Hello everyone!

I'm back after a hectic few days for me, but I'm back with tons of things to tell you about, lots of inspiration, because these articles are closer to my heart than ever, and I'm sure you'll enjoy them! Today, we're continuing these business weeks with a big piece, an investigation even, in the form of interviews and portraits of great women! I don't know if you remember the video we did with Mai on intuition, for Estée Lauder last June? If not, I invite you to refresh your memory by clicking here. here. In any case,  the brand asked me what topics I wanted to cover on the blog lately. I told them about my desire to highlight women entrepreneurs, and we knew right away that we'd be working together again! Female entrepreneurship is on everyone's lips at the moment, and it's also part of the brand's history with its mythical founder Madame Lauder, so that's how we started working together. And I wanted to introduce you to some of the women who inspire me, who you may not yet know, but who deserve to be known! I'm only telling you about a few, because I'm keeping a few under wraps for portraits in the good people section soon! But clearly, all these women have been, in one way or another, great sources of inspiration for Make My Lemonade.

It's funny, because I see a lot of these women regularly, I follow them on social networks, some of them have even become my friends, and yet it's by doing their interviews that I continue to learn things, and I find them amazing for their courage and determination. They command my admiration and prove once again that dreams are attainable, if you give yourself the means to believe hard enough.

I'll leave you with this little video, which you'll find in its entirety tomorrow, and I'll leave you with the portraits of these first 4 women: Clémentine, Elissa, Insaf and Chloé. Don't worry, you'll have a lot to read, they have a lot to say!

CLEMENTINE LEVY

Founder of café/fleurs Poenies, 81 rue du faubourg Saint Denis 75010 Paris.

I first met Clémentine in photos, this mysterious brunette photographed from every angle by Pauline Darley, then on screen as a columnist on a major French TV channel. Then I heard her mixing records in the evening, and was surprised and moved when she released her coloring book in aid of France Alzheimer. In short, she's always fascinated me, this woman who's everywhere and never runs out of steam, who reinvents herself to be where she's least expected. And then one day, I heard about her new Peonies project, a hybrid café where you could come and buy your bouquet of wild flowers. Two of the world's most comforting little pleasures in one place - what a great idea! And to add insult to injury, the café's address is just 1 number away from our studio. In short, it was with delight that I discovered a little piece of this multi-talented woman, who never ceases to blur the lines, so as not to fit into any box!

To understand your story a little better, could you tell me where you come from and what your career path has been?

Until I was 20, I lived in Caen, Normandy, where I was born. I studied performing arts and cultural mediation there: I wanted to be a fashion and culture journalist. I'd been nagging my parents since I was five, telling them that I was going to move to Paris no matter what.

I was accepted at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in the Communications section to finish my bachelor's degree. I stayed on for another year in the Master's program, and then very quickly I needed to work to keep paying my rent. So I took on one internship after another: at Express Styles, Rue du Mail (at the press) or for a multi-brand boutique (Cancan) which unfortunately no longer exists, but which remains one of my fondest memories as a student.

I quickly realized that fashion journalism wasn't for me, and neither was fashion communications...

Alongside these internships, I was already doing a bit of modeling, but it was in 2011/2012 that things really started to take off. The jobs came one after the other, so I was able to stop the internships and devote myself to this activity that I liked: it was freedom. Then I met my partner, who mixed from time to time in a club in Paris. I liked it, but I wasn't sure it was for me. So I started mixing with him, in pairs, and then I took the plunge and was soon asked to mix at fashion and beauty events...

I was adding a new string to my bow, making a change from modeling while still doing it, and I loved being able to compose my days as I saw fit. For a year, this freedom enabled me to work on a totally new project, a coloring book in aid of France Alzheimer. I was supported by Editions du Cherche Midi, who immediately believed in the project. I spent 6 months canvassing 45 artists, asking them to take part in the project. It was a real gamble for me, because people were waiting for me around the corner, and above all I didn't want to disappoint my family, for whom I had undertaken all this (this notebook was a tribute to my grandmother, who died of the disease).

