Audencia's Alumni Magazine

In this edition there is a special focus on innovation and in an age of fast-growing artificial intelligence, we have chosen to bring you an AI-generated editorial.

Today, more than ever before, innovation must not only by synonymous with economic growth, but also with the significant contributions being made to our society and our planet.

Impact innovation is the harmonious synergy of creativity and social responsibility. It is the ongoing search for inventive solutions which are not only satisfied with meeting market needs, but also transcending corporate boundaries to generate positive change in our community and beyond.

Audencia delivers the tools required to succeed, yet the onus is on us to redefine the notion of success. Impact innovation relies on our ability to challenge the status quo, rethink our business models, and adopt a holistic approach that integrates the social and environmental stakes.

As members of the alumni community, we have a duty to guide and inspire future generations. Impact innovation may not always be an easy path, yet it is a necessary journey when seeking to build a sustainable future. Whether by developing inclusive technological solutions, promoting sustainable business practices, or investing in social projects, we have the power to redefine the standards of success.

Together let us foster an environment that champions creativity, collaboration and engagement as we build a brighter future.

Have a great read!

Your Audencia Alumni team

On graduating from the Grande Ecole Programme in 2014, Gustave de Campigneulles went on to build an entrepreneurial career spanning three continents. He then joined the team at Google in Zurich. He has continued to hold dear to one unwavering goal: the strengthening of corporate positive impact. He shares his story.

Could you briefly walk us through the main parts of your career path to date?

Following a lightbulb moment during an internship centred around ecotourism impact analysis, I joined Business France in India and the United States to support French entrepreneurs in the areas of cleantech and mobility. Then, for the next five years, I developed platforms across Africa, chiefly digitising employment access, and establishing the first-ever tech unicorn on the continent. In 2019, I arrived in Switzerland armed with my entrepreneurial background and strong convictions about the impact I wanted regarding my professional career. I joined the Strategic Product Partnerships division at Google Maps.

In what way does your position at Google have a societal impact?

The heart of my job is to identify ways to make information more useful. Since being appointed, I have collaborated with the public sector to implement addressing schemes in Africa and draw up transport plans in cities with a predominantly informal network. In addition, to provide better guidance to help people during high traffic in the main transport hubs, I am currently working with our partners to display directions in augmented reality and so simplify access to information.

One would think that artificial intelligence might serve towards strengthening this social impact…

Absolutely! For instance, our teams are working on the analysis of aerial and satellite images to monitor certain indicators of climate change. I exchange with authorities to provide them with this environmental data, with the aim of helping them to adapt their climate plan and reduce their carbon footprint. Today, Copenhagen uses this data to determine where to locate their low-emission zones. Other teams are developing algorithms to support efforts aimed at protecting biodiversity, for example by analysing audio-recording databases to identify certain species and areas in need of protection.

In your professional capacity, do you have the opportunity to get involved in other impactful actions?

Since my initial involvement across the various Audencia associations, I have continued to enjoy playing my part. Today, some 10-20% of my professional time is devoted to voluntary projects in support of the environment and technology. I have introduced our in-house Fresque de la Biodiversité (an interactive workshop aiming to raise awareness about biodiversity), which I head and have developed along with a dedicated newsletter and webpage. I also run workshops for our accelerator startups on the various social issues related to AI, as part of their product development training.

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

In March 2023, partnering with her cousin Cécile, Lara Ngo Van opened the Café Studio. This Parisian hub offers customers a taste of tomorrow’s world, where ecological transition will have become a way of life.

“I knew that I wanted to make a positive impact.” This is how 32-year-old Lara Ngo Van sums up her state of mind after earning her degree on the Grande Ecole Programme back in 2015. With no specific job ideas at the time, she did however have a very clear, deeply-held objective: to do good to society and the planet. From internships to landing her first job, this young woman experienced, in France and overseas, the various ways of how to make a positive impact. Her last job, working for a Berlin-based NGO helping businesses to develop their sustainable development strategies, prompted her to change course.

“In this job, I held a big-picture view. Over time, the mismatch between the extent of the challenges faced and the mindsets of the people I worked with as well as my close circle, sent my head into a spin. I wanted to reposition myself by taking more local, people-centred action,” Lara explains.

Meanwhile, her cousin Cécile, a fashion designer and photographer who had developed a brand of upcycled denim clothing and ran sewing workshops, was looking for a place to bring these different activities together under one roof. So, they decided to combine their two businesses and, just a few months later, they unveiled the Café Studio in the heart of Paris. This café-cum-flea market, where all the furniture is pre-loved, is today a one-stop hub. It has a tearoom which also provides weekend brunches, offers vegetarian and vegan options, and also provides make, repair and re-use clothing workshops. In addition, it has a boutique selling one-off or upcycled items (including jewellery, clothing and paintings), a photography studio for creators and much more besides.

