Could you sum up your career for us?
I completed a two-year master’s degree in the International Development of SMEs and SMIs. I joined Embelia – previously VG Emballage – in 2012 as Area Sales Manager, before becoming the Director of Export Services four years ago.
Attracted by companies specialising in technical products, I have had the chance to learn from different roles over the course of my career, for example in floor coverings and non-woven polypropylene fabrics, both in France and abroad.
Could you describe your job in more detail?
I have a number of varied tasks including managing export services and a part of the client portfolio. I’m responsible for seeing through the growth strategy of the established export, managing the teams, the products, the development of international marketing, the numerous projects and sometimes difficult times too...
I also deal with clients/sales leads: key accounts, agents/suppliers, as well as some small organisations. I go on regular trips to our clients and sales leads, and take part in many exhibitions.
Are there any accomplishments that you are particularly proud of since joining Embelia?
I enjoy growing my teams. I support them both in-house and outside of work, and provide them with guidance in their decisions for carrying out our projects and reaching our goals. Apart from that, I enjoy implementing projects and restructuring export service offering. You need to be multilingual and multicultural, which is now the case for my team.
Our team consists of various profiles – some who are experienced and some who have joined us more recently, bringing a fresh outlook along with them. This balance is what helps the unit function.
In 2017, we invoiced clients based in 50 different countries, and, together, have managed to reach a 20% increase in sales as of 2014.
Is there something in particular that you appreciate in your work environment and would like to share?
I appreciate the multitude of tasks and the contacts. My work is full of interactions for other people, both within the company and outside of it. We rub shoulders with people in varied positions and of different nationalities. I find it exciting to have to factor in the various time zones, i.e. Asia in the morning and then America in the early afternoon, all punctuated by our requests from Europe and Africa.
It means we need to use common sense, a strong ability to adapt and responsiveness in dealing with the unexpected. At Embelia, no two days are the same.
