We're delighted to share episode 3 of our new '3 questions' series, where each month we sit down with the leaders of ManoMano and learn about what has brought them to where they are today. This month, find out about the career evolution, passion and advice of Pauline Boët, People Responsibility Senior Lead at ManoMano.

Tell us about your time before ManoMano, and your role now as People Responsibility Senior Lead

I’ve always been passionate about other people and cultures. This is why I spent my last student months studying international affairs in Mexico, then moved to London for 3 years working firstly in an art gallery, and after as a headhunter. I know, random London opportunities! I later moved back to France where I was a freelancer in social media marketing, then in a digital marketing agency as a social media manager for international clients before being in charge of social media & influence for Pernod Ricard's french whiskies portfolio. Afterwards, I joined my former colleague who was the Head of Communications at ManoMano, and who had asked me to come and be her right-hand woman. To be honest, I wasn’t that interested in joining a quirky DIY start-up, but she insisted I met the founders and I was sold! They had such a unique enthusiastic human vision for their company. I began by taking care of communications for France, then took over the Spanish and Italian teams before launching Germany and the UK. My passion for learning about other cultures has helped me to pursue a career in branding & communication within international teams and is also what pushed me to take a sabbatical and travel, 3 years after joining ManoMano. I travelled around the world from Brazil to Madagascar, discovering cultures but also spending time locally with Emaüs International charity subsidiaries. That year off was eye-opening and I came back wanting to have a direct positive impact on our planet and society; I was lucky enough that ManoMano was putting Corporate Social Responsibility at the heart of the business at the very same time and I am now in charge of our social responsibility. It mainly means translating our human vision into inclusive-diversity, wellbeing and solidarity projects throughout the organisation with the help of engaged communities.

If you could go back and give your graduate-self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Trust your instinct! I've always felt a bit ashamed to follow my heart more often than my brain when making career choices. Turns out I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be without having planned it and I learned a lot in the (albeit a bit loopy) process!

What legacy would you like to leave at ManoMano?

I'd be very proud to have contributed to the building of a company where people are at the heart of our culture, where differences and vulnerabilities are seen as strengths and where each person feels they can contribute to building a better tomorrow during their office hours!