[LUM#8] She Fulfills Herself

[LUM Magazine] - Published on January 15, 2019 in Entrepreneurship, Science and Society

Cendrine Genty’s goal is to support women in their career transition efforts. After a career in television journalism, she founded the startup“L se réalisent.”

There’s no doubt about it—she’s a pioneer. Even as a student, Cendrine Genty set the tone: when she learned that a new postgraduate degree (DESS) in scientific and technical journalism had just been created at the University of Montpellier, she decided to join that very first graduating class. That choice launched her into a 14-year, exciting career in television.“I discovered the world of television during an internship for my DESS program and then seized many opportunities.” As a journalist, producer, and editor-in-chief, Cendrine Genty helped create numerous shows and quickly took on greater responsibilities. At age 27, she was editor-in-chief of the show *Pékin Express*.

Almost 10 years later, another responsibility turned her professional life upside down: she became a mother. “I realized then that I no longer found meaning in pursuing this career—which I had once loved—but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else either; it was a very abrupt change.”

"Balancing work and personal life"

How can she balance this new family life with a professional career?“I kept wondering how other women managed to balance work and personal life; I wanted to run after them and ask them that question” …. And that’s exactly what she did. The journalist decided to go out and meet them: armed with a notebook and a pen, she embarked on a major investigation that would last a year. Cendrine Genty then realized that many women were asking themselves the same question shewas: “What do I really want?” 

“Many of them were considering a career change—whether after having a child, experiencing burnout, dealing with an illness, or being laid off…”How can we help these women, torn between family and work, find a role that suits them? To support them through these tumultuous journeys, Cendrine Genty decided to put her skills as a journalist to work for them. This marks another first: the launch of “L se réalisent,” a program of initiatives designed to support women’s career development throughout their personal lives. “Whether it’sa career change or starting a business, we support women aged 35 to 50 in the second half of their careers,” explains Cendrine Genty.

And the public hasturned out in force: “The ‘Femmes L Solidarity Days’ brought together nearly 1,000 participants who came to benefit from sharing their experiences,” says Cendrine Genty with delight. A true success for someone who, above all, wants to “show that the range of possibilities is extraordinary”—and who is already filling her own horizonwith new projects and other firsts.

Keywords: LUM#8, LUM Magazine, Company