The 20th
anniversary
edition
March 14 & 15, 2025
at UNESCO • Paris

Your book " Entrepreneur engagé ", published by EMS Management et Société, was recently released. It blends practical advice for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs with a clear stance: to present a model of entrepreneurship committed to a better world and driven by strong values. In your opinion, what role does impact entrepreneurship now play within the broader universe of entrepreneurship?

Alexia de Bernardy: Impact entrepreneurship has become a necessity, to the point where one might wonder whether it still makes sense to be an entrepreneur without aiming for a positive impact. Creating a business in this framework means redefining priorities by placing social, environmental, and societal impact at the core of economic models. It demonstrates that ambition and ethics can coexist.

This type of project responds to the growing expectations of citizens, consumers, and governments in search of sustainable solutions. The impact of laws is also enormous in terms of creating businesses in sectors such as recycling, energy, or transportation. That’s why we’re seeing a surge of investments in these areas. Some project leaders even become "impact entrepreneurs" by opportunity, following new regulations that create new markets.

Aside from these emerging profiles, committed entrepreneurs often face common challenges that require specific practices, making it a particularly interesting area of study.

What characterizes a committed entrepreneur?

The term "commitment" has several meanings. On the one hand, as in my first book "Moteurs d’engagement", commitment characterizes a leadership style that generates greater motivation at work. Here, the term "committed" echoes my 20-year-long journey as a multi-entrepreneur committed "for a better world."

There are so-called "committed by design" entrepreneurs, whose activity is intrinsically positive for the world. For example, an independent trainer who uses the Fresque du Climat in their workshops, a shopkeeper who only sells bulk products, or an industrialist who revolutionizes transportation or makes a major advancement in healthcare.

A committed entrepreneur may also simply be guided by their values, a quest for meaning, and a sustainable vision, even if their offering does not directly have a positive impact on the world. For instance, any leader who contributes to local employment, fosters the development or education of their employees, and mobilizes their team around a larger vision, even if their company is an IT firm.

What essential advice would you give to anyone embarking on entrepreneurship?

The book details 28 key success factors, divided into 3 parts supported by 40 testimonials: how to determine if an idea is a good one, how to develop it, and how to maintain vitality as a committed entrepreneur. It contains essential technical advice, particularly about the necessity of asking yourself whether what you intend to create is genuinely useful to potential customers. To answer this question, it is crucial to quickly engage with the market, meaning putting a rough version of your offer in the hands of potential customers to observe their reactions.

There is also behavioral advice. Many testimonials from successful entrepreneurs and investors emphasize the importance of humility (from Frédéric Mazzella, founder of BlaBlaCar and Dift, to Éric Larchevêque, founder of Ledger). Humility allows you to learn from others and listen to customers in order to build the offer they need, rather than the one you want to create. These two pieces of advice distinguish entrepreneurs who are focused on being right from those who want to succeed.

Who are the people who have most impressed you among those you've met?

I’ve interviewed only people who impress me, all for various reasons, whether it’s their ambition, their impact, or the originality of their projects. Entrepreneurs like Maïlys Cantzler (Homnia), who transform personal challenges into solutions for the common good, or Brice Cruchon (Dracula Technologies), who show that technology can serve the environment, exemplify a combination of bold vision and rigorous execution. The new generation, such as Émilie Korchia (MyJobGlasses) or Cyrielle Callot (Les Alchimistes), demonstrates that there are still many new models to be invented. But I believe that Frédéric Mazzella’s journey and personality particularly impressed me, both for the accuracy and refinement of his strategies (his company BlaBlaCar is a unicorn valued at over one billion euros) and for his humility.

You will be leading an important session of the " Parlement des Entrepreneurs d’avenir", within the framework of the Université de la terre, on March 15 at UNESCO, on the theme "Boldness and commitment : making our values a driving force for action" with some truly exceptional leaders. What would you like them to share with the audience?

Through the 40 interviews I had the pleasure of conducting for this book, I enjoyed sharing human stories and convictions that transform into economic realities. Here too, I look forward to discovering the people behind these committed leaders, to understand the reasons behind their actions, how they overcame or eliminated obstacles to follow through on their ideas, what lessons they’ve learned from their decisions, and so on. This type of sharing elevates exceptional leaders to the rank of "role models", inspiring many others to take action in turn.