All our Women In portraits!
Women In is a series of portraits of women who, by way of their career path, personalities or commitments, are involved – with talent – in all areas of their company or even society at large. Although we celebrate women on 8 March every year, we felt it was important to devote a little more time and space to them before and after that symbolic date in order to highlight the diversity of their trajectories and emphasise the power of their impact on society.
Women In… finance
Anna, the embodiment of perseverance and adaptability
Portrait of Anna Kerveillant, Head of COO Team within Societe Generale’s Finance Division
Born in Évian (France), Anna began her career as an apprentice in Societe Generale’s Finance Division, while studying communications and advertising. After graduating, she continued her adventure within the company as a Communications manager, where her responsibilities quickly expanded.
Her career took a decisive turn when her manager offered her a management position. Ready to take up the challenge, Anna showed remarkable determination, overcoming the stress and doubt that accompanied her in the face of this new opportunity.
Today, at just 26 years old, she manages a team of twelve people and sits on the executive committee of her department, ensuring the smooth running of the production and certification of the Group’s regulatory reports.
Ambition Beyond Gender
For Anna, "ambition and success are not a matter of gender, but rather the result of hard work consisting of learning, perseverance, and patience". She firmly believes that "everyone has their own recipe for success," and stresses the importance of being true to yourself. This positive and inclusive approach is a real call to self-confidence and awareness of one's surroundings, essential qualities for success in the professional world.
Equality at the heart of success
When asked about the persistence of discrimination, Anna is happy that she has never experienced discriminatory behaviour in her professional life. She dreams of "a future where equality is a reality, where everyone is rewarded for their skills and work." For her, "talent and ability should be the criteria for success". This message resonates with the values of Societe Generale, which is committed to promoting a fair and inclusive working environment.
Inclusive management
Anna also challenges stereotypes about management, stating that "leadership and management are skills that can be developed by different profiles, regardless of gender or background". According to her, "the future of management lies in recognising the potential of each individual, based on their skills and commitment to developing high performing teams, rather than outdated criteria related to gender, experience, or other biases". She insists that management should be seen as a true profession requiring specific skills, and she remains convinced that "each of us has a talent to develop, whether in management, expertise, projects, or something else." This innovative vision is essential for building high-performing and engaged teams.
A personal source of inspiration
Behind her success, Anna draws her motivation from the example of her mother, a model of resilience and determination. Her professional journey, marked by career changes and challenges, inspires Anna to constantly reinvent herself. "I deeply admire her ambition, determination, and courage in the face of challenges. She embodies the ability to always reinvent yourself, to never give up, even when it’s hard, and to follow your instincts, regardless of age, difficulty, or obstacles," she confides. This model of strength of character reminds us all of the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the face of challenges.
By highlighting talents like Anna’s, Societe Generale reaffirms its commitment to a positive, inclusive, and inspiring corporate culture, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a better future. Don’t miss Anna Kerveillant’s inspiring journey and her insightful vision of leadership.
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Women In… action
Create, mobilise, help!
Portrait of Adéa Guillot, Communication and Commitment Officer at CARE France.
She says herself, without any arrogance: “I know how to mobilise people”. Head of Communication and Commitment at CARE France, an NGO that has been working alongside the most vulnerable populations for 80 years, Adéa Guillot is a woman who has seen despair and heartbreak around the world at first hand, but talking with her paradoxically makes you optimistic. This aspirational woman triggers in others a lightbulb moment, a desire to get involved and take action. This charisma and leadership are valuable points of reference in this tipping point of our collective history.
“I’m 48 and have two children; for me, motherhood provides stability, balance. I’m happy to note that my children are curious about everything around them, to see them express their affiliation with the world. I feel that it is essential to train them as tomorrow’s citizens.
I’m from a little corner of Western France and had a complicated childhood. But I was fortunate enough to be helped by kind-hearted and benevolent adults, and in particular three history, French and philosophy teachers. They taught me universalism, sensitised me to equal rights, to living together as one world. As a teenager, I was very involved in human rights.