“Here, we foster individual and group dynamics, which in turn allow us to raise awareness about and address the environmental issues at stake,” Lara says.

There is an underlying set of values driving this project: to bring social actors together (this place can also be hired for private corporate functions), share moments of time spent together, slow down the pace of life, reforge social connections with one’s neighbours and more.

“There’s so much here to tempt people to explore, forge bonds and share with others,” explains this young woman entrepreneur.

These objectives, in her view, have impacted a local customer base, who have quickly become regulars. Since its grand opening, within the space of just nine months, the first reports coming in have proven very positive.

“We are not only impacting people who are already convinced by ecological transition. We are also fostering a culture of re-use, veganism, and craftsmanship,” Lara comments. She goes on to say: “At Café Studio, our customers realise that it’s by working together that we stand to build a virtuous, joyful world.”

Anne Dhoquois, Editor

Allowing the shoppers to buy better and the ready-to-wear clothing brands to produce better, for a more sustainable fashion is the aim of Fringuant (Stylish), which is currently revolutionising the world of online sizing recommendation for fashion brands. It offers users a tailored and secure experience thanks to the use of innovative body scanning technology.

Each consumer has their own morphology and each garment is unique. Therefore, it is not always easy to find the perfect size. As a result: “30% of customers don’t risk buying clothes online, 70% of parcel returns are attributed to sizing issues, one in three packages are sent back to online stores (with each return costing between €20 to €40), and 60% of consumers admit to bracketing their purchases (that is to say buying the same item in various sizes before keeping their preferred item and returning the rest),” states Jacques Allibert, (Grande Ecole programme student). Based on this finding, he joined forces with Lancelot Convert (GE 23), Clément Poiret and Zoé Tournant and together they came up with the Fringuant app, a personalised solution for brand sizing recommendations, enabling consumers to find the perfect garment when placing their online shopping orders.

Business genesis

This entrepreneurial journey began in 2021.

“This project started to take shape during our studies at Audencia. The entrepreneurship department at the school suggested we complete our end-of-studies internship developing the idea, so we could launch our project, which they deemed promising. Thanks to the Impulse programme, in January 2022, we went on to receive a grant from the Audencia Foundation. The following month, we won the Audace prize.”

Then the business really started taking off. “In August, we founded Fringuant in Paris which was incorporated into the HEC startup incubator. Next, in October, we conducted our first 500,000 euros funding round with Business Angels, before our first prototype was built in the following month and our first clients started arriving (Côtelé and 17h10).”

Last June, the current version of the app came out, then Marcy Paris, a clothing brand for professionals, also came on board with our solution. “We quickly signed with three other brands: La Fée Maraboutée, Des Petits Hauts and Vanessa Bruno.” Today, six brands in all have adopted this solution and our Fringuant team now employs a staff of ten.

Business concept

“Consumers enter their height, weight and gender directly onto the brand’s website. This sets them up a profile. Next, they use a smartphone or computer to take both a front and side view scan of themselves,” Jacques explains. Thanks to this morphological data capture via artificial intelligence, Fringuant is then able to match the user’s measurements to the garment features (material, elasticity, dimensions, etc.,) of the partner brands. “This enables us to then offer accurate advice on each item.”

Whilst the aim is to find the right garment, ultimately the specific goal is to prevent items being returned, and therefore reduce the transport and carbon impact and cut down on multiple packaging. “For example, our very first client reduced their additional logistic costs due to package returns, which came down by 16%, and they increased their conversions rate (website visitors who are paying customers) by 2.38.” For users, 70% fully engage in the customer experience, with 25% making an in-app purchase.

Future business plans

The four founders, with an average age of 25, are once again holding roundtable discussions.

“Our aim is to step up on the business side of things and pursue our ambition of reaching one million euros in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by the end of 2024. In parallel, we wish to continue to improve and automate the product, which will enable us to offer a turn-key service for the smaller brands.”

New features are also expected for 2024, to advise brands on their collection designs and consumers through a tailored personal-shopper service. At the beginning of 2024, they plan to recruit a sales team. Finally, next year Fringuant will endeavour to win over a new target group: the pre-loved fashion marketplaces.

Florence Falvy, Editor

How did a marketing and growth hacking enthusiast, also a 2006 SciencesCom graduate, go on to become one of the 40 most influential women, according to Forbes France? A look back over the career path of Jessie Toulcanon, the founder and CEO of Pickme.