- What made you decide to set up your own business? When did you know it was the right time?

I think it was that coloring book that made me realize that I could do something other than pose for photos and waddle behind turntables... Take on something, create something from A to Z and be proud of it. It was so exhilarating, that when my business angel said to me "I've got the premises, but I'm missing an idea: would you like to do something together? I thought, go on... 2.5 seconds!

- How do you fight procrastination some days?

At the moment I'm not idle, as the shop launch is just around the corner, but it's true that over the last six months I've had moments of interstellar emptiness when I couldn't do anything but wait for answers from the administration, the bank, the town hall...

I had always enjoyed a great deal of freedom as a freelancer, but I suddenly felt guilty on the days when I wasn't working for Peonies. I was spinning like a lion in a cage, and it was driving Ludo, my boyfriend, crazy, who, having been through it all before (cf. the opening of Les Justes in December 2015) would say to me "hey, chill, you've done your utmost here so settle down".

But hyperactivity runs in the family. My mother can't sit still for 5 minutes without tinkering with something: I'm the same way.

- How do you feel about motherhood and being your own boss?

I've learned to take care of myself and think about myself.

And even as a young entrepreneur, deep down I still have this survival instinct, which is to say to myself, "Okay, you've got responsibilities now, but that's no reason to neglect your life as a woman, your emotional life, your personal life or your friendships for all that".

As a result, I haven't changed my mind about motherhood: I want children (let's start with one) by the time I'm 30 (so in two years' time).

I'll do everything I can to make sure my store is up and running by then, giving everything I've got and putting everything I've got into it, so that I can live my future life as a mother with peace of mind. Where there's a will there's a way, it's like anything else, you have to stop asking yourself questions and just go for it: our baby will arrive when the time comes, when he decides to.

- How do you manage your accounting, administration, current projects and promoting your business? Do you have the help of a chartered accountant, lawyer or financial director?

Of course I have a chartered accountant: indispensable...

It's very difficult to find a good accountant, someone you can trust, who really knows all the laws, codes and rules. As for the rest, I manage it day by day, most of the time on my own, but I don't hesitate to ask for advice when I have doubts (from professionals who have been in the restaurant business for a long time, from my companion who is also a restaurant manager...).

One piece of advice given to me by Marie, the manager of Maison Bastille in the 11th arrondissement, was to take the CCI's 5 Days to Business course. You meet lawyers, chartered accountants and other business professionals who are there to help you and, above all, prevent you from making a mistake. I can't recommend this training enough! Today, the most complicated thing for me is juggling my other activities, because I haven't stopped modeling or doing mixes. It's also hard to turn down certain contracts because they fall right in the first few days of my activity, but I can't abandon ship so quickly...

- Do you regret having embarked on the adventure of entrepreneurship?

Not at the moment, haha! My days are crazy, and my working hours will soon be worse than when I was a student, but it's so exhilarating... When I meet people who give me their encouragement, I'm all pumped up. It's really good to see that people believe in your project and encourage you.

A lot of people say to me, "You're so brave, I couldn't do it! But why? Not being able to and not wanting to are two different things. I know too many friends who are bursting with talent, who have a thousand ideas a second, but who don't dare. I wish I had a magic wand to help them find the courage to take the plunge. It's a waste to leave it on stand-by. Who cares what people think? I repeat this sentence a lot, but I've made it my leitmotiv: if you're convinced, you'll be convincing!

ELISSA REGNIER-VIGOUROUX

Co-founder of lingerie brand Noo Underwear.

I met Elissa at the same time as her associate Anaïs (whom you'll meet tomorrow), when together we designed the swimwear for the "les baigneuses" collection. It was a revelation: she boosts and challenges me like no other. She has an infectious energy that makes me want to lift mountains. She's become a bit of a barometer for my ideas, always offering wonderful advice, and always asking the right questions: the ones that make you think! As a young mother and business owner, she proves to me that you can do everything at once if you have the desire and the right organization... I have the feeling that we've always had that little voice inside us that one day urged us to follow our own project... Our brands were launched at more or less the same time, and they evolve quickly, which gives us plenty to talk about, and gives us courage to talk about our day-to-day problems, so that we don't take things too much to heart, and so that we can have a fresh look at our issues! In short, you'll love Elissa! 

