Careers rarely move in straight lines, even when they look coherent in hindsight. Mine certainly didn't begin with a grand plan to work across governments, multinationals and heavy industry. It evolved through curiosity, opportunity, and a willingness to step into environments that demanded constant adaptation.
Beginning in Public Service
I began my professional life working for the French government, as a teacher. It was a formative experience, not because it was easy, but because it taught me early on that progress depends far more on people than on systems. Structure existed, rules were clear, yet outcomes varied dramatically depending on leadership, engagement and communication.
The Corporate World at GE
From public service, I moved into the corporate world, spending over a decade at GE. It was there that I learned the discipline of large organisations: performance frameworks, accountability, metrics, and global standards. Over the years, I progressed through roles of increasing responsibility. Not because I followed a formula, but because I learned how to operate effectively within complex systems while remaining adaptable.
Transition to Oil & Gas
Later, I transitioned into the oil and gas sector — a move that surprised many people around me. It was a very different environment: operationally intense, technically demanding, and uncompromising when it came to results.
Working across such different environments made one thing very clear to me: while industries change, human dynamics do not.
Key Lessons Learned
Whether in a government department, a global corporation, or a high-stakes industrial environment, the fundamentals remain the same:
- Leadership is about influence, not just position
- Communication determines outcomes more than strategy alone
- People perform best when they feel respected and challenged
- Adaptability is more valuable than any single skill
These insights continue to shape how I approach consulting work today — grounded in practical experience, informed by cross-industry perspective, and focused on sustainable change.