“I like to have an impact on people’s lives and enhance their user experience,” Jessie Toulcanon explains.

This passion has led to her assuming a range of roles in the field of marketing, digital strategy and e-commerce. Yet, it was her own personal experience that would be the driver to setting up her own company.

"I do a lot of online shopping and, as is the case for many people, I had to endure delivery turmoil,” Jessie tells us. The same could also be applied to the corporate setting. “In light of the growth of e-commerce, delivery solutions were not up to the task in hand. So, I told myself that I might be onto something,” the young woman adds.

Jessie delved deeper into the issue, pitched her project during Startup Weekend events, from which she regularly emerged victorious, and continued to hone her idea: to create a network of individuals able to collect parcels for their out-of-home neighbours. “I quickly sensed a real buzz around Pickme. It seemed to resonate with the people I talked to about it and this provided me with confirmation that there was indeed a real market need,” Jessie explains.

Spurred on by this warm reception, she went on to launch her business in 2019.

“For a long time, I regarded myself as an intrapreneur. However, in my previously held positions as a salaried employee, I was not aligned enough with my values for this to end up being a good fit for me. With Pickme, I provide an on-the-ground solution, that helps people be of service to others, which forges social and local connections, and has a positive impact on the planet as this service prevents failed deliveries,” states Jessie.

Thus, the young woman entrepreneur joined an incubator and added to her staff with first one, then another associate, helping to facilitate a fundraising drive. The team worked in parallel across a range of fronts: company positioning, the recruitment of relay-neighbours (paid up to one euro per delivered package), app development and scouting for partners. In November 2020, Pickme clinched its first-ever contract with GLS. This provided a chance to test out their activity, the reliability of the network, etc., and persuade other transporters to go down the same track. It was mission accomplished, initially with DHL, followed by Colissimo, who have signed up to a 4-year contract.

Following a further fundraising drive, the rolling out of the service in various geographical delivery zones, and the recruitment of several co-workers – a staff of 12 to date –, Pickme is now well and truly on the map. It has even attracted the interest of Forbes France, with Jessie also making it onto their list of the 40 most influential women. This is thrilling for this young woman, “so moved to see the work she’s accomplished going on to be recognised.”

She concludes: “Today, my human, social and environmental values are all aligned. There is growing awareness amongst the package delivery services when it comes to these issues and they are eager to reduce their own environmental impact.”

Anne Dhoquois, Editor

During the last semester of 2023, Audencia has made several major announcements regarding its organisation and operation.

Firstly, Sébastien Tran has been officially appointed as the Dean of our School. He holds a PhD in industrial economics from Paris Dauphine University, as well as an accreditation to lead research in management sciences, awarded by the University of Rouen. Sébastien Tran formerly held the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Pôle Léonard de Vinci (French private university cluster) since February 2022.

Alongside Christophe Collignon, the newly appointed Vice Dean as of last July, Sébastien Tran will be tasked with pursuing the school’s development, both in France and internationally.

To assist him in this role, the future Dean of Audencia will be able to count on the support of a renewed team. Featuring amongst the recent arrivals is Hélène Maubert, who has joined the School as the Head of Finance and Operations.

Several in-house appointments also involve changes in various areas. Frank Dormont, is appointed as the School’s first-ever Chief of Staff. Arnaud Fournier is appointed Marketing & Communications Director at the institution. Finally, up until July 2024, Marc Gibiat will be changing over to his new position as Commercial and Admissions Director, whilst continuing to carry out his current duties (Bachelor and BBA Programmes Director). Given the current highly competitive context, all these changes have been introduced in the very best interests of Audencia, to optimise the School’s performance.

You may have already viewed this across the various media posted in our public spaces: since the start of the academic year, Audencia has adopted new visuals which are now more eye-catching, vibrant and colourful. These reflect the new graphic charter of our School, and are gradually being integrated across all our media content, including our physical media (programme leaflets, exhibition stands, urban signage, press ads, etc.,) as well as our digital media (mailing, websites, banners, etc...).

“The aim of this approach is to valorise the men and women joining our programmes, and it is symbolic of the fulfilment we endeavour to provide through our training. By creating our visual content, we are also seeking to move towards visuals which are more streamlined, easily recognisable, and above all attractive,” explains Arnaud Fournier, Marketing & Communications Director.