- To understand your story a little better, could you tell me a little about where you come from and your background?

I have a fairly classic background. I grew up near Toulouse. After a scientific baccalaureate, I did 3 years of HEC preparatory classes, which led me to enter a business school in Nantes. During my studies, I had the chance to live in 3 countries (England, Canada and Spain) and specialize in cultural industries and multimedia. I then started my career working for 5 years in major media groups (Le Monde and Marie Claire), before jumping into the entrepreneurial pool.  

  

- What made you decide to set up your own business? When did you know it was the right time?

With two self-employed parents who gave me a taste for work and independence, I always knew that I too wanted to blaze my own trail. I loved the corporate experience, I thrived there for a while, but the truth is I knew from day one that it wouldn't suit me in the long term. Once the excitement of the early days wore off, I quickly became bored. I was always thinking up new business ideas, always the girl with a thousand ideas. Then, one weekend, as fatigue began to set in and I found it increasingly difficult to follow a path I knew was not my own, I made my decision. It seemed obvious to me, I decided to go for it, without even having clearly defined what I was going to do next, but I knew deep down that it was time, a kind of vital instinct. So on Monday I announced my departure to my boss at the time. A few weeks later, I met Anaïs, and the Noo adventure began.

- How do you combat procrastination on certain days?

Being self-employed, obligations and tasks come naturally to you every day. The days when I have the luxury of doing nothing no longer exist, even at weekends, so the question that sometimes arises is rather the opposite: how can I learn to take real breaks, without being connected 24 hours a day? So I'm learning to welcome the "down" moments that often follow much more intense rush periods, and take advantage of them to recharge the batteries.

When I'm in a rush, I manage my priorities as they come, without putting them end to end, so as not to generate more stress for myself.

- How do you feel about motherhood and being your own boss?

He's my driving force! When I'm tired and worn out by worries, I think of my son. I want to prove to him that in life, everything is within the reach of those who give themselves the means. It's also for him that I embarked on this adventure, and I want him to be proud of what I've achieved.  

On the other hand, everything also takes on more weight, and the pressure is greater as a mother, because decisions concerning our business involve his future to some extent. It's true that I was more serene about financial matters when I was an employee with paid vacations and RTT...

But in the end, from a practical point of view, being self-employed is a freedom that's priceless! Even if I have to work just as hard, if not harder, than I did in my previous job, knowing that I can leave without having to justify my departure to anyone if my son has a problem is a priceless luxury that I fully realize.

- How do you manage your accounting, administration, ongoing projects and the promotion of your business? Do you have the help of a chartered accountant, lawyer or financial manager?

Anaïs has an artistic background, while I have a general business school education, so the roles were easily shared. She's in charge of design, style and production, while I'm in charge of communications and the brand's commercial and financial strategy. Ancillary tasks are shared between the two of us, and for the more "technical" points, we have surrounded ourselves with experts (chartered accountant, lawyer, etc.) who help us on a daily basis.  

- Do you regret having embarked on the adventure of entrepreneurship?

Not for a second! It's sometimes extremely difficult, and there are moments of discouragement, but once you've had a taste of this adventure, you know that whatever happens, you won't be able to do without it!  

"Pride in one's appearance is as important as pride in one's intelligence", Estée Lauder. What does this remind you of?

My oriental origins have always encouraged me to take care of myself to stay beautiful. My family culture, on the other hand, has taught me to be ambitious. I think these are the 2 pillars on which I've built myself. As women, we have to work at cultivating what we love in ourselves, at every level, because no one else can do it for us. Taking care of ourselves, whether from a physical or intellectual point of view, is part of a process that I see as common. Two The love we feel for each other drives us to be better people, to surpass ourselves. To be a beautiful person, in every sense of the word. 

- And if you were Mrs. Estée Lauder, and in 2017 you wanted to release your "must-have product", what would it be?

