My career path has been filled with moments of doubt, opportunities seized and essential learning, all fuelled by one common thread: the desire to combine my commercial and digital skills to build a career that suits me.
Finding your way: A career in sales and digital technology
From the beginning of my studies, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to achieve: I wanted to specialise in the commercial field while integrating a strong digital aspect. This combination of skills seemed to me to be the key to evolving in a world that is increasingly focused on technology and online exchanges. That's why I chose to join EM Normandie, a Business School that offered me the opportunity to follow a course that perfectly matched my objectives.
As well as providing a solid theoretical grounding, my master's in digital enabled me to acquire practical knowledge through hands-on experience in the field. This Masters was the springboard that propelled me into the business world, thanks in particular to the importance given to internships and work-study tracks, two essential pillars for building a promising future.
The importance of work-study tracks in building a career
One of the key advantages of EM Normandie Business School is the opportunity to accumulate a wide range of professional experience before even fully entering working life.
Whether it's an internship, a gap year or a work-study track, these opportunities give you a real taste of the job market.
I chose to do a gap year, and the work-study track was the real turning point in my career.
I see the work-study track as a real springboard. It's a stage when you have to be extremely careful in choosing the right company and sector, because this experience often determines your professional future. My advice to those who follow me would be to take the time to think carefully about the company and the field they want to enter. It's crucial to choose a work-study track that matches your personal qualities and ambitions. For me, it was obvious that I wanted to work in digital advertising.
Entering the world of advertising: My first experience at M6
During my work-study track, I had the opportunity to work in the advertising sector, more specifically on the digital side at M6. It was a real eye-opener for me. I was a sales assistant in the entertainment division, where I worked with a small team, giving me the chance to try out all the different aspects of the job.
My main task was to answer commercial briefs, negotiate advertising rates and maintain a trusting relationship with our clients. This role enabled me to develop solid customer relations and negotiation skills, which are essential if you want to develop in the competitive world of advertising. This field is constantly evolving, and working in such a dynamic team has enabled me to learn to deal with the many technical and commercial aspects of advertising.
A rewarding training programme in the advertising sector
Advertising is a fascinating sector that has a huge impact on our daily lives. Whether it's on television, radio or the internet, we are constantly exposed to advertising messages.
This immersion has enabled me to develop a critical mind towards the campaigns we are exposed to every day. But that's not all: working in such a vibrant sector has given me the chance to expand my professional network and increase my opportunities.
However, after my work-study track, there were no permanent openings in the department where I worked. Only my internship manager and a work-study track student worked in the team, and every year a new work-study track student took over. Although I was offered a fixed-term contract in another department at M6, I decided not to take it, as it wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted to pursue my career in a field more in line with my aspirations: digital sales.
A new adventure at Dailymotion and Canal
That's when I applied for a job at Dailymotion and Canal, two entities of the Vivendi group. A few weeks later, I was hired and found myself working in two different capacities for these two platforms. The experience was a real boost for my career.
I was lucky enough to work under an exceptional manager, who was open and very educational, and who took the time to explain the nuts and bolts of the profession to me. Thanks to this kindness and team spirit, I was able to rapidly develop my skills and acquire new abilities in project management and sales negotiation. It was a period full of lessons and challenges, during which I really gained confidence in my professional abilities.
The Media Performance challenge: a formative stage
After a year and a half at Dailymotion and Canal, I was approached by Media Performance, an advertising agency specialising in retail data. Although this new experience was extremely formative, it didn't fully meet my expectations. The working environment was more rigid, with highly structured methods, which enabled me to relearn certain commercial basics, but which didn't match my more flexible vision of the job.
However, this experience enabled me to strengthen my data management skills and gain a better understanding of retail issues. After a year with Media Performance, I started to think about what I wanted to do next in my career, what would really excite me and bring me long-term benefits.
The beginning of an entrepreneurial adventure in jewellery
That's when I decided to relaunch Sweet Paris, a jewellery brand created by my father in 2016. Although I have no specific training in this field, I have always been fascinated by the brand's collections, particularly the quality of the recycled gold and diamond jewellery . I thought it would be a shame to let this wonderful initiative run out of steam.
So in January 2023, after leaving Media Performance, I decided to take the brand back into my own hands. I redesigned the website from top to bottom, transforming what was just a showcase site into a full-fledged online shop. To round off my skills, I took an e-commerce course thanks to the CPF, because I felt it was vital to master all the aspects of managing an online sales platform.
Challenges and lessons of entrepreneurship
Starting your own business is a highly motivating adventure, but it can also be difficult. Although it can be extremely stimulating, you need to be well organised to avoid being overwhelmed. One point that is often overlooked in entrepreneurial success stories is the need to ensure financial stability before embarking on the adventure fully.
It is essential to have a regular income to meet daily needs, because entrepreneurship involves fixed costs, investments and monthly expenses. Once you have this security, you can dare to build, deconstruct and start again. However, working alone can be a real challenge. It's sometimes difficult to stay motivated and to find a structuring framework without a hierarchy or colleagues. But over time, I've learnt to adapt and develop self-confidence. The ups and downs are inevitable, but every little success strengthens my determination to carry on.
Perseverance, learning and self-confidence
Entrepreneurship is a demanding path, but with perseverance and self-confidence, you can achieve great things, and that's what I'd like to remember!