By the end of 2023, this new identity is also reflected through the redesign of our www.audencia.com website. This all-new website combines over 20 former websites across Audencia’s digital galaxy, with a view to meeting a key objective: to improve the performance of lead capture. Thus, this website is especially dedicated to applicants and prospects interested in the training and service offerings delivered at the school. Work has been conducted into the ergonomics of the website and its content management with a view to optimising the user experience. An assistance tool has also been implemented to showcase the programmes. Finally, the refined design and streamlined page count make it easier and quicker to access information.

Jean-Baptiste Thibaut, Head of Internal Communications Audencia

In this edition, we will be introducing a new section that is dedicated to the school of Gaïa. Founded in 2021, it seeks to train future management actors, taking account of the social and ecological shifts. Over the months, this will be a chance to discover the ways in which the school is addressing these major 21st century challenges, as seen through the prism of the topics covered in The Mag. Our goal for this edition is to shine a spotlight on positive impact innovation. Prior to this, a short presentation is required alongside José Maillet, Director of Gaïa, Aline Polipowski, Gaïa’s training and development Director, and Benjamin Le Pendeven, Associate Professor, and Head of the “Finance for Innovation” chair.

What is the genesis of Gaïa?

José Maillet: At Audencia, we have been dealing with the topic of CSR for nearly 20 years now. However, with Gaïa, we sought to go one step further. Today, we have blown past 6 of the 9 planetary boundaries defined by researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, in 2009; this exposes us to the irreversible degradation of our environment. We are endeavouring to transform our teaching practices to empower learners to act in a manner that promotes the regeneration of systems, whilst adopting an entrepreneurial mindset.

How is this objective manifesting itself at the school?

Aline Polipowski: Since the start of the 2022 academic year, we now offer Grande Ecole students the chance to follow a semester on the Master 1, representing some 240 hours of lessons dealing with ecological and social transition (the stakes, reference frameworks, the levers of corporate transformation, etc...). In parallel, we deliver conversion programmes with our “Actor for Energy Transition” Specialised Master®, as well as the “Chief Value Officer” Executive Master. The overarching aim, and this forms part of the projects that are gradually getting underway, is also that the whole faculty gains in expertise on these issues.

In what way is Gaïa involved in helping to instigate positive impact innovation?

J. M.: For us, innovation involves working towards setting up a narrative and supporting populations, and seeing beyond technicalities. This work is part of our teaching and learning approach so, once trained, our students have in their skills toolkit a range of avenues for action and levers to activate, to evolve mindsets and practices.

Who does positive impact innovation concern?

Benjamin Le Pendeven: Traditional companies, businesses in the social and solidarity economy (SSE), associations, startups, large groups etc. There are all types of innovative project leaders having a positive impact. These projects, which stand apart from existing models, are double, even triple faceted: economic as well as ecological, social, as well as societal. In France, positive impact innovation is developing at a fast pace, and the specific skills acquired in this area are proving highly sought after by employers.

 

Eléonore de Vaumas (SciencesCom 11), Editor

Homecoming Day, evening gatherings dedicated to entrepreneurs and engineer-managers, and so much more. A look back at our November highlights...

Taking place on 25 November was our traditional Homecoming Day. To mark this 4th edition, once again this evening of intergenerational reunions was a celebration of our class-year anniversaries. And this year’s central theme: the cinema. Over 300 participants joined in, a reflection of the cross-programme nature of the event, as they clasped their tickets, eager to experience an unforgettable evening with a warm and friendly atmosphere. On the programme: a wonderful evening, fostering an environment conducive to networking and exchanges. A campus tour enabled attendees to re-immerse themselves in the school experience, bringing back some very fond memories of times gone by. This event also promoted a spirit of solidarity, by supporting the Audencia Foundation’s end-of-year funding campaign, which resulted in over 3,000 euros being donated to the cause!

Photos  Photobooth  Video

Engineer-Managers also joined in on the celebrations… 

In addition, end of 2023 was also marked by two further high points. Firstly, the evening reception for Engineer-Managers graduates, held on 7 November, on the theme of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This gave around sixty of our graduates the opportunity to have a truly special time, enjoying an inside perspective of INSEP, the French training centre for high-level athletes. Following a guided tour of the premises, there was a roundtable discussion on the theme of “behind-the-scenes tech” at Paris 2024, in the company of three guest speakers involved in the organisation of the Games: Annabelle Gouin-Tabourdeau (GE 23), Thomas Lioret (GE 21), and Quentin Jacquemont (GE 23). This evening gathering led to a good many discussions being made and created some new opportunities.

Photos

... not forgetting our entrepreneurs!

