Antoine Janiaud - In charge of corporate partnerships - Alumni of the IAE Pau-Bayonne Master International Trade

“I chose this Master's program because of the region I love, as well as the proximity of the teaching staff and the quality of the courses on offer.”


Hello, can you introduce yourself in a few words? What IAE Pau-Bayonne course did you graduate from? What has been your career path so far?

My name is Antoine Janiaud and I'm graduated with a Master's degree in Management and International Commerce, International Trade course, at the IAE Pau-Bayonne.Throughout my academic career, I did internships in the field of business development, with a strong focus on circular economy and sustainable development issues. I then did my end-of-studies internship with the NGO Surfrider Foundation Europe, as head of partnerships with corporate foundations. This experience enabled me to put my skills in prospecting and strategy to good use in the service of the environment, and more specifically the protection of the ocean. I then had the opportunity to join Surfrider again on a permanent contract, this time as a corporate partnership manager.

In 2023, you joined the Master 2 International Trade program at the IAE Bayonne. Why did you make this choice? Can you also tell us about your international mobility?

First of all, I chose this Master's program because of the region I love, as well as the proximity of the teaching staff and the quality of the courses on offer. It was a natural choice for me after completing my Bachelor's degree in Economics and Management (International Management) at the UPPA. It was very important for me to stay in an environment in which I felt comfortable.
I did my academic mobility in Hungary, more precisely in Budapest, where I learned a great deal about open-mindedness and cultural diversity, thanks to the many encounters I had with international students. This experience enabled me to significantly improve my level of English, but also to mature on a personal level.
I was also lucky enough to travel around Central Europe and discover landscapes and architecture that often left me speechless: Croatia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Northern Macedonia, Italy, and of course Hungary. Finally, I met some extraordinary people, who helped shape the person I am today. I would recommend the Erasmus experience to anyone at 2000%: you come back grown up and more awake than ever.

Tell us about your professional experience as an Impact Project Manager. What were and are your missions?  Who do you work with?

My missions are varied, but I mainly work with the private sector, i.e. with companies. I work in Surfrider Foundation Europe's Partnerships department, whose aim is to raise funds to support the organization's projects. The department is made up of around ten fundraisers. One of my main missions is to secure funding for existing corporate partners, by helping them renew their commitment for one or more years. This involves drawing up project reports, including a summary of actions undertaken and projections for the coming year - in other words, qualitative and quantitative reporting.
I'm also in charge of prospecting new companies. This involves defining and implementing a complete strategy: drafting targeted messages (copywriting), building prospect databases, setting up follow-up systems, etc. Once an initial discussion has taken place, I present the structure and try to convince the company to become a partner, which also requires negotiation skills. I also manage incoming requests from companies wishing to become involved with Surfrider. This involves analyzing their CSR strategies to ensure compatibility with our organization's values and ethical charter. Surfrider has strict partnership guidelines which define acceptable collaborations and exclude any company which might harm our image or the environment.

To sum up, my missions fall into two main categories:

Prospecting & management of incoming requests:

• Carry out targeted prospecting actions, particularly in the IT, AI and gaming sectors, via monitoring, contact research, creation of prospecting tools, etc.
• Respond to requests from companies wishing to become partners.
• Build and propose partnership projects tailored to companies' expectations, in line with good corporate philanthropy practices and Surfrider's guidelines.
• Draft partnership agreements.

Management of existing partnerships & matching funds:

• Ensure operational and financial follow-up of partnerships (counterparties, payments, tax receipts, review/renewal meetings, etc.).
• Design presentation materials (PowerPoint, PDF, Prezi, Canva, etc.) for meetings with partners.
• Represent Surfrider at partner events, including speaking engagements.
• Create and validate partner communication content (communication kits, publications on social networks, etc.).
• Ensure that the “Partners” section of the website is kept up to date.
• Participate in the development and implementation of loyalty-building strategies (partner newsletters, events, etc.).
• Contribute to in-depth projects aimed at optimizing the company's overall sponsorship strategy.

What motivated you to join Surfrider France as Corporate Partnership Officer?

I'd say it's above all the quest for meaning that guides me, as well as the desire to serve a cause greater than myself. Knowing that my work has a real impact, both on the financing of concrete projects and on the protection of a resource essential to life: the ocean, gives a special depth to my commitment - and that's priceless. Aware of this impact, my motivation is constant and solid. But I'm also driven by a taste for challenge and the demands of negotiating with the private sector. I'm convinced that companies have a decisive role to play in the sustainable transformation of our economies. I couldn't see myself in a job that I didn't believe in, or that didn't resonate with my values. That's precisely why I chose to join Surfrider.

How are you involved in CSR through your business? Why did you decide to work in this field?

The very essence of Surfrider is the protection and preservation of the ocean, rivers, lakes and, more broadly, all water resources, as well as fauna, flora and human health. We are committed to a more sustainable future by combating existing forms of pollution, such as :

• Plastic pollution (microplastics, pellets, PFAS, etc.) and its over-consumption,
• Chemical pollution,
• Or the pressure exerted on the coastline: soil artificialisation, concrete coastlines, offshore platforms, etc.

Our action is also based on a major awareness-raising campaign, aimed at citizens, schoolchildren, the general public and businesses, to encourage good habits and a collective awareness of environmental issues. What drew me to work in this field is closely linked to my values and my closeness to the ocean, but also to a striking personal experience. One day, during a surfing session, I contracted an infectious ear infection due to the poor quality of the water. I lost part of my hearing, which had a profound effect on me and made me realize the urgent need to take action to preserve our marine environment.

Do you have any advice or words for students and alumni who, through their professional or personal lives, would like to become more involved in impact projects?

Don't compare yourself to the norm: create your own trajectory. Dare to be yourself, even if it means going off the beaten track. Look for what drives you, what makes sense to you, and that's what will carry you through. There is no single path to a goal, but an infinite number of possible paths. The important thing is to move forward coherently, in line with your values, your desires and your own pace. Personally, I've chosen to focus on projects with an impact on protecting the environment and the ocean, a subject that touches me both through my personal convictions and my history. It's this alignment between my values, my academic background and my professional environment that allows me to be fully committed today. Don't be afraid to innovate, to test, to fail sometimes, but above all, stay true to what makes you tick. That's often where the greatest successes are born.


Find out more about the Master International Trade :

Master International Trade at the IAE Pau-Bayonne