[LUM#8] She comes into her own
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 master’s program in science and technology journalism had just been launched at the University of Montpellier, she decided to join its very first class. That choice would launch 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 major life change turned her professional life upside down: she became a mother. “I realized then that I no longer found meaning in pursuing the career I had once loved so much, 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 the 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 wondering about a possible career change—whether after having children, experiencing burnout, dealing with illness, or facing layoffs…”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 experiences,” says Cendrine Genty with delight. A true success for someone who, above all, wants to “show that the horizon of possibilities is extraordinary”—and who is already filling her own with new projects and other firsts.
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