Sophie Escudé, co-founder and administrative and financial director of Prof en Poche (Pau)

In 2014, after completing a Diploma in Accounting and Management (DCG) at Lycée Marie Curie in Tarbes, Sophie Escudé enrolled in the Master’s Degree in Accounting, Management, and Organizational Auditing (CGAO) at IAE Pau-Bayonne.

How did you build your academic path? What were your goals?

After earning a Baccalauréat ES with a Mathematics option at Lycée Saint-John Perse in Pau, I chose a technical and vocational programme: the three-year Diploma in Accounting and Management offered by Lycée Marie Curie in Tarbes. This bachelor's-level training provides an excellent foundation in management, accounting, business law, economic analysis, human resources, information systems… I didn’t yet have a precise career plan, but I already had the project of creating a company with my two brothers. I was also inspired by my mother, who was an entrepreneur. She strongly encouraged me to pursue solid training in business management, which she saw as the key to turning a project into reality.

In 2014, once I had my DCG, I wanted to strengthen my skills and applied for the CGAO master’s programme at IAE Pau-Bayonne. That same academic year, we created Prof en Poche. During the day I was in classes, and in the evenings and on weekends I handled the accounting and all administrative tasks.

What memories do you have of those two years at the IAE in Pau?

Very good memories of the teachers and of a programme that really boosted my confidence. I came from a DCG background where there were no group projects among students, so I truly appreciated the team spirit and autonomy that prevailed in the master's programme. I completed my second year as a work-study student at Labeyrie Fine Foods in internal control, which helped me really understand expectations and challenges within a company. Some teachers had a particularly strong impact on my journey: David Carassus, who helped me understand accounting and financial logic in business, and Pierre Marin, who gave us a lot of autonomy and encouraged us in the projects we carried out as part of the programme. His support helped me gain confidence in expressing my ideas and speaking in public. Everything I learned in management control, accounting, law, human resources, taxation… is useful to me every day.

With your master’s degree completed, did you then join Prof en Poche?

Not exactly! I chose to keep a dual role for a few years, until Prof en Poche found its pace and until I had more solid field experience. After completing the master’s programme in 2016, I was hired by the KPMG office in Pau for financial auditing. I stayed there for four years while continuing to manage Prof en Poche in my spare time. I resigned in 2020 when Prof en Poche secured a major contract with the Ministry of National Education. I then took on full-time responsibility for human resources, accounting, management control, and legal matters… Today, I am the company’s Administrative and Financial Director, with two main missions: development and operational project management. Prof en Poche has grown — we now have 20 employees. Our ambition is to become the leading reference in France in the use of artificial intelligence for learning, particularly in mathematics. We also aim to broaden our audience. Today, we offer awareness and training programmes to companies and public administrations on AI and responsible digital practices. We are working with the UPPA on this project.

Two or three words you spontaneously associate with the IAE?

A 360° training that perfectly prepares for entrepreneurship – Human support from teachers and students – A strong encouragement for teamwork.

Any advice for students?

I highly recommend this programme at IAE, which remains broad-based and opens many doors in the business world. It is a solid degree and a real passport for taking on responsibilities quickly. This professionally oriented master’s allows many young people from the region to train and work locally. The IAE is an efficient business school, rooted in the local ecosystem, offering high-quality training that is financially accessible to all.

Interview by Florence Elman

Want to know more?

IAE Pau-Bayonne  https://profenpoche.com/