Breaking Through

Chapter 9Women's Spirit of Enterprise

Interview with Valérie Bernis, Executive Vice President at ENGIE, in Charge of Communications, Marketing, and Environmental and Societal Responsibility

We are living in…a world undergoing profound changes, which requires greater agility, daring, and cohesion. I am convinced that women have a decisive role to play here.

Valérie Bernis was a staff member at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Privatization (1986–1988), and later in charge of communications and the press on the staff of the French prime minister (1993–1995). She joined SUEZ in 1996 and in 1999 became a member of its Executive Committee, in charge of Communications, Financial Communications, and Sustainable Development. At the same time, she was chairman and CEO of Paris Première and a board member of several international companies. She is a member of the Euro Disney Supervisory Board and the boards of directors of SUEZ Environnement, Atos, Occitane, and AROP Association pour le Rayonnement de l'Opéra National de Paris (Paris Opera supporting association).

As Gérard Mestrallet, chairman of ENGIE, was aware of Valérie Bernis's commitment to the place of women in the company, in 2007 he gave her the responsibility of considering the topic at length and producing an action plan.

Since May 1, 2011, Valérie Bernis has been a member of the ENGIE Executive Committee and executive vice president of the company.

In your experience as a top-level manager, do you think ...