Interview with Pauline BILLION-REY, Group Management Control Director

1. Presentation and career path

• Can you tell us about your role within ADDEV Materials and the path that led you to this position?

I joined ADDEV Materials as head of industrial management control and immediately liked the working atmosphere and the team. The pace is intense, but the diversity of the tasks prevents any routine from setting in. I was then given responsibility for global management control, which was a great recognition and enabled me to structure the function and introduce new tools. More recently, I also took over responsibility for reporting and consolidation. This was a real challenge, as I'd never done consolidation before, but I was lucky enough to be supported by Fabien, a real mentor during my first year (which is still ongoing!). I'm very grateful for the trust he placed in me.

• What have been the defining moments or challenges in your professional development?

The decisive moments in my career have often been linked to my ability to seize the opportunities that presented themselves, even when this meant leaving my comfort zone. It's never easy to leave the security of a permanent job or a position you've mastered perfectly, but the desire to learn and progress has always been my driving force. Each new step has been a stimulating challenge. I've also learnt that evolving means knowing how to question yourself and accepting that you're never done learning.

2. Experience as a woman in your sector

• Given that the industry has historically been a male-dominated sector, how did you experience your integration and progress?

I've never felt discriminated against as a woman in industry. If there were any differences, they were more to do with educational background - engineering versus business - than gender. I've never seen my femininity as a weakness; on the contrary, for certain positions it could even be an asset. With the same skills, recruiting a woman sometimes helped to improve diversity within the teams.

• Have you encountered any specific obstacles as a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

Personally, I didn't encounter any obstacles. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I was lucky to be a woman in a man's world. They were more attentive to me, less gruff and therefore more willing to listen. Some of my male colleagues had a harder time of it than I did (being a CDG in a factory often means being the bad cop with the operational staff, so it's not always an obvious position).

• How do you think the position of women has changed in your sector in recent years?

In the industrial world, the position of women has changed considerably in recent years, thanks in particular to an increased desire to improve parity. This has opened more doors and encouraged gender diversity in historically male-dominated positions. As far as management control is concerned, the situation is fairly stable, as finance has always been a fairly feminised field, where access problems were not as great. However, it is true that very senior positions are still predominantly held by men.

3. Leadership and inspiration

• What do you think are the essential qualities to be a woman leader today?

An essential quality for a woman leader is the desire to help others around her to grow. Empathy and the ability to listen, which often come naturally to women, are invaluable leadership assets. But you also have to be daring, not put up any barriers, and be more of a go-getter, without worrying too much about the way others look at you. Men sometimes find it easier to put themselves forward and feel legitimate in their development. It's up to us to prove the opposite and change the pattern!

• Have you had any mentors or inspirational figures, at ADDEV or elsewhere, who have shaped your career?

Yes, I've had mentors throughout my career. I'm a very emotional person, and my career path would not have been the same without the invaluable support and guidance of certain key people. I've also been lucky enough to benefit from a solid foundation in terms of education and family stability, and then to enrich my career thanks to some wonderful professional encounters (this is still the case today).

4. Work-life balance

• What challenges have you faced in balancing your career and your personal life?

The greatest challenge has been to reconcile my professional ambitions with my role as a mother, juggling the desire to progress with the need to be there for my children. Managing the unexpected, illness and family commitments often weighs more heavily on women, making this balance all the more complex (despite having a very supportive partner).

I've also been lucky enough to have understanding employers and a degree of flexibility in my work, making it easier to organise.

• What advice would you give to women who want to develop professionally while maintaining their personal balance?

Nothing is impossible, but it's essential not to forget yourself along the way. The most important thing is to find a balance by also taking time for yourself, without allowing yourself to be trapped solely in your role as mother or career. There are bound to be more difficult periods, but everything passes, and nothing is insurmountable. Don't hesitate to accept help when it's offered and surround yourself with people who can lighten the load. Professional development and personal fulfilment are not incompatible, as long as you allow yourself the right not to carry everything alone.

5. Vision and advice for the future

• What message would you like to send to young women who are reluctant to enter your field or aim for positions of responsibility?

Don't hesitate, just go for it! Don't ask yourself too many questions: the most important thing is to choose a job that you're passionate about and in which you feel fulfilled. To progress, you need drive, determination and sometimes the ability to seize or provoke opportunities. One thing I've learned is that nothing can be taken for granted. Luck' is also created by being present at the right moment and daring to move forward.