Jessica Giuliani
The high-flying financial officer

What options did you choose at Audencia?

In my first year, I chose the sustainability track with specialised classes on sustainable economics and micro-credit, for example, and I dived into it with a passion. I chose finance as a major – to me, the most challenging choice but also one that would equip me with the skills that would be trickier to acquire later on the job. I did a one-year work placement with KPMG in Toulouse, during which I audited banks and industrial firms. It encouraged me to study a double major audit and corporate finance.

What were the highlights of your time at Audencia?

Throughout my first year, we worked on a project for an organic Mexican fair-trade coffee brand that aimed to export to Europe. I was by far the most enthusiastic member of my working group and I was the only one to speak Spanish fluently. So, I got to travel to Mexico for 2 weeks, visiting the cooperative, the trading port in Vera Cruz, and setting up all the costs. What an incredible experience when I think back about it!
I joined “Access Sud”, the micro-credit club. It was gratifying to be part of a community of students who were motivated by the same interests and values. The issues we were trying to tackle really awoke something in me. I must also mention the parties that were a great way to build up my social skills!

Did you ever feel self-conscious about your background?

When I first visited Audencia for the entrance exams, everyone I met was very friendly and I immediately felt at home. It felt a bit like landing in a fairytale world! My social background has never been an issue because I have always been comfortable and even proud of my roots. I know what my family values are and the hard work it takes to earn money when you don’t start out with much.
But yes, there were a few individuals who drew attention to what made me different. Some asserted that I would never get a job in Paris with my strong southern accent. When we attended the first Audencia party in Paris, others were shocked when I admitted that it was my first time in the capital. I just decided to leave the comments slide and to adopt a “we shall see” attitude. I knew that with resilience, I could build a path that would reveal my true personality, regardless of my background. These were isolated incidents and what I remember best is the school’s capacity to connect us with people from other horizons.

We noticed on your CV that you worked briefly as a flight attendant… tell us more, we’re intrigued!

I needed to earn some money during my last year at Audencia. Believe or not, I spotted the ad for an Air France flight attendant on the school’s job board. They need to fill these jobs every year, so I would encourage every student who fancies being paid to travel to check it out! I criss-crossed the globe and even got to sit in the cockpit during take-off and landing. Air France offered me a permanent position but I was wise enough to understand the value that an Audencia diploma represented. Besides, my true dream was to be in the pilot’s seat…

How did you land in Brazil, when you didn’t even speak the language?

After graduating, I did a 6-month contract in the internal audit department of Lagardere in Paris before returning to KPMG. Three years later, I realised that I didn’t want to stay in a company for a couple of weeks to simply assess the risks and deliver certifications. As a doer myself, I was itching to make an impact in a particular sector, be part of a team and implement a strategy.

From the age of 18, I dreamed of working in Latin America, especially after all the Spanish lessons I had during my preparatory classes. At 26, I decided it was time. The only paid job that I found was in Sao Paolo and I accepted a pay cut, but I figured that the opportunity was worth it. As LatAm financial controller for JC Decaux, I was in charge of branches in Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. 3 months after I joined, my boss resigned, so I quickly took on greater responsibilities… and learnt Portuguese! At first, I was talking “Portuñol” but after 3 months of lunchtime tuition and interacting with my flatmates, I experienced a sort of light bulb moment and I separated the two languages. It goes to show that with a good dose of determination, a foreign language isn’t a barrier to career progression.

What motivated your move to Chile?

In 2017, after deciding the corporate culture wasn’t me, I resigned and went travelling. My plan was to go backpack round Latin America for six months. Just a few weeks in, my manager from KPMG contacted me to say that there was an opportunity for me in Chile at NewRest, a catering company whose headquarters are in Toulouse. In between excursions, I logged in from various youth hostels and internet cafés in Colombia and Ecuador, and, after a long series of interviews, I got the job of Financial Director. I love how life can throw the best surprises at you. I wasn’t looking to move to Chile, and I wasn’t even looking for a job at the time… let alone this amazing opportunity for someone of my age!
I discovered the easy-going expat lifestyle, complete with company car, apartment and social connections. But I was working crazy hours as I had so much to learn and was managing 4 people in their 50’s who were not driven by the sort of motivation that I had taken for granted at KPMG. I stayed there for 3 years.

CFO at Airbus sounds like a huge step up. How did you manage to land such a senior role?

