I’m currently a Business Developer at Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, where my job consists in looking for new partnerships and designing innovative solutions in the world of financing and credit in all distribution sectors.

My job is very cross-disciplinary: a wide range of professional skills are required to respond to a call for tenders. I work both with my company’s in-house staff and with our client brands. My team is made up of five men and four women with very diverse backgrounds.

How would you describe your position?

I submit tenders to companies that need to set up financing solutions for their clients. Although some people might think that this profession is reserved for men since it requires travel, on the contrary, gender diversity is essential.

When I joined the team, I was the only woman. I brought another dimension, a feminine touch, a different point of view and enriched the team’s work.

 

What are the peak periods of your job during the year?

There is no such thing as seasonality in my work. It is difficult to predict peaks in activity. The most hectic periods depend on the dates set by the brands for submitting responses to calls for tenders. I adapt my working hours to the workload thanks to a strong family organisation.

Can you describe your typical day?

I have two types of days: a day when I travel and a day when I don’t.

During a day at the office, after dropping the children off at the day-care centre and company crèche (a real advantage), I start with a coffee with colleagues from my own team and those from other sales teams. That is the morning ritual: a moment of sharing, of personal and professional interaction. After that, I switch between face-to-face or telephone meetings and the preparation of different work material.

When I travel, I leave early in the morning and come back late in the evening. I often travel to attend meetings at our prospects’ premises or at my company’s head office. When this happens it is my husband who looks after the children.

 

What career path is required to reach your position and what are the possibilities for development?

After studying management, I joined Finaref, which later became Credit Agricole Consumer Finance. I held various positions, particularly in risk management and project management. Thanks to these assignments, I acquired varied skills and a cross-disciplinary approach that has enabled me to reach my current position.

Being a woman with three children has not been an obstacle for my managers. I have succeeded in striking a balance between my work and my private life. Today, my position allows me to pursue other jobs in sales or management.

The job is accessible both to men and women: I'm proof of that, I can do it with 3 children!

What advice would you give to someone thinking of taking up a similar position?

If you are business-minded and like working on a variety of subjects, then you should go for it without hesitation. There’s no time to get bored and the subjects are rich and varied. That’s what I like about this job.

The job is accessible both to men and women: I’m proof of that, I can do it with 3 children!

 

How do you see the company’s progress in terms of diversity?

For several years now, I’ve observed a real effort to promote gender diversity in the company. It has placed strong emphasis on gender diversity with a challenge to increase the number of women in management positions.

Nevertheless, there is still work to be done to combat prejudices and stereotypes. That is why I have joined a group of men and women working to set up a gender equality network. It is no longer only an issue for women. Complementarity goes hand in hand with performance.

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