A couple of days later, it was the turn of the Entrepreneurs Club to gather at Audencia’s new campus in Paris. At this evening event celebrating the 1st anniversary of the re-launch of the Entrepreneurs Club, around sixty graduates were also in attendance. On the programme: a rich roundtable discussion thanks to the testimonies shared by Pénélope Boeuf (GE 07), founder of La Toile, Charles Degand (GE 12), co-founder and president of Angelsquare, Caroline Rey (GE 13), co-founder of 17H10, and Vincent Roux (GE 04), founder and CEO of (goud). A huge thank you to our entrepreneurs who came along to present their products, and indeed to the organisers of the event, Laetitia Caliez, Alumni Relations Manager, and the ambassador Vincent Mabire (EIBM 11), without whom this evening would not have taken place.

Photos

Florence Falvy, Editor

Loïc de Chabot (Bachelor 01 - SciencesCom 05) has a strong attachment to intergenerational links, the family, and his own heritage. This is the driving force behind his own business venture “Les souvenirs partagés,” a company enabling grandparents to tell their stories. Settled in Montreal since 2022, he now develops this activity in and around the city of Quebec.

When speaking to Loïc de Chabot, “passion” is the word that comes up most frequently in conversation. This forms a common thread running through, which has led him to create his own business after working as a radio journalist in charge of developing a media outlet, and as an investment manager for various insurance companies.

A series of events would lead him to change his career path. In 2016, Loïc married his wife and together they were eager to develop a project, one built on human values. Then came the lightbulb moment with their idea to facilitate the passing on of family memories.

“We used to talk about our grandparents a lot, the fact that we knew so little about their life stories, especially their younger years. My grandfather was sent to a concentration camp, yet he never talked to me about it. He passed away when I was 14 years old!”

The project gradually took shape and, from 2017, in parallel to his job, Loïc conducted audio and filmed interviews with grandparents keen to share their stories, from their childhood years to their present-day lives, and to pass these testimonies on to their grandchildren. The couple started getting word out and then the grapevine worked its magic. They even caught the attention of a large social protection group who awarded them a grant and put in an order for some fifty videos for their clients. This matter then resulted in business and management students at the ESSEC appraising the social impact of the venture. It stated that this activity enables future generations to gain knowledge about their family, helps strengthen intergenerational links, and enhances the grandparents’ wellbeing.

Thanks to a subsidy awarded by the French State – the “resignation-professional retraining” scheme - Loïc took the plunge and, in 2020, founded his business and became a self-employed entrepreneur. A father himself, in 2022 he and his wife decided to leave Nantes and settle down in Quebec.

“We wanted to live in a big city, be close to nature, discover other cultures and the like. Moreover, on the business side of things, the potential was clear to see: Quebec has an ageing population, there is an appetite for new technologies, it aids entrepreneurs with training, and so forth,” Loïc explains.

In October 2022, the sole proprietorship became a limited company called “Les souvenirs partagés” (Shared Memories). On the French mainland, today their activity is restricted to videos filmed on demand by freelance videographers. However, in Montreal, Loïc is brimming with ideas when it comes to developing the business to cater for families, as well as private retirement homes for seniors (RPA).

“Families can make a booking for a film, in this event I travel over, or they can do the filming themselves via a digital platform, “Ma Fabrique des Souvenirs” (My Memory Maker). The questions are displayed on screen. In addition, I go along to the RPA where I run shared-memory workshops, which are filmed. My aim is also to collaborate with businesses so they can offer this service to their employees,” Loïc says with enthusiasm.

At the age of 44, recently a father again to a second daughter, Loïc has no regrets, neither on becoming an entrepreneur nor on heading over to the other side of the Atlantic.

“In Quebec, the people are more approachable, more open, and don’t make any negative assumptions; they’re more willing to give you a chance,” he claims.

Indeed, Loïc makes 80% of his turnover – some 2,000 Canadian dollars a month – in the Beautiful Province and he has no plans of stopping there. In the pipeline: a study assessing the neurological impact of his activity amongst a cohort of seniors to be conducted by a group of researchers.

Anne Dhoquois, Editor

In collaboration with the Audencia Foundation, Audencia’s cafeterias organised the Cafet’ Solidaire, an activity held throughout the month of October. Its aim: to raise awareness on the increase in student living costs, and on the actions undertaken by the Foundation to help tackle this issue.

Given that one in two students have already skipped a meal due to lack of money, now is the time to mobilise. The Audencia Foundation relies on the generosity of all to fund its support scholarships for students in difficulty. As regards Audencia’s cafeteria, it sees some 600 customers coming through its doors every day. So, why not seize this opportunity to help raise awareness and ask customers to show their support in a spirit of solidarity?

