PUM'REWARD Valérie FOUIN LYRECO

The PUM'REWARDS highlight the commitment of members of our community during the Pum'Awards ceremony.

LYRECO received the PUM'REWARD Career Award thanks to Alexie LENTO, recognized as the alumna who shared the highest number of job opportunities on our Alumni platform. This award celebrates graduates and students who actively contribute to the life and energy of our network.

In this spirit, we invite you today to discover the profile of Valérie, Category Manager at Lyreco France and alumna of Rennes School of Business.

Can you briefly describe your career at Rennes SB?

After 2 years of preparatory classes, I entered the Rennes School of Business (Ecole Supérieure de Rennes, at the time) in 1995. Marketing was already a subject that interested me, so I chose the International Marketing specialization and obtained a Master's degree in International Business.

I spent half of my 2nd year at Concordia University in Montreal and made the most of this enriching experience abroad, which enabled me to rub shoulders with different student profiles, benefit from very interactive and open teaching, and also discover this beautiful country and its inhabitants.

After graduating, I started my career with Lyreco (Gaspard, at the time) as an SME sales rep in Paris, before moving on to a key account sales position, again in Paris. I'd been advised to start in sales before moving into marketing. I'd still make the same decision today. This experience has given me a lot both professionally and personally.

I then joined Lyreco's head office in Marly, in the north of France, as marketing manager (first for SMEs, then for key accounts). I discovered this region and above all the cht'is, and I was also able to continue developing my career at Lyreco, a company where you can seize great opportunities for advancement.

After a few years as marketing manager, I moved on to communications manager, and finally to my current position as market manager.

I thought I'd stay 3 or 4 years in this region when I arrived at the end of 2001 ...

Can you tell us about your current business?

I'm currently market manager at Lyreco France for the office supplies (paper, pads and notebooks, diaries, writing, small supplies, labeling, filing and document presentation) and catering families.

The purpose of this position is to manage the strategy of the categories concerned and to ensure the performance of these categories, in particular through referencing and its commercial and economic relevance. To enable me to achieve these objectives, I have a team of 3 product managers, 3 assistants and a work-study student.

What's your greatest achievement?

I'd say that my greatest achievement has been to have progressed throughout my career, both on and off the job.

In your opinion, what is the value of the network in general? The Alumni network in particular?

I believe that networks are essential today and create a large part of our opportunities.

Career advancement is often down to the network, which sometimes puts unexpected proposals in our path and challenges us.

It's the strength of the encounters and bonds we forge throughout our careers and our lives.

It is the power of this almost insignificant encounter that proves to be fundamental a few years later ....

How do you get involved in the Alumni network?

Today, it's more about opportunities and nice surprises when a colleague at Lyreco says to me "You know I went to ESC Rennes too".

Tell us about a nice moment / an opportunity we had thanks to the school or the network

I was supported by a sponsor and the school management in a project to publish a collection of poems (which I had written), sold for the benefit of the telethon. A great experience!

Your best encounter at Rennes School of Business?

There were many important encounters during these 3 years, but I'd just like to mention my company tutor, Sophie, who worked for a cosmetics group and who introduced me to the purchasing professions. It was a real eye-opener, as these jobs are less visible than customer marketing, but they are very important within a company.

In fact, we have a purchasing section within our category management missions at Lyreco.

I really appreciated our discussions and his vision of the professional world.

What advice would you give to a recent graduate?

To commit yourself fully to each experience, each professional adventure, because each one will build the person you'll become.

And also not to be afraid of taking the "wrong path", because nothing is definitive, and each step will bring you something that can be valued sooner or later.

The last word

In my opinion, the desire to take part in an adventure and add value to a team really helps us to progress.

This goes beyond our initial training and can take different forms throughout our lives.

Valérie in a few words

What is your motto or mantra in life? Nothing happens by chance, but sometimes we discover that later.

Do you have a hidden talent/passion? I'm an actress, and I have a lot of fun playing characters who are sometimes very different from me.

A song that's sure to motivate you? I will survive

Your superpower at work (according to your colleagues)? Good mood

A passion or unusual activity outside the office? Theater

The best advice you've ever been given? If it doesn't matter in 5 years. Don't spend more than 5 minutes pissed off

What was the last book or film that made the biggest impression on you? L'amour ouf

If you hadn't pursued this career, what would you have become? Coaching / training or maybe acting, who knows 😊