Introduce yourself in a few lines.
I'm 37, married and the 4th of 9 children. I was born in N'Djaména, but grew up in Yaoundé, Cameroon. At the age of 14, I returned to my native country for high-school. I graduated with a degree in Accounting Sciences from the Université Privée Montplaisir in Tunis. I began my career in Chad as an accountant in a telephone company, then at Bolloré as head of the express department. I've now been in the insurance brokerage business for 10 years. I started at Gras Savoye Chad as a Technico-Commercial for 3 years, then Customer Manager at Gras Savoye Cameroon. In September 2018, I joined the OLEA Group as MD OLEA Chad.
How did you join OLEA ?
In fact, I created the opportunity! Through my discussions with Clément Chadeau, my former Sales Director at Gras Savoye, now MD of OLEA Gabon, I became aware of OLEA's need to establish a presence in Chad. So, I met the Chairman of the Group, Olivier DUBOIS, in Douala to discuss the project. That's how, in September 2018, I joined OLEA, created the subsidiary, and obtained brokerage approval, on December 31, 2018 (at 7 pm!!) so that we could be operational from January 1, 2019. A real challenge that I'm happy to have taken up and achieved. The fact that I'm also involved as a minority shareholder is also a source of pride and motivation. It's a unique opportunity to prove that a woman entrepreneur can succeed, even in complex, male-dominated environments.
What do you think of International Women's Rights Day?
It's a process in which each of us takes our place to advance the relationship between men and women according to our own culture. Each society follows its own rhythm, and my duty as a woman and business leader in Chad is to be a driving force in favour of this equal dignity to which every human being is entitled. I remember what my father taught me: "Education and professional training are indispensable tools for girls to become free and autonomous women". I'm very proud today to be autonomous and free.
How do you contribute to OLEA's development?
OLEA Chad is "my baby"! Daily, I'm out in the field making it known to as many people as possible, helping it grow and develop with my team. What's more, when I have the opportunity to put a Group subsidiary in touch with a new "business" outside Chad, I fight to ensure that my colleagues in other subsidiaries can benefit. This is also the spirit and DNA of OLEA. We're a close-knit Group, united, committed and focused on development and customer service. I'm doing my utmost to build a subsidiary with solid foundations that will tomorrow be the benchmark in Central Africa and a pivot between the Sahel and the equatorial zone.
