Why and how did you end up joining the Lactalis Group ?

I went to university and trained as an agro-food engineer at INSFA (National Higher Institute for Education in the Food Industry), and only 'discovered' marketing after placements in quality and R&D.
My final training placement was in the Lactel division, in 2001. I had heard a lot about marketing and my goal was to find out more about it, as it remains an abstract concept until you have 'lived' it from the inside. I was very quickly accepted on to the team and given assignments and objectives of my own. One day my Manager said to me, "By recruiting trainees, Lactalis is recruiting a future Chief Executive !" That is motivating talk ! At the end of the placement, I accepted a position as Product Manager of 'specific' Lactel milks (enriched and flavoured milks). Over three years the numerous projects turned me into an expert in that market (data, growth levers, consumer incentives etc.).

What are the pluses of being a Product Manager ?

The thing that I most appreciate about my job is that no two days are the same, because of the diversity of tasks and people I work with. As well as the job itself, I think the atmosphere at work is very important. Mine is healthy and relaxed, which makes up for the stress and intensity of some weeks.

To be more concrete, what does a typical day consist of ?

Let me give you a few examples of my daily work :
At my office : working with Sales to analyse how a promotional activity went, reflecting on the launch of my new product, drawing up a packaging brief for an agency, itemising the cost of a product with Management Control.
Meetings with other departments : tasting R&D's latest recipe for... still secret ! Working with Production to examine the possibility of adapting our manufacturing equipment to package the new product.
External meetings : listening to and analysing a consumer group's response to new packaging or a new idea, taking part in the filming of an advertisement or a photo session.

What makes a 'good' Product Manager ?

I often compare the Product Manager with the conductor of an orchestra. You have to run projects diligently and cheerfully, keep up the rhythm and deal with a large variety of challenges and personalities, and the result depends on the 'soul' that everyone puts in. It is always hard work, but the end result makes the group proud and forges team spirit. It is a character-building position that develops certain essential qualities : improved self-confidence, pragmatism, analytical skills, logic, decisiveness, teamwork and a results-oriented approach, which also happen to be valuable life-skills !