My journey between France and Germany
I was born and raised in a French-speaking, French cultural environment. Today, I live and work in Germany, speak German fluently and feel completely at home there. Moving between the two cultures has brought rewards, moments of loneliness, countless lessons and plenty of time to grow, along with some great challenges. I have gone through every stage myself, and because the journey has been worthwhile, I would love to help you take yours forward.
How I learned the German language
At first, I knew very little about Germany. What I did know, however, was that I loved German. I began studying it at school in France through the Abibac programme, which leads to both the French Baccalauréat and the German Abitur. Between 2011 and 2014, the programme gave me several opportunities to spend time in Germany and Austria, while studying literature, history and geography in German.
Serious doubts while starting university
I was preparing for the entrance exams to get into a business school. As German was one of my strong points, I set off in the summer of 2015 to work as an au pair in Austria. Apart from a slight culture shock, my very literary German wasn’t always enough to get by in everyday life; I felt as though I was regressing. Although I felt lost, I didn’t have the words to express it at the time and focused on my studies, thinking that ‘German isn’t really for me after all’.
First long stays in Germany
I joined the MSc in management programme at emlyon business school in 2016 and specialised in innovation, entrepreneurship and design thinking through the I.D.E.A. track. At the same time, I undertook three internships abroad, including two in Germany, between 2017 and 2019. At the time, I had no idea what lay ahead; nothing had been planned. From my working environment to my social life, not to mention the joys of paperwork and the feeling of being far from home… ‘it was a lot’.
In Luxembourg, longing to be elsewhere
Captivated (despite everything!) by my international experiences, I took up my first role in Luxembourg City in 2020. There, I led innovation and digital transformation projects within the European subsidiary of a private bank. For both professional and personal reasons, I was planning to move to Germany with my partner at the time and build long-term professional relationships there by taking up a position in Düsseldorf.
Reflection period in Düsseldorf
In 2021, I started a role as a management consultant, where I deepened my expertise in multicultural projects and change management. In 2023, I took a four-month break to explore Asia. I then ticked all the boxes for someone searching for balance: the basics were there, but I was looking for nuance, the right cultural instincts, and efficiency in day-to-day life… a fascinating learning experience, but one that took a lot out of me. Gradually, a deeper reflection also began to take hold: how could I reconcile my French identity with the German culture in which I sometimes felt so well?
Find the right words and start sharing
I realised that my knowledge of both countries is a genuine area of expertise and that my career path generates real interest. Driven by a desire to specialise in intercultural management and to hone my skills as a trainer, I completed the InterCultur GmbH diploma in 2025. This milestone enabled me to put my experience into words and to feel fully fulfilled in my so-called ‘French-German’ profile. I then joined the CERAN network of trainers in early 2026.