From fashion to tech, delve into Valérie’s unique story!

Born and raised in London, Valérie now lives on the outskirts of the city, in the lovely royal county of Berkshire. She loves sports, fashion, and has some interesting real-life experiences to share. Together, we’ve covered many different topics, from her Congolese heritage to her years in fashion, her views on flexible work, Black History Month, and allyship. So, brace yourself and have a nice read! 

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself? 

I was born and raised in London. I now live in Berkshire, on the outskirts of London where I moved just before lockdown, I get the best of both worlds as I love being in the countryside, but I am also just a train journey away into the city.  Outside of work, I love sports, both playing and watching, I play both Tennis & Netball! I love fashion; I always have! Ever since I could play dress up in my mum's closet. I guess I just love the creativity of it. Before joining Iponweb and, by extension, Criteo, I spent a few years working in fashion. After University, I did numerous internships in London with PR companies, as well as Marie-Claire Magazine. It was during this time that I started a new hobby, Fashion Blogging. I would travel to Paris Fashion Week and document the street styles and managed to get into quite a few shows and document what I had seen on both off and on the runway via my blog, it was great and really grew my love for fashion.  

Do you remember what made you fall in love with fashion?  

I just used to love dressing up and putting outfits together as a child and just showing it off. I wouldn't describe myself as fashionable per se as I don’t really follow trends, I just wear what I like and if it looks good to me, I just go with it. My mum is the same, so I got it from her. Fashion is also a big part of our culture, if you google “Congo sapeurs” you will see what I mean. My family is originally from Congo and anytime we go to a wedding or an event, we all get custom-made outfits, so I used to see that a lot as a child. 

How did you go from fashion to the tech industry?  

Everything changed due to COVID-19. I had just got a new job with a PR company in London, but three weeks into that job, COVID-19 struck, and I lost that job. I had experience doing some assisting work, so I started to do a lot of remote assisting roles, which then led me to take an Executive Assistant position at  IPONWEB. I was two years into the role when we were acquired by Criteo.  

From fashion to tech, it must have been quite a change in terms of industry and company culture... 

It's a lot different, for sure. Working in fashion is very competitive, I know you get that in most companies but in fashion, it is a little different. Now, I feel part of something more collective. From where I stand, the culture in tech is very supportive and everyone is working toward one common goal; to achieve collective success. I'm happy with the balance I have found today; to feel part of something big and still be able to do things related to fashion outside of work on my own terms. 

Talking about work-life balance, are you working 100% from home?  

I go into the office twice a week. The London commute is not for the weak, so it is nice to have that flexibility. I get a lot more work done when I am at home. Before lockdown, I would be at my desk at 8 am, leave at 6, and be so tired... It is nice to be able to go to the gym before signing on and be social right after work. 

Many companies now ask their employees to return to work. How do you feel about that? 

There are pros and cons on both sides. On the one hand, I do enjoy working from home and planning out my days and I get more work done at home as I don’t have the distraction of other multiple conversations going on around me, but then, I think some of us probably work more than we did pre-COVID. When you go to the office, you sign off and leave your laptop there, then you can go on with your evening and leave work at work until the next morning. I do think being in an office all day every day with only an hour of air cannot be healthy.  

Do you feel part of a real community at work now?  

Yes, I am involved with multiple different communities within Criteo. We have the EA community, BIPOC, and plenty of others and there is constant engagement, calls, activities, and lots of support.  

As a person from the BIPOC Community, how do you feel about the initiatives we carry at Criteo? 

Not many companies have this initiative, so it is great to see that Criteo has an active community that is constantly trying to include, educate, and engage with all its employees from different walks of life. It would be great if we could get to a place where everyone wants to get involved in the BIPOC community events just as they do for other events organized by other communities.   

Is it possible that people who aren’t from the community might feel it’s inappropriate to join this type of celebration?  

You don’t need to be part of the BIPOC to join in the activities, for example, there is a historical guided walk taking place in London in October for Black History Month, it is open to all and it’s a chance to ask questions and to understand, but I think people may still be hesitant to join things like this because we now, unfortunately, live in a highly sensitive era where people feel like they cannot ask questions in fear of being canceled. But asking questions and being curious is how people learn and how we move forward as a society. We shouldn’t be scared to have open conversations about these topics as they’re quite unknown to many people. People need to invest the time to educate themselves. 

What does allyship mean to you?  

Taking a stand for what is right. I think if you hear something that is just wrong, it's about sticking up for the individual, even if it’s something not targeted at you! It is far worse to stand by and say nothing in my eyes. Your colleagues and friends should always feel supported. 

Are celebrations like Black History Month the way to tell these unknown stories to the masses?  

I think it’s great that we have happenings like Black History Month but, for me, awareness of the different things that have happened or are happening shouldn’t be contained to one month. It must be a genuine year-round commitment because people from underrepresented communities need support every single day. That is why it’s essential to have open conversations and events to raise awareness all year long! And companies have a major role to play in fostering these values and supporting those efforts. So, let’s celebrate Black History Month while making sure you never let anyone stand alone in your daily life; That is where you’ll have the most impact!