Madame Figaro
.- Why did you choose the theme of metamorphosis for this 2022 edition of BIG?
Nicolas Dufourcq.-
Because I am convinced that the period we are living through is radically changing us, well beyond transformation.
Transformation is foreseeable, while metamorphosis contains a dimension of the unknown which seems to me better suited to what we are going through – from Covid to the threat of nuclear war, via de-globalization...
Littré
's definition specifies he fact that metamorphosis, a word of Greek origin, is decided by the gods, goes beyond us, in a way;
when transformation, a word of Latin origin, refers to a change decided by men.
How to deal with this period of upheaval? What can we learn from the attitude of entrepreneurs faced with the permanent irruption of the unknown?
Entrepreneurs are navigators, accustomed to facing a constantly changing sea.
What you can learn from them is to "navigate your life" - that is to say, to constantly change, adapt your way of navigating.
At the moment, clearly, we are not in the trade winds!
Afterwards, when on the right, on the left, the trusted third parties fall, the center must hold.
And this center, for entrepreneurs, is the financial solidity of their company (preserving its cash flow, holding its own funds, maintaining frugality of costs), but also innovation, fertility, the ability to always place itself in invention and to anticipate.
It is energy, courage.
And I would add: an attitude, almost philosophical, which consists in considering this metamorphosis as an immense source of
opportunities.
We will have to surpass ourselves!
Those who anticipate it, look it straight in the eye, will build businesses of which they can be very proud.
Like those who, ten years ago, anticipated, somewhat alone, the ecological and energy transition...
How to become the one who "sees"?
It involves having the courage to make mistakes.
Accepting not knowing, and knowing what you don't know: this is what allows you to make choices.
Then, there is always something “tripal”, a voice that comes from deep within and that you have to know how to listen to, not everything is mathematical.
What also helps is to test several scenarios, sometimes at the same time.
You have to be strategic, fluid, all the time.
Entrepreneurs are navigators, accustomed to facing an ever-changing sea
Nicolas Dufourcq
How do you think entrepreneurship can transform society, our lives? What is the role of entrepreneurs in the transition?
I think entrepreneurship and the values it entails are the key to many of our problems.
This is why Bpifrance has set itself the objective of doubling the number of entrepreneurs in France.
It is a politico-philosophical objective: with our partners, our role is, perhaps above all, to untie French fears.
We believe that French society is ripe to be even more libertarian than it is today.
The polls show it: one in three French people have a relationship with entrepreneurship: they have created a company in the past, currently run one or dream of taking the plunge.
We are lucky to be protected and accompanied to undertake today in France!
It almost involves the duty to follow one's wishes.
If it does not work,
is it so serious?
Entrepreneurship always means improving one's employability.
HRDs appreciate those who have tried the experiment.
It's all a question of perspective – that's why I think that the current change must also innervate education: being less afraid of risk, which also implies knowing how to assess it better, that can, must, be learn at school.
Precisely, what would need to change for there to be more women entrepreneurs, and for there to be more unicorns led by women?
It is essential to make the support networks for business creation better known so that women turn to them more easily.
They are very numerous in France (more than 300 associations, 50,000 volunteers).
This very complete infrastructure can really help to deal with the feeling of vertigo, which feeds fear, and the brakes that still block some women, in particular the impostor syndrome.
I also think of this other fear that sometimes holds them back: that of sacrificing their family, their private life.
Our studies show that men and women entrepreneurs divorce less than the rest of the population, and have more children.
Perhaps because when one is embodied, when one lives one's life to the full, one's desires, everything is always better.
But also because
undertaking can become a conjugal adventure, which cements solidarity and radiates on the family, the children.
And that is very important to say.
More information and registration here:
big.bpifrance.fr