When I was 20, I became a journalist, it was my passion. I was a reporter for Le Monde newspaper and Arte TV channel, in the international departments. I travelled extensively in Southeast Asia and Africa. I focussed on the issue of genocides (Cambodia, Rwanda, South Africa) to try to understand how a people can tear themselves apart and then begin living together again. I worked a lot on this issue of living together again.I also investigated inequalities affecting women, notably in Cambodia where my first in-depth report, when I was 21, was on young girls who were victims of all kinds of trafficking. Since then, I’ve often sought to help people understand this disproportionality: girls and women are the first victims of inequalities. During the war in Syria, the return of the Taliban, I talked about the difficulty of the routes of exile for girls and women, who are still subject to violence and trafficking. I wanted to tell their stories, but also to put the spotlight on those who help them. Solidarity exists everywhere. It’s very powerful, it’s a great ray of light for fighting the world’s ills.
On the ground, I obviously met NGOs, and I found CARE to be one of the most conscientious organisations, because it uses local resources, expertise from local civil societies, rather than just parachuting in expats; the organisation has developed impressive know-how in mobilising women and girls to amplify communities.
Then, in 2018, following yet another tragedy on the beach of the island of Lesbos, where the drowned bodies of entire families fleeing war or poverty had washed up, I realised that talking was no longer enough; I joined CARE to create communities of people eager to help.
Societe Generale and CARE have worked together for several years now, and it’s a wonderful partnership, and that’s crucial today at a time when international solidarity is more important than ever”.
CARE is a long-standing partner of the Group, within the framework of its emergency policy, which enables it to contribute to international aid in the event of major humanitarian crises.
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Women In… data
Estella, a powerful voice challenging discrimination
Portrait of Estella Todjo, Regional Data Privacy Officer for Societe Generale Americas.
A voice against stereotypes
In this interview full of enthusiasm and commitment, Estella Todjo challenges gender stereotypes by stating that she is "living proof that women are as ambitious, or sometimes even more ambitious, than men." With an impressive background combining Law and Cybersecurity, Estella shares with us her unique experience and the challenges she has overcome as an African woman in a demanding professional environment.
Does prejudice against women still happen? “Unfortunately, it does still happen”. Estella's answer is unequivocal as she has experienced it herself. She talks about the "caution and hesitation" she notices when people approach her and encourages women to be "kind, friendly, and approachable, while remaining professional," because, she is sure, "actions will always speak much louder than words".
The power of perseverance
Her story, marked by the achievement of three Law degrees from three different countries while juggling work and family responsibilities, is a testament to resilience and determination. "It was incredibly difficult, but I persevered, and it ended in success," she says proudly.
Don’t miss this interview with someone who embodies perseverance and strength, and encourages us all to inspire the next generation. Watch the full video of Estella Todjo!
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Women In… tech
Annie, a woman in IT
Portrait of Annie Abraham, GSC Director, Pricing and Risk Engines, GSC India
IT: a man’s world?
In this lively and engaging interview, Annie challenges the stereotypes associated with IT, asserting that this field is accessible to all, irrespective of gender. “You require logical and analytical manner and more brain power, and we are all blessed with that,” she notes.
From instrumentation engineering to IT, Annie has headed numerous international teams. She tells us about the various experiences that “formed the foundation of my career”. She recognises that while she has never been the victim of discrimination herself, she believes that “it’s something that needs to be watched”. Moreover, she says that, despite everything, she has “taken a lot of effort to make my own allies, friends, colleagues who support me”.
One woman, a thousand challenges
Annie shares her pride of having led ambitious projects such as “driving a large team, about 200 members, and trying to transform the entire landscape, which included more than 60 applications” despite having only limited experience in these areas. “Though I tried to limit myself, my leaders pushed me in saying that, no, you can do it.”, she explains.
Lastly, when we ask her what unexpected profession she could do, she replies – with humour – that she could see herself as “a midfielder in a hockey or football team”, thus illustrating her team spirit and her passion for strategy. Annie: a future champion?Don’t miss the interview with this leading figure who encourages us all to accomplish our goals and fulfil our ambitions. Watch the full video of Annie Abraham and be inspired!
