For the principle of age, I am lucky to be in an innovative industry, and the luxury of my age is that I grew up in this industry with the Internet, with a telephone, with ‘interactive. This is one reason why I had an easier time in my environment than some people older than me, who had to learn to navigate this industry. So I believe that it is rather an advantage to be a young person in the position of CEO that I have. As for being a woman, I am lucky to have grown up in a family with an entrepreneurial spirit. My family motivated me to achieve my goals and not be afraid to assert myself. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel like I need to do more since I was taught to give my best and do my best to have the desired results. It is certain that I am starting a professional journey and that I have a lot to learn. I have mentors, collaborators who encourage me, who believe in me. I bring a younger vision, that of a new generation in an innovative industry. I don’t feel like being a young woman is an issue. For those who see one, I don’t want to work with them.
No! But I feel privileged and very blessed to be able to decide what will appear at HUB Montréal, to set up important and rich discourses, to address social, environmental and economic issues. I joined HUB Montréal as a programming coordinator. I climbed the ranks and over three years I developed a close relationship with the ecosystem that we represent. I had three years to understand all the issues. Finally, there were changes internally and the ecosystem supported my appointment.
We are an annual international market event for digital creativity, that is to say everything that brings together art, culture and new technologies, all sectors combined. Our two missions are the promotion of Quebec creative talent and international business networking. We stand out for the quality of our participants and our desire to remain niche and qualitative and less in the quantitative mainstream. It’s a group of creators who come together in an event and who will talk about the major trends of the moment and what awaits us.
We are in an advantageous position. We have a pool of studios that are world leaders for their expertise, which means that we become a creative hub where international people can come and be inspired. We are often compared to the Americans and we have had to find a way to stand out to reach American calibers. We have succeeded because we receive large American delegations who come to meet Quebec studios for their expertise, whether Disney, Universal, architectural firms like Gensler.
I collaborate with them. I think it is important for a manager not to be specialized in all aspects of the organization, but to be a unifier. I have always been very comfortable asking questions of the people around me and asking them for advice. It allowed me to grow professionally. It is my current strategy to include employees in my management. When you are young in a leadership position, you have to remember that you worked hard to get the position, that you deserve it and that you are in the right place. I have confidence in my management method while remaining open to collaboration. This is the best strategy for dealing with people older than you.
