“Being a mother has given me incredible management skills.”
“Our only true responsibility in this world is to be fully ourselves.”
Two statements that neatly sum up Clara Gaymard’s outlook.
A graduate of Sciences Po and ENA, and former president of General Electric France for more than ten years, she is now co-founder, alongside Gonzague de Blignières, of RAISE, a pioneering fund in committed, responsible finance that manages €2 billion in assets.
In this new episode of Voices of Boldness, Clara Gaymard takes us behind the scenes of power, shares some revealing anecdotes and discusses the story behind the acquisition of Alstom’s energy businesses.
She also discusses how she turns adversity into a driving force, and her belief that performance is always built around people and collective effort.
A mother of nine, she has never chosen between professional ambition and personal life. She chose to embrace both.
A special episode recorded before an all-female audience for International Women’s Day.
In this episode, Clara reflects on:
- Her childhood and her early desire to discover the world and make a difference.
- The encounters that changed her life, personally and professionally.
- Her years in public service and the experiences that stayed with her.
- How she organises her life as a mother of nine, and the parallels with management.
- How major deals are put together and managed.
- Her advice on navigating difficult times, managing stress and returning to the present moment.
- The creation of RAISE and how the fund challenges the conventions of traditional capitalism.
- The importance of environmental and social issues in today’s economy.
- Her watchword: desire, and her firm belief in living without being constrained by what others think.
- Her definition of boldness: put your dream first, embrace the unknown and never overlook an encounter.
