Flore

Flore was born in Toulouse, where she also went to school. A strong student, she completed a science baccalaureate in 1991, then chose a preparatory class before entering an engineering school. She did not necessarily see herself as an engineer: the word seemed too broad to describe a specific profession. Above all, she knew that she liked science and that she wanted to build her financial independence. To choose her specialty, she turned to electronics. A comic-book character, Yoko Tsuno, an independent and inventive Japanese electronics engineer, also played a role in her imagination. Her journey began this way, with thoughtful choices but also a share of the unknown.

After earning her degree in electronics engineering, Flore began a PhD in Nantes on using the signal from a laser diode to measure distances or vibrations. She then moved on to Mines Paris, in a role combining research and teaching, and later discovered European R&D projects in Lyon, notably in a medical research laboratory. This experience made her want to work in project management. After several consulting roles, she joined Mentor Graphics in 2014, a company that was later acquired by Siemens.

At Siemens EDA, the software branch of microelectronics, Flore is a program manager. She describes her job as project management, or rather as a facilitator role. She helps technical staff, teams in charge of budgets and contracts, research partners, and management align on what needs to be done and what each person is committing to. In her field, software is used in particular to simulate integrated circuit design. These simulations can help choose the manufacturing process, save time, and limit the use of raw materials. But the heart of her work remains connecting people, whatever the technical content of the project.

Flore faced obstacles that did not always look like official barriers. In preparatory class, a teacher doubted her good results. Later, very technical interviews revived her impostor syndrome. She understood that her strength was not knowing everything, but knowing how to learn, find information, ask the right questions, and get people working together. She now accepts saying “I don’t know,” an honesty that sometimes turns an intimidating situation into a useful exchange.

In March 2025, Flore co-created the Femmes dans la Tech collective in Isère to introduce technology careers to girls and encourage sharing among women professionals. The network grew from around 50 to more than 300 people. Flore also takes part in the Nuit de l’Orientation in Grenoble and speaks with Siemens as part of the partnership with Elles Bougent. She advocates for guidance that broadens horizons for everyone.