“We offer people the chance to add €0.10 to their bill, regardless of what’s on their order,” Pascal Boismain explains, at the cafeteria bar. “We were greatly helped by the signage that the Foundation had installed: flyers, small posters, and a large sign announcing the operation, which was very well received by the students, staff and coworkers at the school.”

Over 1,000 solidarity orders were placed and several individual donations were made to the Foundation following the Cafet’ Solidaire operation. And each time, Pascal and his coworkers Lydia, Pascale and Patricia took the opportunity to ring a small bell by way of a thank you.

“This caught people’s attention and brought a smile to their faces, no doubt inspiring others to give too,” adds Pascal, who says he would jump at the chance of taking part in this collective act of solidarity again. See you back here again next year for more of the same!

In the meantime, we would like to express our sincere thanks to you all for your kind generosity. At a time when students need our support, every action counts. If you would like to donate towards supporting students in difficulty, please head here!

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

To mark Giving Tuesday, the American Audencia community joined forces for the Audencia Foundation’s end-of year fundraising campaign. This first solidarity initiative, aimed at bringing together alumni living in the United States, demonstrates that their support does indeed extend beyond borders. An interview with Laurène Hamilton (GE 09), who has lived in New York for the past decade.

Since leaving the School, have you continued to remain in contact with Audencia?

I initially worked in Switzerland for four years as a financial auditor, before settling in New York where I set up my tourism and events business. It was during this life change that I reconnected with the School, joining one of the alumni chapters here in New York. I’m part of a group of three ambassadors running the community. I particularly get involved once a year, for the annual Audencia Around the World event. For instance, last time I planned a team building event that gathered some 25 alumni. After all, we can connect across borders to continue enjoying our links with the School!

The Audencia Foundation actively supports diversity and inclusion, and is committed to quashing self-censorship and the financial hurdles hindering access to higher education. In what way do these two principles chime with your own personal convictions?

These are values that resonate with me and especially since coming to live in New York, an extremely diverse city where half of households speak a language other than English at home. It is a highly inclusive model of society, with people from very various walks of life, from very different countries, and who, in the same urban area, work together and co-exist. Giving everyone a fair chance, and lifting financial barriers helps towards building a society-wide plan of action. So, I draw a parallel between the New-York spirit and the values promoted by the Audencia Foundation.

As an alumni member living abroad, why do you feel it is so important to show your commitment and support for the School?

The School has helped us grow. Our early career is a result of this blossoming, and remaining connected to it is a way to continue this process. I recently logged onto the alumni platform and saw a myriad of available events. It all looks great! Yet, being overseas means we are too far away to join in. However, though we may be far apart, in our own small way, we can still contribute to the vibrancy of the alumni network. We bring added value to the alumni community by being part of the network. For Operation Giving Tuesday, here in the United States I shared the information on my LinkedIn page, commented, tagged Audencia alumni, and donated towards the Foundation’s campaign.

The Foundation’s first Operation Giving Tuesday US has set a fundraising target of $5,000 to support four of our students.

To learn more and donate, please head here!

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

Thanks to his mobile shredding truck company Le Camion Broyeur, Antoine Lopez now enjoys a settled professional life. After working in a variety of professions, he went on to specialise in document destruction and waste paper recycling. This is an activity making a positive impact.

Antoine Lopez, 38 years of age, has experienced several lives. A SciencesCom graduate in 2009, with the goal of becoming proficient in content creation, he soon realised this career path was not the right fit for him. Nonetheless, these years of study would enable him to build up a good work methodology, as well as “a propensity to come up with ideas and to develop his own self-belief,” Antoine explains. As a musician who also spends time playing in a local group, this young man opts for a food job to align with his passion. Specifically, he works as a delivery driver, a janitor, and a receptionist, a night job not without an impact on one’s family life – at the time he is a father of two –, which causes him, once again, to change course.

“I decided to create my own job and bring my qualities to the fore, which just wasn’t an option in the other jobs I worked in. Plus, being self-employed was a way for me to be free,” he states.

Settled in Vannes (56), Antoine begins by searching for a business activity he can exercise alone, one that would prove economically viable, without requiring any substantial investment. In the end, he decided on the disposal of confidential documents and paper recycling.

“I found out that in the region where I live, this service is not on offer to SMEs or liberal professions,” says Antoine.

His unique selling point: conducting paper shredding on site by means of a shredder truck. This is a time-saving solution for both the company and this young entrepreneur, and involves much less hassle. No need for any premises or handling services. Moreover, Antoine provides the collection services of non-confidential papers, which he disposes of at local recycling centres. He tells us:

“This represents somewhere between 7 to 9 tonnes of paper per month, some of which were not being recycled at all prior to my involvement. This gives me a great sense of satisfaction.” 

