Interview  •  Members

"Curiosity and connections are the two main pillars that help me navigate challenges." - in conversation with Cecile Hemery, founder of Walayance

Cecile Hemery, Career and Leadership Coach and founder of Walayance, discussed the challenges of relocating, helping introverted leaders succeed, and offers advice for French entrepreneurs looking to establish their business in the UK.

Please tell us more about your professional experience. Why did you settle your business in the UK as a French professional?

I initially started my career in marketing, product and business performance in the mobile and gaming industry. I worked in this industry for 15 years, and within a landscape of stakeholders, regulations and technologically radically and constantly evolving, my role was focused on optimising monetisation and engagement in games. I built and led the business performance team in Gameloft in the Asia Pacific region and moved to the UK to lead the CRM team in King London’s studio.

In 2019, after realising I wanted to make a change in my career and pivot to helping people, I retrained as a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, and then as a professional coach (I’m also currently training as a psychoanalyst). I have built my own career and leadership practice, with over 1000 hours of coaching and focusing on two major areas:

- Quiet leadership: helping quiet, introverted, sensitive or comfortable-in-the-shadows leaders to gain confidence and clarity to take their career to the next level and have more impact

- Teams Performance Solutions: we help professionals and leaders develop Emotional Intelligence, Leadership and strategic skills so that the company can foster a lasting environment of high performance, agility toward change, professional growth and employee well-being

Being already in the UK, creating my business here seemed like a logical step. I also felt that, having lived in different countries over my career, I was better suited to run a bilingual business from the UK than from France and the UK makes it very easy for solo entrepreneurs like me to create their business.

What were your challenges when you came to the UK and how did you face them?

I have lived in several other countries before arriving in the UK, therefore adjusting wasn’t quite as daunting as it might have been.

I was lucky that each of my international moves was supported by my employers. I always find it is the practical details that are the most daunting: what are the rules to rent a place, how do you pay taxes, how do you see a doctor, etc? When we are used to how things work in our native country, we don’t realise that these things can work differently in different countries. We have to learn all the basic things.

I had never worked in a native English-speaking country prior to coming to the UK, and I’ll admit that my first meeting in a room with several English lawyers was a test of my English level. Although my English had always been very good, I had to step up!

I think that being French, you get a pass for not being culturally on point from time to time, London, especially, is a very cosmopolitan city and all cultures collide. The British though, have a knack for always being polite and composed - it is something to be aware and mindful of: finding that balance between saying what you mean without being too direct and understanding what they are truly communicating to you. It’s very clear to them they’re giving constructive feedback but a French person might have to peel the layers a bit to realise that.

Curiosity and connections are the two main pillars that help me navigate challenges.

What’s on the horizon for next year? For your company and business in general?

My business has 2 branches: private clients and organisations. My goal for next year is to expand our organisation and corporate offerings. I am partnering with other coaches - French and otherwise - to offer solutions for better work ecosystems: the ecosystem that allows the company to function and be profitable, the ecosystem within a team and how people work and interact with each other, and how the individuals themselves fit and behave within these ecosystems. I believe that emotional intelligence and self-awareness are essential skills and that a culture of trust is built on cultivating empathy, logic and authenticity working together.

As more and more awareness is put on the importance of wellbeing at work, and research that supports that well-being feeds into productivity, I believe that coaching will take a much more important role within a company to help create better work environments, make better decisions and have greater impact.

What advice would you give to a French entrepreneur who wants to settle in the UK?

It’s important to explore why you want to move to the UK. While it might make sense from a business perspective, moving to a different country also needs to make sense from a personal perspective. Being immersed in a different culture will change you, it will widen your perspective. Knowing your why always makes a difference on the bad days.

As an introvert, moving to a new country where I didn’t necessarily know anybody has been a challenge. Making friends is harder as we get older and people have already either established social circles or have a busy family/work schedule. Finding the balance between making the effort to meet and connect with new people, finding activities we enjoy besides work, and respecting our energy is very important.

I remember going on a binge-watch of Doctor Who episodes before moving to the UK, helping me to absorb the culture before making the move. Be curious. Be open. Engage in activities. Make an effort to try new things and to go beyond your comfort zone.

What do you hope to get from your French Chamber membership this year?

I have met many brilliant and lovely people through the French Chamber and I can only hope to continue to strengthen those relationships and make new connections too.

I am passionate about creating environments where everyone belongs, about helping people shed whatever weight gets in their way, so they can show up to situations without being burdened or controlled by them. I am grateful for the opportunities to share my message, to support individuals and organisations and to learn more about their challenges and opportunities!

Cecile Hemery (Walayance) is an accredited coach helping leaders get clarity and confidence.