In June 2020, in the middle of a strict lockdown in Santiago, and the unsettling context of mass redundancy at the catering firm I was working at, I received a call from one of my ex-managers who encouraged me to apply for a CFO role at Airbus. If I have learnt one thing, it’s that it clearly helps to cultivate great relationships with your ex bosses! The Managing Director of the Chile branch was looking for someone based in Santiago to report to him as well as the LatAm CFO. The role entailed overseeing teams in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay as well as the client portfolio across the whole “ConSur”. The turnover was much larger than anything I had ever managed before. The challenges were exciting, having to negotiate contracts with governmental institutions and VIP clients.

I knew I would need broad shoulders, but reminded myself that I already had an experience in a senior role that I could leverage. So I decided to go for it and entered a 2 month-long recruitment process during which I had 5 interviews with 5 different people. During one of the interviews I had to deal with a few snarky comments, such as “We sell helicopters… not sure you know anything about those?!” Perhaps the interviewer was biased against my age, gender or the fact that I didn’t have any professional experience in aeronautics. But I didn’t let the questions stump me. I argued that in finance you don’t need to be have technical product expertise… but as it turned out, I happened to cultivate a passion for the sector, with a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot!
This seems to have done the trick and in 2020, I joined Airbus.

What’s a typical working day for you?

The tasks are too varied to fit into a daily template. Essentially, I try to prioritise making myself available for the team of 12 people that I manage. There’s a tendency to get wrapped up in Airbus meetings with my branch directors, my counterparts in other branches or colleagues from head office to discuss strategic projects such as regionalising the business which will result in moving functions to LatAm.
I have learnt to carve out time for myself to progress on my projects when I have realised that others’ priorities are not necessarily mine. Otherwise, I would be stuck in meetings until 6pm… and I confess that my vision is not to work until midnight!

Are you as organised in your personal life?

I wish! The day that I found myself stuck in Lima unable to pay for my hotel room or the bus because I had forgotten to activate my credit card … I realised how chaotically I can let my life run! Fortunately, the Peruvian friend of a friend generously lent me some money and saved my trip. I laugh now at the irony of how powerless a CFO feels with no access to a means of payment!

Which country would you recommend relocating to – Brazil or Chile?

I loved my time in Brazil because there I found everything that I imagined Latin American culture to be: music and dance everywhere, and the special warmth and joie de vivre of the people. In that respect, moving to Chile was a culture shock because I harboured the same expectations. In Santiago in particular, people are quite closed-off, far from the typical image of Latino. However, they are also the most loyal friends you could ever wish to have, once you have gained their trust. Here, when people invite you at their home, they introduce you to their family; that’s an honour. The attitude is closer to what we see in Europe… with the added benefit of an amazing living environment. It is safe enough that I can walk the streets at night. Being such a long country, it is a land of contrasts, with the Atakama in the North – the world’s most arid desert, a string of fjords and snow-capped volcanoes, and the glacier-carved lakes of Patagonia in the South. I have never seen anything like it. Chile gets my vote!

Have you given up on your flying dreams?

Never! My office is located on an aerodrome with a flying club. A year ago, I started taking flying lessons three times a week, from 7 to 10pm. I’ve been learning about aircraft aerodynamics and how the engine works. I’ve passed the theory, and I am now working on the practice. I have 22 hours of flying under my belt, and I need 40-60 hours to get my licence. So just a few more hours before I can fulfil my childhood dream!
I now realise that on commercial flights, you don’t actually pilot the plane that much. I get much more joy from flying in a small 2 person aircraft. You get to be responsible for all aspects of the flight. We don’t train on simulators, but we are thrown straight into a real cockpit. Last time my instructor simulated an emergency situation and turned off the engine to test my reaction. That was fun!
I always walk back on the tarmac with a huge smile on my face. I am proud that for the first time I have managed to be disciplined enough to carve out time for an activity that makes my life so fulfilling.

I am also fortunate, because even though it’s not going not going to help us win contracts, my boss encourages all employees to embrace their passion for aviation, in whatever form.

It sounds like you have achieved your main life goals already. What’s next for you?

This year will be decisive. I will either stay in a CFO role, possibly in another country. Or I might move on to an operational or sales role, which interest me as well. I confess that I would love to go travelling again… but I can’t be too greedy. For now, I am looking forward to getting my pilot licence and show my boyfriend, friends and family the stunning views of my adopted country, from above.