Virginie Pierre

As a child, I wanted to be a glassblower. That's how it goes when you grow up with a family business and spend all your school holidays in the workshops. Initially, I distracted everyone from their work. Later, I could be more productive, as a student worker. At the end of my secondary school, my economics teacher advised me to pursue a bachelor's degree in 'accountancy-tax', which I did and which I am still reaping the benefits of. It enables me to read and interpret financial statements today and have a direct and proficient dialogue with our accountant which in turn allows me to help monitor the financial situation of our company. I believe it is crucial for a business manager to know how his or her company is doing. It’s a matter of being able to intervene in time when difficulties occur on the one hand, and to monitor the long-term health of our company on the other.

After my bachelor, I obtained a master's degree in Commercial Sciences, complementing my economic knowledge with strategic prowess. This is how I discovered the role of the General Meeting, the Board of Directors, the shareholders, the stakeholders, etc. An academic background that is often tailored for medium-sized to large companies, but which I find very challenging to translate to the level of our family business. After all, you simply cannot mould a mini-company into the same structure as a large one. Although 'our size' should not be an excuse not to professionalise at board level. Especially now that my sisters and I have decided to continue the business together, professionalisation - along with open communication - is vital.

But above all, I enjoy making glassware. Stepping back after a day’s work, to see the result of your labour literally on the table: now, that's satisfying. The nice thing about learning a trade is also that you never 'finish learning'. Our customers present us with new challenges every time, which keeps the work exciting and varied. I consider carrying on this legacy, together with my sisters, an honour and a challenge and I’m delighted to head forward into the future.