Audencia continues to showcase the inspiring journeys of its graduates with 10 new portraits in the following pages, thus bringing the iconic alumni gallery to a total of 44.
We are delighted to share with you a collection of profiles that reflect the diversity of Audencia’s alumni network.
These entrepreneurs, freelancers and business leaders from across the generations, from France and beyond, have chosen their own unique path. Immerse yourself in 44 fascinating stories and discover their journeys and achievements. Each portrait tells a story of life choices, opportunities, courage and daring.
Focus on Katia Hérault, interviewer and copywriter of the first 3 portrait galleries.
Alumna Katia Hérault (GE 2001) is the interviewer and copywriter for seasons one and two of Audencia’s Iconic Alumni portrait series. She kindly agreed to take a turn being interviewed about her own “Iconic Alumni” experience.
What did you particularly enjoy in this second series of iconic alumni portraits?
Each interview always surprises me, undoubtedly because of the diversity of the profiles. Some hold important positions in prestigious companies, others are fulfilling their entrepreneurial dreams or embarking on unforeseen careers. Any preconceived ideas I may have had before an interview are quickly shattered. You may think that Quang came from a wealthy background when in fact he grew up in a village in Vietnam without electricity. Beauty, Botswana’s vice-minister of agriculture had a diary so full that it took us 8 months to secure a session with her, but she turned out to be as talkative as she was delighted to talk about her origins and her career path. Céline, CEO of the jeweller De Beers, is a motorbike enthusiast who is as comfortable on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival as she is in the kitchen preparing a confit sarladais… In short, the surprises make these conversations so special!
Has your approach evolved between the two series?
The first few minutes are always crucial in establishing a climate of trust that is so important for the quality of the interview. I want alumni to share their stories with me in the most relaxed and natural way possible. I have to be able to collect rich, surprising and personal stories. I feel privileged to have such inspiring people share key moments of their lives with me. I am thinking of Fulgence, captain of the Montpellier rugby team, who told me about the day he found himself up against the All Blacks…
Have you encountered any particular difficulties during the interviews?
You have to be mindful about avoiding clichés. I sometimes have to dig around to find a more personal angle that will give the interview more soul. It can be easier to interview people who are not used to this kind of exercise, as they tend to be more spontaneous and open up more.
If you were to retain only one reflection from all these stories, what would it be?
I find that the notion of success is relative. There are as many definitions of success as there are people. For some, it is to ensure that they are constantly learning and developing. For others, it is getting into positions where they can make a difference or about achieving a good work-life balance.
In a nutshell, the 2022 portrait series looks like this: