Participating in the member profile series, Virginie Gervais-Brezin spoke to Meggan Dissly about how she views the EuropeanPWN

M.D.: What do you value most as a member of EuropeanPWN?

V.G-B.: I value the cultural and professional diversity of the network; I value the opportunity it offers to share experiences with other professional women and benefit from their support. I get useful information through the network and meet new people through the broad range of activities it offers.

M.D.: Has the EuropeanPWN ever helped you professionally or personally?

V.G-B: I did not join the EuropeanPWN to find a job or seeking status. To me it is a space for sharing, where relationships are built over time and one makes new discoveries all of the time.

Up until now, being a member has mostly been an enriching experience from a personal point of view. I have met some incredible women whose generosity and solidarity is nothing short of extraordinary. I have come to realize that other ambitious women like myself are trying to balance their professional and personal lives without feeling guilty or making impossible choices.

From a professional standpoint, the network gives me an overview of the corporate world and its evolution. The support of other women has given me the strength to strike out in new directions and renew efforts to improve the gender diversity in our companies.

The company where I work, Alcatel-Lucent, offers high-quality training in personal development and leadership, but I appreciate the fact that the network offers opportunities to progress as well through the Career Booster session.

M.D.: How would you like to see the EuropeanPWN evolve?

V.G-B.: I regret that we no longer have conferences like the ones organized by the OECD, or MEDEF. And since we are part of a European network, why not organize one weekend a year when all of the European branches could get together? Internet is an excellent means of communication for the network, but nothing can replace face-to-face contact for strong ties.

Virginie is currently Business Management Director at Alcaltel-Lucent where she has been working for 11 years in Operations and Supply Chain. Previous jobs include 8 years at Petrofina (today part of Total ). She speaks Japanese, having worked in Japan for the Ministry of Construction of Japan. Her career path has included stints in Japan, Belgium, the UK and Australia as well as France.

*Virginie holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from ESSEC-Alcatel, graduated from Ecole Nationale Supérieur de Geologie, and is Master of Sciences in physico-chemical processes.

Married, with two children, Virginie’s hobbies are diving (she is Divemaster PADI), and jogging.*