Launched back in 2019, today Le Camion Broyeur is a private limited-liability company with an annual turnover of 115,000 euros. Antoine sums up this venture in the following terms:

"You get to experience a whole mix of emotions at the same time. I feel excited when the money comes in and enjoyment when I’m handling relations with the clients, but it also involves a lot of work and stress. I wanted to be around more for my family – I have 4 children now – and in this respect, the jury is out.”

Does this suggest a future change in career?

“I see myself continuing with this activity for a few more years to come,” Antoine replies. “I like the local artisan side to my business and also that I get to work alone.”

Anne Dhoquois, Editor

Audencia Bachelor in Management graduates in 2015 and 2016 respectively, straight from business school, Laura Frouin and Edouard Atger committed themselves to careers in the impact sectors.

Laura Frouin is the Co-director of La Maison du Zero Déchets in Paris, an associative hub dedicated to raising our awareness on waste-reduction practices. She notes that, while we have increased our awareness on the impact we as consumers are having, we still underestimate the role we, as actors, can play in this effort.

“As business school graduates,” she states, “we can use our skills to support structures that have a real impact. They need this. I would invite all students seeking an impact job to look at what is happening in the social and solidarity economy, and indeed in the associative sector.”

Way beyond the social and solidarity sector, “an increasing number of young graduates are refusing to accept the practices of the large corporations which they could work for,” Laura remarks. “This represents a real sea-change. We all have a role to play when it comes to saying no to the practices we disapprove of. Regardless of our position in the company, we need to aim high in terms of our vision of ecological transition. There is a lot hanging in the balance now!” 

As for Edouard Atger, he claims there are many fronts we could act on to address the climate crisis. Edouard founded Starbolt some five years ago, a startup that provides companies with a fleet of electric bikes. From the get-go, he was intent on pursuing his activity in a sector which was meaningful to him: sustainable development.

“If I had one piece of advice to share with anyone wishing to work in the impact sector,” he says, “it would be to align themselves as closely as possible with their own convictions. It is all about identifying your passions, your hopes, your areas of interest and motivation, and finding a cause you care about and one which spurs you on to act. Everyone has their own unique way of approaching this.”

The quest for meaning, increasingly a pressing pursuit for upcoming generations, is forcing companies to adapt,” Edouard continues.

“They must now consider the issues of sustainable development, in terms of their products, their strategies, wellbeing at work, etc. This cuts across all corporate strata and is creating many opportunities for a variety of professions.”

Guy-Pierre Chomette, Editor

• Wednesday 17: galette des Rois - Paris
• Thursday 18: afterwork - London
• Saturday 20: guided tour "Musée atelier Rodin" - Club Activités Culturelles - Paris
• Wednesday 24: discussion about "Capitale européenne de la Culture : avant, pendant, après" - Club Culture & Management - Paris
• Thursday 25: Inter-Alumni event with the testimony of Colonel de la Follye de Joux - Le Mans
• Thursday 25: ApéroPitchs event - Club Entrepreneurs - Paris
• Friday 26: AMBA event - Miami
• Tuesday 30: afterwork - Club Entrepreneurs Nantes - Nantes
• Thursday 30: galette des Rois - Nantes

• Thursday 1: theatre evening "L’addition" - Club Activités Culturelles - Paris
• Friday 2: Chinese New Year dinner - Paris
• Sunday 4: guided tour "Exposition Berthe Morisot et le XVIIIe siècle" - Club Activités Culturelles - Paris
• Wednesday 7: afterwork, Club Consulting - Paris
• Thursday 8: "Build your professional network in 20 minutes a day" with Michael Melcher - Webinar
• Thursday 8: save the date: "Club Audencia pour elles" event - Paris
• Wednesday 21: afterwork Club Entrepreneurs Nantes at Shopopop - Nantes
• Wednesday 21: afterwork - Toulouse

• Saturday 16: guided tour "Amour et Séduction sous l’Ancien Régime" - Club Activités Culturelles - Paris

• Thursday 25: conference "La permaculture client" by the Club Marketing & Digital - Paris

"The Royal court of Versailles, survival guide"

Far from traditional history books, this fun, modern and offbeat book takes you on a unique and fascinating journey to the court of Versailles. You'll discover how to draw inspiration from Marie-Antoinette's fashion and beauty tips, and learn how to organise a grandiose evening in the style of Louis XIV. You can also educate your children like true princes and princesses of the period.

