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

Graduated from IAE Pau in 2000, Florence Tardy, originally from Poitiers, began her career in Pau. Captivated by the quality of life in the Southwest, she stayed there for nearly twenty years before moving to the Paris region, where she founded her own firm, ELANIA Conseil & Formation, in 2019.

What studies did you pursue? 

After a literary baccalaureate, I began a LEA degree (Applied Foreign Languages) at the University of Poitiers. Having studied English, Italian, and German in high school, languages and travel naturally attracted me. Like many young people, I had no defined career plan at 18, so I chose a program that I was passionate about — a choice I never regretted. After completing a master’s in LEA, I wanted to broaden my horizons by joining an IAE to acquire a more general education in business management and thus multiply career opportunities. When I came for the entrance interviews at IAE Pau, I was immediately charmed by the environment and did everything I could to be admitted.

What memories do you have of your master’s year at IAE? 

A wonderful year! The courses were concrete and career-oriented, giving me the impression of stepping straight into the business world. The year began with a one-week business simulation, which allowed us to quickly create strong bonds between students and teachers. I also loved living in Pau, a city between the sea and the mountains, offering an exceptional quality of life. As a result, I stayed nearly twenty years!

What professional experiences did you have before creating Elania? 

During my master’s program, I had the opportunity to do an internship at Dehousse Industries in Pau as an export assistant. This internship turned into a first professional experience lasting four years. Afterwards, following several positions in the automotive and railway subcontracting sectors, I took a major turn by joining the Tarbes Chamber of Commerce and Industry as head of training. This 180° change allowed me to design training modules for SME managers, a fascinating job that I later continued at GRETA du Béarn, this time working with job seekers.

In 2018, family reasons led me to move to the Paris region. That’s when I decided to embark on entrepreneurship by creating ELANIA Conseil & Formation in 2019. Today, I am a career coach and I support professionals through individual coaching, career assessments, and training programs. I work on topics such as non-discrimination, disability, inclusion of neurodivergent individuals, gender equality, and returning to work after a long illness. I offer my services both in person and online.

What words do you spontaneously associate with UPPA? 

Friendship, Togetherness, and Diversity

What advice would you give to a student starting their studies at UPPA?

I would encourage them to go as far as possible in their studies. The further you go, the more engaging and career-oriented the courses become. I would also tell them that the Pau campus is an ideal destination to learn in an environment conducive to both academic and personal growth.

Interview conducted by Florence Elman

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