Jean Despland

At school, Jean gets grades that do not reflect what he thinks he understands. It takes him time to realize that he does not learn like other people, and he eventually comes to see grades as too narrow a measure. After high school, he tries law and then switches to computer science, without managing to earn his DUT. At home, a PC and the discovery of Unix reveal to him that a professional world exists behind the tools he had thought were meant only for home use.

After changing direction in his studies, Jean starts out in sales, but quickly realizes that chasing commissions is not for him. He looks for a way to prove what he can do and, through a connection, lands his first job in IT. He then learns on the job and specializes in IT operations and the technical areas that others avoid. This path allows him to build concrete expertise, even when employers still place weight on degrees in hiring.

Around 2003, Jean becomes self-employed and sets up an IT services business. He works in particular for Sun Microsystems and Symantec, then opts for an umbrella employment arrangement in 2006. He goes on to take on assignments for Orange Business Services, Thomson, Alcatel and other clients, often involving critical or complex systems. Companies recognize his skills but do not always accept that he has no degree, so he learns to make his mark through expertise and the ability to manage stress.

In 2015, Jean joins OVH as a systems administrator. He starts as close to operations as possible, working on platforms and machines, and then becomes an operations manager. He then takes responsibility for the File Storage unit. His career takes him from technical work to overseeing decisions, working methods, service quality and teams. He also values contributing to a cloud provider committed to European sovereignty and finding at OVH values that matter to him.