Sandrine

Sandrine grew up in Roubaix, in a working-class neighborhood, in a family deeply rooted in tradition. From the age of 6, her great passion was basketball. She dreamed of making it her career, but realized that path would be difficult to achieve. Far from giving up on her passion, she became a coach so she could pass it on. A mother at 19 while studying for a vocational diploma in international trade, she showed unwavering determination, even going to Brazil for her internship a few months after giving birth. With diploma in hand, she landed a position at Auchan’s buying center, a real source of pride for her and her family.

For seven years, Sandrine thrives in Auchan’s international department and trains many interns. She sees young people from top business schools advancing faster than she does, which fuels her imposter syndrome. In order to progress, she returns to her studies and earns a master’s degree in marketing and management—an extremely challenging step while raising a family. Once she has completed it, a stint in a store becomes mandatory: she is offered a position in the fish department. Leaving the comfort of the office for irregular hours is difficult, even though she is aiming for a management role.

In the fish department, Sandrine discovers hands-on management, learns to assert herself among experts and set boundaries. When her career ultimately fails to develop as she had hoped, she leaves Auchan to try something else. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrives, she finds herself working for the French Social Security system, where providing advice by phone teaches her to be more direct and concise. These detours, even when unexpected or difficult, become sources of learning and personal growth for her.

In 2022, she accepts a one-month temporary contract at OVHcloud. The gamble is risky: in just a few weeks, she has to prove herself and find her place, without knowing whether this experience could last. But she chooses to take the chance. The gamble pays off. She discovers a multicultural, open-minded company where she finally feels legitimate and valued for her skills. After working on herself to overcome her lack of confidence, Sandrine dares to assert herself. Now on a permanent contract, she manages major international projects and has found a real balance between her career and her blended family of four children.