement Personnel Intérieur » - Geneva
• Thursday 30: webinar #NégoTraining (only for women)
• Thursday 30: Around the World in Ho Chi Minh City
• Thursday 30: Around the World in Casablanca
• Thursday 30: Around the World in Sydney
• Thursday 30: Around the World in Toronto
• Thursday 30: Around the World in Abidjan
• Thursday 30: Around the World in Londres
• Friday 31: Around the World in Algiers
• Friday 31: Around the World in Seoul

• Saturday 01 : Around the World in Shenzhen
• Saturday 01 : Around the World in Tokyo
• Saturday 01 : Around the World in Baku
• Saturday 01 : Around the World in Fès
• Saturday 01 : Around the World in Milan
• Tuesday 04: Around the World in Bruxelles
• Tuesday 04: Around the World in New York
• Tuesday 04: Around the World in Zürich
• Tuesday 04: Around the World in Luxembourg
• Tuesday 04 : afterwork - Nantes
• Wednesday 05: Around the World in Lisbon
• Wednesday 05: Around the World in Melbourne
• Thursday 06: Around the World in Munich
• Thursday 06 : Be a boss - Nantes
• Friday 07: Around the World in Phnom Penh
• Saturday 08: Around the World in Chengdu
• Monday 10: Around the World in Madrid
• Thursday 13 : webinar Club Transitions « Changement climatique et action en entreprise »
• Saturday 15: Around the World in Shanghai
• Saturday 15: guided visit « Le Paris des Huguenots au temps de la reine Margot » - Paris (6^e)
• Tuesday 18 : ApéroPitchs - Club Entrepreneurs - Paris
• Saturday 22: Hiking in Kamakura
• Tuesday 25 : AMBA webinar "Top tips on professional networking"

• Wednesday 10: AMBA event - Barcelona
• Thursday 11 : webinaire [atelier] « Les liaisons vertueuses en milieu professionnel : du réseau aux liens ! » avec Julie Guény (GE 01)
• Thursday 11 : webinaire "When career change goes wrong and how to fix it" avec la Professeur Herminia Ibarra
• Saturday 13: guided visit « Ramsès & l’or des Pharaons » - Paris (19^e)
• Wednesday 24 : CONCOURS AUDACE and awards ceremony - Nantes
• Thursday 25: AMBA webinar "Screen presence - showing up to Lead"

• Saturday 03: guided visit « Le Faubourg Saint-Antoine » - Paris (11^e)
• Monday 19 : afterwork - Boston

“Bref, tu vas devenir parent!” (“So, you’re going to be a parent!”)

Whether you are a prospective or seasoned parent curious to learn more, this is the book for you. It aims to provide verified, pragmatic information that is ready to use for soon-to-be parents going through pregnancy in France. Drawing on their own experience, Mélanie Vieira and her husband position themselves against the rising tide of clichés that abound on the subject of pregnancy. This book addresses all aspects of daily life as well as the medical, administrative, and psychological aspects involved, informing parents on the path they are about to take.

Mélanie Vieira (GE 12) - Published by Amalthee Editions (2023)

“The Essentials of Financial Modeling in Excel: A Concise Guide to Concepts and Methods”

Dr. Michael Rees delivers a practical and hands-on introduction to financial modeling in Excel. The author offers readers a well-structured and strategic toolkit to learn modeling from scratch, focusing on the core economic concepts and the structures commonly required within Excel models.

REES Michael - Published by Hoboken: Wiley Editions (2023)

“Think Human, la révolution de l’Expérience Client à l’heure du digital” (“Think Human, Customer Experience in the Digital Age”)

In an increasingly competitive and digitalised world, where experience has become queen, Olivier Duha, who has amassed two decades at the helm of Webhelp, highlights the radical evolution in customer relations and draws up six golden rules to maximise customer satisfaction.  Long neglected and perceived as a “necessary evil”, the customer relationship has now become a key strategic resource, contributing to value creation. The digital revolution is not about replacing humans with technology but, quite the contrary, about putting technology at the service of humans.

Olivier Duha (MSCI 93) - Published by Eyrolles Editions (2022)

“Towards a Polyphonic Approach to Change Management”

Thanks to numerous case studies, the book provides the reader with a rich and concrete understanding of the main phenomena linked to any change process. This approach leads to a multidimensional grid for assessing change processes and pleads for the adoption of a “polyphonic” management style, in which considering the interests of the various stakeholders concerned directly contributes to the design of change projects.

Jean-Luc Castro, PICHAULT F., CHEVALIER F. - Published by Cambridge Scholars Editions (2022)

“Families in Business: The Next Generation of Family Evolution”

This book offers a ‘contemporary’ understanding of families in business and serves as a springboard for ongoing evolution of families, their composition, transformations, and activities. The concept of ‘family in business’ as a socially constructed entity allows for not only a broader scope of the concept to include individuals who share a faith, but also multi- generational families and chosen families.

