Why a career in tech?

Passionate about science in general, and mathematics and physics in particular, I naturally gravitated towards scientific and technological studies. Throughout my education, I hesitated between research and engineering. The latter ultimately won out for personality reasons, but working in industrial R&D, I eventually found a balance between the two.

Your professional experience?

A graduate of École Polytechnique and École des Mines de Paris in 2014, I started as a design-to-cost consultant at Avencore before joining IKOS Consulting in 2017 within the IKOS Lab. I gradually specialized in rail and energy innovation, working on projects such as hyperloop with TransPod, and battery and hydrogen trains in collaboration with SNCF as well as ADIF and RENFE. I also had the opportunity to file IKOS’s first patent for decarbonized energy integration, a multi-input/output, modular and universal power converter, the Power Ring, currently under development. Now based in Madrid, I lead innovation projects and support the establishment of IKOS Lab in Spain.

Your first experience with technology?

After completing all my internships in rail, my primary industrial passion, I had the opportunity at Avencore to work on the development of what was then Thales Alenia Space’s new satellite range, which incorporated two major innovations. This large-scale project, which I supported for 2.5 years, introduced me to many aspects of tech.

What do you do today, and why?

After building IKOS’s R&D program for energy transition through two pillars:

• Decarbonization of diesel trains
• Integration of renewables (power electronics component)

I continue to lead the valorization of associated projects, some of which have reached maturity while others are entering the industrialization phase. I’m also particularly developing innovation activities internationally.

Your strengths in this role?

I think my best assets for this position are my ability to synthesize, my tenacity, my leadership based on my talent for seeing and nurturing the best in my colleagues, as well as my constant desire to learn and share knowledge.

Past challenges, failures and disappointments?

My greatest past challenge, which led to numerous moments of isolation, doubt, and confidence crises, was the difficulty in finding my path in science and engineering. Coming from a family of musicians, I had no reference points in this universe. Being interested in everything, I couldn’t settle on a particular technical field. So I first chose a sector that appealed to me more than others: rail, for its virtuous dimensions – both for the environment and its impact on the public -, for its great technical complexity – absolutely all technological domains converge and interface there -, and its literary and poetic aspect. It was therefore through trial and error and experimentation, identifying what I enjoyed and what suited me less, that I gradually learned to know myself better and build a synthesis aligned with my expectations, both technically and non-technically, in the practice of my current profession.

Best moments, successes you’re proud of?

My first great pride was my admission to Louis-le-Grand high school, coming from a small middle school in Périgord, then of course my success in the École Polytechnique entrance exam as top-ranked student in the Physics-Chemistry track.

Recently, I’ve again had the honor of being recognized for my work. First by becoming a finalist in 2023, at 34, for the Women in Industry award from L’Usine Nouvelle in the R&D category (congratulations to the winner, Marjorie Cavarroc, very impressive), then with distinctions in 2025:

• The Women in Rail Award in the Research & Innovation category, awarded by the European Commission and all European rail industry associations
• The Grand Prix National de l’Ingénierie with my team for the Power Ring project.

Finally, less in the spotlight but a source of deeper pride are the validation of the first complete prototype of our Power Ring concept, and the Ministry of Industry’s invitation to contribute, alongside recognized figures, to the October 2025 issue of Annales des Mines dedicated to rail greening.

People who helped, influenced -or made your life difficult?

I was fortunate to have remarkable teachers throughout my journey. First in Saint-Cyprien in Dordogne, in elementary school (I particularly remember Mrs. Candau in CE2), then in middle school with my History-Geography teacher, my French and Latin teacher, my Mathematics teachers… Then at Louis-le-Grand, in high school and preparatory classes, where all the teachers were exceptional, special mention to Emmanuel Goldsztein, known as Goldi. Finally, I benefited at Avencore as well as at IKOS from competent and inspiring colleagues and managers.

On the difficulties side, I’ve been confronted, like most women in very male-dominated environments I think, with some delicate situations: inappropriate advances difficult to handle in a professional context, underestimation of my skills or my role, and the culminating point in Italy where engineers only addressed my male colleagues, even to answer my own questions.

Your hopes and future challenges?

My primary future challenge is to transform my R&D projects into commercially viable offerings. It’s ultimately an adventure similar to that of a startup where I started with research, experiments, publications, development, and now it’s about reaching a market. In parallel, my role is increasingly shifting towards external focus, although I continue to have strong internal involvement. And finally, I’ll need to successfully gain geographic and strategic depth.

What do you do when you don’t work?

I read a bit, I go out a lot, I do sports, and for the past few years I’ve taken up sound creation through livecoding (creating music, images etc. through programming) but above all, I spend as much time as possible and do as much as I can with those I love.

Your heroes -from History or fiction?

I admire great men, and I’ll only mention one here, my favorite Marcel Proust. But I admire even more the great women whose names have managed to break through and endure despite contrary winds. From Hatshepsut, who transformed Egypt into another dimension 3,000 years ago to Marie Curie, Simone Weil (and Simone Veil), through Greek poets – philosophers – mathematicians like Hypatia and Sappho, great leaders and fighters of the Middle Ages like Joan of Arc, Maria Theresa of Austria, Boadicea, Qin Liangyu, Kahina… and recently artists Frida Kahlo, Camille Claudel, Charlotte Salomon, Virginia Woolf etc. the list is fortunately far too long to name them all!

I’m less impacted by fictional characters but I can still mention the heroines Mulan, and Vi (Violet) in Arcane.

A saying or proverb you like in particular?

You can’t stop a people who dance (motto of the Free Party movement)

A book to take with you on a desert island?

“In Search of Lost Time” – Marcel Proust

A message to young female professionals?

Dare to pursue careers in creation (artistic as well as technical and scientific), influence, power… these are the professions that shape our future and we need women to take part in them, far more than they do today.