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Women In… tech
Phoenix, a journey of excellence
Portrait of Phoenix Kalen, Global Head of Emerging Markets Research at Societe Generale, in London
Is Global Research & Strategy a man's world?
“There isn’t a high representation of women in the Global Research & Strategy team, but perhaps that’s more broadly reflective of the banking industry and less of the Societe Generale research world itself. My teammates within EM (Emerging Markets) Strategy are all male, but my sense is that we value each other based on our individual strengths and areas of expertise, rather any gender-based assessments”.
Who are you?
“I work as the Global Head of Emerging Markets Research at Societe Generale. I’m based in London. I conduct and write research, and also oversee the EM Strategy content produced on our markets of coverage in CEEMEA (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa), Asia, LATAM (Latin America), and Frontier Markets. Our team provides research on sovereign debt and currency markets for consumption by Societe Generale’s institutional clients as well as by a variety of internal stakeholders”.
What's your background?
“I was born in Vietnam, grew up mostly on the US West Coast, and studied on the US East Coast, as well as in France and in Singapore. I have undergraduate degrees in Applied Maths, Economics, and Psychology, as well as an MBA, and I am a CFA charter-holder. I’ve worked for American, British, and European investment banks. I joined Societe Generale twelve years ago to be a part of the emerging markets research team, which I am currently leading. What I find most attractive about working at Societe Generale is the high degree of independence and autonomy in my research role, the possibility to take on abundant responsibilities, and the friendly environment of collaboration and intellectual inquiry among my colleagues”.
Do prejudices against women still exist?
“I’m hard-pressed to think of any concrete examples that I’ve witnessed at Societe Generale that would suggest prejudice against women. If anything, I believe that the bank often goes out of its way to ensure that career enhancement opportunities are provided for women – such as opportunities for internal visibility, networking, and efforts at female recruitment and retention”.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
“My proudest professional achievement is being able to lead a team of talented individuals and to motivate them to work together as a team. I’m also very proud that we together launched a global weekly EM Strategy research product several years ago that is well-regarded and that continues to improve over time”.
A source of inspiration, expected or unexpected, that guides you?
“My late piano teacher (who taught me decades ago) – in the way she looked at the world, handled obstacles, and dealt with people – is a continual source of inspiration for me”.
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Women In… science
Sarah, a woman of heart and science
Portrait of Sarah Watson, Clinician Scientist in medical oncology at Institut Curie
A renowned medical oncologist and researcher at Institut Curie, Sarah Watson has benefited for several years from the support of the "Au Féminin by SGPB" club in her decisions around her finances and wealth management. She shares with us her journey, her thoughts on the recognition of women, and her inspirations.
A journey between medicine and science
With a double degree in medicine and science from the Pierre and Marie Curie University and the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), Sarah's journey is characterised by its multidisciplinary nature. "I did not enrol and train in one area, but in many. I chose both medicine and research because they are complementary disciplines", she explains.
In this interview, she expresses her pride in having formed a tight-knit team, "a supportive group that works collectively on the medical and scientific issues that unite us".
"I feel that what I do is useful for my patients and their families. I am engrossed in my work; it is what gives meaning to my life. My role as a researcher does not end when I leave my laboratory because my patients stay with me, and I stay with them", she confides.
Strength, resilience, and commitment
She shares her inspirations, particularly the resilience of figures such as Simone Veil, and addresses the challenges facing women of her generation, while stressing that she believes there is no generational or gender inequality problem in her environment.
"I share the impostor syndrome with many women. However, I believe that the problem lies with ourselves, not with others. It is up to each individual to take charge, just as you would to build self-confidence", she continues.
Finally, she shares an inspiring challenge of life: "To improve people's daily lives in the face of illness, to assist my patients, to stand by them, and to fight for my teams, my patients, and all those who place their trust in her".
Do not miss this empathetic and inspiring personality, and the values that animate her daily life. Discover the full interview with Sarah Watson and let yourself be inspired!