A magic potion that would enable me to stop time in the blink of an eye, so I could enjoy those I love more...

INSAF AOUADI

nutritionist and magician www.moimoietmoi.com

I discovered Insaf one day when I visited the website of Delphine Desneige, better known as Deedee. She offers treatments using a revolutionary machine, gives smart nutritional advice and, above all, when I went to see her, I realized that she was a wonderful life coach! Making an appointment with Insaf has been like a bubble of fresh air in this year, I've rediscovered a taste for cooking, for taking time for myself, because in the end I had the feeling that I was neglecting my body and mind in favor of Make My Lemonade, and wrongly so, because in the end it's my state of mind that sets the tone for my projects and my daily life. Insaf gave me good vibes, showed me that I was finally in a relationship with my body too, and that I owed it some good and that it would repay me a hundredfold! Even if everyday life catches up with me and it's sometimes difficult to take this precious time for myself, I know the right reflexes to have when feeling overwhelmed, slow down a little to speed up better! Thank you Insaf for this, I recommend this rocket woman, who will turn your life upside down, but I promise it's only for your own good! 

- To understand your story a little better, could you tell me where you're from and what your background has been?

I was born in Romilly sur Seine where I had a happy childhood. I started a beauty salon, which I sold after 7 years to embark on a new adventure focused on slimming, nutrition and sophrology. I constantly need to reinvent myself, because I'm full of ideas and I love taking on new challenges. I started putting on weight around the age of 20 because I wasn't comfortable with my body, but 5 years and 30 kilos later... something clicked!

- What triggered you to set up your own business? When did you know it was the right time?

I met an extraordinary woman, a nutritionist, who gave me the keys to take control of my life. I started by eating better, exercising and taking care of myself. I began to feel better in my head and to have confidence in myself. As I lost more and more weight, I became more determined! I became a warrior! That's what gave me the strength to launch my own business and the desire to help others who may have suffered the same misfortune as me.

- How do you fight procrastination some days?

I don't have time to procrastinate! I've become hyper-active!

- How do you feel about motherhood and being your own boss?

Motherhood has forced me to organize myself even more to optimize my time (working from home, for example) and to define my priorities. I have a wonderful little boy, Andréa, aged 3, who is super dynamic and with whom I spend a maximum amount of "qualitative" time. I plan my schedules so that I can pick my son up from school every day. I really devote 2 hours to him, where we play, heckle and laugh. Then I leave him with a baby-sitter to go back to work.

- How do you manage your accounts, administration, current projects and promoting your business? Do you have help from a chartered accountant, lawyer or financial manager?

I have a chartered accountant who takes care of the bookkeeping, the rest I manage myself. I've learned on the job, I've asked my friends and family for advice, and everything's going well.

- Do you regret having embarked on the adventure of entrepreneurship?

Not for a second! It's not easy every day, because you only have yourself to rely on, but it's strengthened my fighting spirit!

"Never 'just run out for a few minutes' without looking your best. Thas is not vanity - it's self-liking. Your face is always on display".Estée Lauder. What does this remind you of?

I'm in a profession that helps women and men feel in harmony with themselves, and I have to convey a positive image of myself. I don't like complacency!

If you were Mrs. Estée Lauder, and in 2017 you wanted to release your "must-have product", what would it be?

I'm always running around, never have time, so I'd love to invent a magical multi-purpose balm. It would bring energy to the face, the body. It would smell of jasmine, reminding me of my grandmother's flower garden in Tunisia.

CHLOÉ BLONDEL

Chloé and I have a group, or almost a group of people in common. For me, Chloé is a dreamer with her feet firmly on the ground. She had an idea that wasn't easy to put into practice, because the French are a little wary of trusting young entrepreneurs with unparalleled concepts. So it was in 2014 that she inaugurated the room, one of the first of its kind, an escape room in Paris. So no, it's not a concept for the over-18s, it's a life-size game. The concept is simple: you have one hour to decipher the riddles to get out of the room in which Chloé has just locked you. Chloé has not given up on the trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship, and will be opening her second room early next year, still at 3 rue de Metz, in a new universe full of riddles written to stimulate your brain! I love talking to Chloé because she's so frank, she's not afraid to talk about her weaknesses, which makes her project super human, and she makes me want to take on the less productive moments too, because it's simply in those moments that lots of things happen! 