Kathleen Randerson, FRANK H., DIBRELL C., MEMILI E. - Published by New York: Routledge Editions (2022)

“Digital Business Models. The New Value Creation and Capture Mechanisms of the 21st Century”

A business model basically describes the way a company makes money. Yet, often we use digital services for free (e.g. Facebook, Google or WhatsApp) or for what seems to be a relatively minor price (e.g. Blablacar, Airbnb, and Amazon). Digital business models are different to traditional business models. Digital Business Models explains the key challenges and characteristics of the various business models that are used by digital businesses. Among other things, this book details successful customer acquisition tactics and the development of business ecosystems by digital players.

Sébastien Ronteau, MUZELLEC L., SAXENA DEEPAK D., TRABUCCHI D. - (1st ed.) - Published by Berlin: De Gruyter Editions (2022)

Séverine Richou, on behalf of the Audencia Alumni team

A number of Audencia alumni have changed post in recent months. Congratulations to each and every one of them on these wonderful new appointments:

Charles Bassi (GE 12) has been appointe ESSCA Director, Bordeaux Campus

Géraldine Bornes (GE 02) has been appointed Communications Director Gamm vert, Frais d'ici, Bio&Co at Teract (InVivo)

Charles Brisbois (GE 95) has been appointed Chief Financial Officer Corporate & Innovation at Orange

Olivier Fretay (Exec MBA 20) has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at Codes Rousseau

Pierre Gauthier (EIBM 06) has been appointed Country manager France and Italy at Silverpush France

Elodie Gervaise (GE 04) has been appointed Human Resources Business Partner at Kering

Mathilde Gineste-Guillemin (GE 06) has been appointed Director of Communications, Marketing and E-commerce at Sévéa

Thomas Joron (GE 98) has been appointed Regional Sales Director at Wanzl France

Nicolas Lambert (GE 94) has been appointed Associate Director at IDIA Capital Investissement (Crédit Agricole Group)

Benjamin Lassale (GE 05) has been appointed Head of Audiovisual Unit at Sud Ouest Group

Eric Madar (GE 12) has been appointed M&A Vice-President at Bryan Garnier & Co

Antoine Mayran de Chamisso (GE 07) has been appointed Sales Director in charge of advertising relations at Bayard Média Développement

Bertrand Micheau (EAC 02) has been appointed Managing Director & Partner at Wisper

Claire Mizzon (GE 14) has been appointed International Marketing Director at La Roche Posay (L'Oréal Group)

Juliette Montant (GE 01) has been appointed National Sales and Business Efficiency Director at Fleury Michon

Séverine Muscariello (GE 00) has been appointed Regional Sales Director at SG SMC (Société Générale)

Sophie Neron-Berger (GE 95) has been appointed Chief Executive of Schools & Universities Sections at Sodexo

Jean-Baptiste de Pascal (GE 09) has been appointed Deputy Managing Director at Inter Invest

Samuel Payen (GE 03) has been appointed Commercial Director at Coexya

Thomas Peutin (GE 13) has been appointed Head of STMicroelectronics France

Agnès Pichon (GE 99) has been appointed Director of the Apprenticeship Department at Groupe IGS Occitanie Region

Josselin Pitard (GE 06) has been appointed Vice President - Legal Counsel at BNP

Ludovic Simoens (GE 95) has been appointed Director of Business Marketing Partnerships - EMEA at Netflix

Guillaume Ten Have (GE 13) has been appointed Partner at Capitalmind, Paris

Sophie Triandafyllidès (MSc in Financial Management) has been appointed Director of Administration and Finance at Samoa

Fellow Audencians have launched their own business venture over recent months:

Ludovic Arnaud (SciencesCom 00) is the Founder & Director of SEEKO.pf

Laurie Aufschneider (SciencesCom 13) is the Co-founder of August Architecture - Interior Design

Karim Chellat (Exec MBA 18) is the Co-founder & Managing Partner of 22 Ventures

François-Thibaud Civel (Bachelor 19) is the Co-founder of Comm'Ça

Antoine Cossé (GE 08) is the Co-founder of Dmtr.ai

Annabelle Culty (GE 16) is the Founder of Santana Choux

Valentine Dreyfus (GE 15) is the Founder & General Manager of Mercio

Ulysse Dumez (GE 19) is the Co-founder of MARIUS Step by Step

Célestine Falise (GE 11) is the Founder and CEO of Impact Decision

Eloïse Gilbert (GE 19) is Freelance Editor - Aguaize Editions

Guillaume Gondoin (GE 10) is the Co-founder of Diagoplus

Gérosine Henriot (GE 13) is the Co-founder of HERISTORIA

Marie-José Ossono (Bachelor 17) is the Founder of Paperclip

Mélissa Roux (Bachelor 19) is the Founder of JIM

Cébryle Rubio (BADGE Profit Centre Management 2015) is the Founder and CEO of LinK. Évolution

Marie Sabatier (GE 20) is the Co-founder of Le Bar à Pains

Florence Vandersmissen (SciencesCom 11) is the Founder of Maison Flora

We wish them all the very best for continued success in their professional life!

If you too are changing post or setting up your own business venture, we would love to hear about it. Please drop us a line here at: audenciaalumni@audencia.com

Séverine Richou, on behalf of the Audencia Alumni team