This book is both instructive and funny, transporting you into the majestic world of French history, while offering practical advice on how to incorporate a touch of Versailles into your modern life.

Laurane Bourgoint (GE 11) - Written, illustrated and printed in France - Edition 2023

Get the book

« Franklin Ford collection »

The American journalist Franklin Ford (1849-1918) is remembered for his ambitious (and stillborn) Thought News periodical, hatched with philosopher John Dewey. The Franklin Ford Collection, curated and introduced by Dominique Trudel and Juliette De Maeyer, takes in the full shambolic spread of Ford's thought, across news, politics, education, finance, and society at large.

Dominique Trudel (Audencia Professor ), Juliette Maeyer - Bethlehem Editions [USA] - 2023

Séverine Richou, on behalf of the Audencia Alumni team

Hugues Boivin-Champeaux (GE 13) has been appointed Investment Director at InnovaFonds

Romuald Cetkovic (GE 96) has been appointed Customer Relations Director at Sanef Group

Guillaume Charleux (GE 08) has been appointed Group Internal Control Director - Finance Transformation at Edenred

Alexandra Dadian (GE 11) has been appointed Chief Product Officer at Leocare

Thibault Delebarre (GE 13) has been appointed Marketing and Communications Director at Heycar France

Vincent Deloffre (GE 13) has been appointed Vice President Revenue Operations at Skeepers

Eric Dodin (GE 88) has been appointed Head of Real Estate Credit and Creditor Insurance Division at Meilleurtaux

Olivier Eglem (GE 10) has been appointed Department Head of Funds & Investments at Paref Group

Edouard de Fonclare (GE 82) has been appointed Vice President Worldwide Global Channel at Jabra

Gwenn Gouraud (EAC 04) has been appointed Managing Director at La Tourangelle

Eléonore Guillemot (GE 11) has been appointed Operations Director at Checkout.com France

Ghislain Herault (GE 95) has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Axione (Bouygues Group)

Marie Icardo (GE 05) has been appointed Managing and Customer Director Switzerland at Alstom

Sylvain Le Borgne (GE 98) has been appointed Group Chief Data Officer at JCDecaux

Grégoire Lhuillier de Cordoze (GE 99) has been appointed Service Director at Moët Hennessy

François Lucas (GE 04) has been appointed Head of Internal Audit at JCDecaux

Eric Madar (GE 12) has been appointed Head of Fusions and Acquisitions at Bryan Garnier & Co France

Lionel de Maupeou (GE 99) has been appointed National Director for Andean Countries at Thales

Gaël Navinel (GE 97) has been appointed Vice President Sales - Europe West at Bosch France

Ronan Penanhoat (GE 14) has been appointed Head of Sustainability Finance at L’OCCITANE Group

Caroline Quarante (GE 09) has been appointed Fashion Marketing Director France at Chanel

Nicolas Retailleau (GE 03) has been appointed Group Chief Financial Officer at Bénéteau

Amélie Richardson (GE 10) has been appointed Group Human Resources Director at Mirakl

Fabrice Rivoal (FC - Profit Centre Management Certification 2019) has been appointed Managing Director, at ART-Dan

Benjamin Roy (GE 05) has been appointed Sales Director at Crédit Agricole Brie-Picardie

Claire Salvi (MMDC 15) has been appointed Innovation Director – Skin Health Management at L'Oréal

Yannick Savina (GE 89) has been appointed Head of Marketing and Digital Media at Autodistribution (Parts Holding Europe)

Aurélie Souchon (GE 99) has been appointed Associate Partner - Audit at KPMG France

Emmanuelle Treussard (EMP-MBA 01) has been appointed Director of Business France - Belgium at Business France

Ksénya Borzov (GE 20) is the Co-Founder of GTM ACADEMY

Sabrina Bulteau (GE 01) is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sench - The Conscious Community

Mathieu Ceccarelli (GE 07) is the Founder of North& - Digital Consulting

Jérôme Coic (GE 07) is the Founder of Ça Sonne Bien

Jean-Philippe Diel (ISMA 92) is the Founder of The SymbionIQ Foudation LTD

Patrick Florentiny (Stryker MBA 05) is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of OrtHolistics

Sébastien Gal (GE 14) is the Co-Founder of Fragments

Gurvan Heuzé (MOS 13) is the CEO and Founder of KGH Conseil

Benoît Miegeville (GE 17) is the Founder in Residence of Antler

Jodie Policcino (GE 23) is the Co-Founder of Burning Bar

Jérôme Tassel (GE 22) is the Founder of Keepture

Darwin Wu (GE 16) is the Co-Founder of NOMOS

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