- To understand your story a little better, could you tell me where you come from and what your career path has been?

I'm a bit of an odd duck, since after a Bac L I did a DEUG in Classics (I wanted to be an ancient Greek teacher), missed out on Sciences-Po and then went to a cultural management school in Paris from which I graduated with a Master's degree. I wasn't quite ready to start working yet, so I spent a year at university in New Zealand, where I took lots of fun courses (screenwriting, learning Maori, etc.).

- What made you decide to set up your own business? When did you know it was the right time?

I was bored with my job. I was a production manager in the audiovisual industry (mainly managing the production of documentaries for Arte) and even though it was absolutely fascinating, after 6 years I'd had enough of the job. I went to work for another production company for a year, and at the end of the documentary I was working on, I took the opportunity to take a break and take stock of what I wanted to do. I'd always wanted to set up a company, so I took the plunge right then and there. It just took me a little while to figure out which company to open, as I had lots of (more or less far-fetched) ideas.

- How do you fight procrastination some days?

I have a lot of trouble. So most of the time I don't fight it. I think it's part of the way I work. I can procrastinate for hours and then all of a sudden get down to work on something and finish it quickly.

Otherwise, my technique, which works quite well, is to work alongside people.

The big problem at the moment is that I'm alone, so no one can look over my shoulder to see what I'm doing. And as I'm my own boss, I'm accountable only to myself, so it's all the more difficult to stick to targets. So now I do half-days of work with friends, either in their stores, offices, cafés, etc. It's quite motivating. It's pretty motivating. Or I talk to friends about my work problems and they advise me, so when I see them the next time, they follow up on what we've talked about and I feel a bit obliged to move forward to have something to tell them. It's like having a bunch of mini coaches.

- How do you feel about motherhood and being your own boss?

As I said, it's a question I understand, but I wondered if the same question would have been asked of a male company director. Because apart from the pregnancy phase, which is relatively short, the rest is kif kif between man and woman.

If one day it happens, I think I'll take it as a new element to wedge into my business life and normally everything should go well. I'm quite serene about it. It's certainly more complicated when you're a company director to go on maternity leave with peace of mind, but I also think that I'm lucky enough to be able to more or less adjust my working hours, so all in all, it's relatively positive.

- How do you manage your accounting, administration, ongoing projects and promoting your business? Do you have the help of a chartered accountant, lawyer or financial director?

Basically, anything I don't know how to do, I leave to someone else. Not that I couldn't learn, but it's often quite specific things that are done a thousand times better by someone else. For example, I have a great accounting firm that does all my paperwork and payslips.

And I'm lucky enough to have a partner who has a lot of experience and manages a lot of companies, so when I have specific questions he's always there to help me (especially with administrative paperwork).

- Do you regret having embarked on the adventure of entrepreneurship?

No, not at all! It's a bit like freedom! One day I made this choice, and I knew it was going to come with a lot of negative aspects, but I decided to do it, it wasn't forced on me. So I'm happy, even if I don't earn a decent living (yet), I work a lot and I don't have many vacations.

-And if you were Mrs. Estée Lauder, and in 2017 you wanted to release your "must-have product", what would it be?

I have in mind 2 products that are a bit magical/impossible:

- a healthy-glow awakening spray. The crazy stuff that would make up for the late nights and make your eyes look (un)blown out. I always look like a balloon in the morning.

- a cream to bring out my freckles without going in the sun. Because freckles are a great thing, but mine don't really appear until I've been at the beach for a month, so now that I'm no longer on vacation, I miss those little spots.

Thanks and see you tomorrow to meet Anais, Maeva and Pénélope! Photos and video by the talented Olitax! Discover the world of Estée Lauder on www.esteelauder.fr