[UPPA ALUMNI profile] Florence Tardy, 48, founder of the consulting firm ELANIA Conseil & Formation

Florence Tardy, founder of the consulting firm ELANIA Conseil & Formation

“I loved the American atmosphere of the Pau campus, in a verdant setting, at the foot of the mountains.”

Having graduated from the IAE in Pau in 2000, Florence Tardy, originally from Poitiers, started her career in Pau She fell in love with Southwest France and stayed there for almost 20 years before moving to the Paris region in 2019 where she created the consulting firm ELANIA Conseil & Formation. 

Which training course did you take? 

After a Baccalaureate in literature, I entered a Bachelor’s degree in LEA (applied foreign languages) at the University of Poitiers. I’d studied English, Italian and German at secondary school, I liked languages and traveling. Like a lot of young people, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do later on in life, so I chose the curriculum I was the most interested in. And I never regretted it. I went on to do a Master’s in LEA, then I applied to several IAE (business schools) for more general training in business administration and to open up my job prospects. When I came to the Pau campus for my interviews at the IAE, I fell in love with the environment and did everything I could to make sure I would be selected. 

What memories do you have of your Master’s degree at the IAE? 

It was a really terrific year! The lessons were practical and very focused on the professional side of things. I really felt I was fully immersed in the business world, a great way to prepare for the world of work. The year started with a week-long corporate game which enabled the students to get to know one another really quickly and bond with the teachers. I also loved living in Pau, between the sea and the mountains, so much so that I stayed in the region for almost 20 years. 

Tell us about your work experience before you created Elania. 

During my Master’s, I had the opportunity to do an internship with Dehousse Industries in Pau as an export assistant. I ended up staying there for four years. Then, after clocking up experience in the automotive and rail supply industries, I joined the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tarbes as a training manager. A real 180-degree turn from a professional point of view, as I was in charge of developing modules for managers of SMEs. A fascinating job, which I then practised at the GRETA du Béarn in Pau, this time for job seekers. I had to move to the Paris region in 2018 for family reasons, and I decided it was time for me to stand on my own two feet. I created ELANIA Conseil & Formation in 2019 and I specialised in two sectors: non-discriminatory inclusive recruitment and soft skills. I offer training, support, skills assessments, professional interviews, and more. 

What words do you spontaneously associate with the UPPA? 

Friendship, togetherness, and diversity.

What advice would you give to a future UPPA student?

I would encourage them to continue their studies for as long as possible. The further you go, the more courses are interesting and professionally focused. I’d also tell them that the Pau campus is a wonderful destination for studying in the best possible conditions. 

Do you want to find out more about Elania? 

https://elanialearning.wordpress.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/florence-tardy-elania-0a529135/