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Motivation without borders
Sometimes, chance works in mysterious ways. For Stéphanie Venier Dargent, a simple plane trip in 2014 was all it took for her life to be enriched by a new experience: “I was sitting next to a man, and we started chatting. He explained that he was a foreign trade advisor and told me about the role of this network, which I knew nothing about. We talked for hours about the importance of this mission and its impact, and then he offered to put me in touch with the regional committee.” Having earned a Master's degree in International Business from Aix-Marseille University in 1994, her application was accepted, as she met all the criteria: at least five years of international experience while also holding a management or executive position in companies that contribute to France's international influence. Today, she has been volunteering for nearly ten years with this international network of over 4,900 members, which works to develop the country's image: "We do a lot to support youth training, encouraging them to embrace international opportunities. We teach courses, share our experiences, and speak at business schools, universities, and vocational training programs. Another mission of the French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCEF) is to support companies that want to start exporting." This commitment knows no borders, much like her professional experience, which began in Senegal: "International work was in my blood; it was in my DNA. It was a fascinating experience, even though I only stayed for a year before returning to France." Back in France, Stéphanie Venier Dargent discovered the world of perfumery by joining Cadentia laboratories, where she quickly became a salaried manager before eventually buying the company a few years later. A woman who thrives on challenges, she decided to sell everything in 2019 to embark on a new entrepreneurial adventure, co-founding the Astelia laboratory: “Through my experience, I want to show young women that they shouldn't be afraid to take the plunge, wherever they are. We are just as brilliant as men; we shouldn't be afraid to carve out our own place, because no one else will give it to us.”
