Who gets the mic? Women, visibility & power in tech

Who gets seen, heard and backed in tech — and who gets overlooked?

In this episode, we speak with Olivia Hervy, Chief Ecosystem Officer at VivaTech, one of the world's leading technology and startup events. Having spent more than two decades building innovation programmes, supporting over 100 startups from pre-seed to Series A, and creating platforms that connect founders, investors and global tech leaders, Olivia has had a front-row seat to how influence is built within the ecosystem.

Together, we explore the difference between visibility and genuine power, who gets access to the biggest stages in tech, and why representation alone isn't enough to drive meaningful change. Olivia shares insights from a career spent shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs, discusses the barriers women still face when it comes to recognition and influence, and reflects on what needs to happen for the industry's most important conversations to become more inclusive.

A candid conversation about platform, perception and power — and who gets the mic.

SheCanCode is a collaborative community of women in tech working together to tackle the tech gender gap.

Join our community to find a supportive network, opportunities, guidance and jobs, so you can excel in your tech career.

Transcript

Who Gets The Mics

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello everyone, thank you for tuning in again. I am Kayle Batesman, the Managing Director at SheCan Code, and today we're discussing who gets the mics. Women's visibility and power in tech. I've got the wonderful Olivia Hervey, Chief Ecosystem Officer at VivaTech with me today. I'm very lucky to have her here because we're going to unpack who gets seen, heard, and backed in tech and who gets overlooked. We're going to dip a little bit into the difference between visibility and genuine power, who gets access to the biggest stages in tech, and why representation alone isn't enough to fry to drive meaningful change. Welcome, Olivia. Thank you so much for coming on Spill in the T. It's a pleasure to have you with

Olivia’s Route From Music To Tech

SPEAKER_01 0:44

us. We'd love to start with a bit about you, if that's okay. Here, all about you and your journey to set the scene for our listeners.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Yes, thank you very much, and thank you for having me uh today. Like, you know, it's such a uh a great, great pleasure. Uh yeah, so actually, I'm so Olivia Hervey, Chief Ecosystem Officer of Vivatech. I'm 48 years old, so obviously, like you know, uh Vivatech is definitely not my first uh role. Uh and uh and my background is uh in the events industry. I spent more than 15 years in that industry, but also in parallel, uh, I've uh been part of the startup ecosystem also for more than uh 15 years. Uh uh 15 years. So I'm like a pioneer when it comes to the startup ecosystem. Like I was there when uh this ecosystem really took shape. Uh and um, but before that, uh I started started my career uh in the music, music industry, because uh I'm lucky enough to say that I always put my passion in my uh you know in my different roles. Like, you know, I'm I'm I'm driven by passion. So obviously music was my passion. Then I started uh in the music industry, first in music festivals, and then uh I joined um ReadMe Dem, uh called uh RX Global now. Uh they are the leading uh player when it comes to B2B trade shows. And when I joined them, uh I spent most of my time working on Midem, which used to be the leading uh international event for the music industry. And uh, I'm pretty sure you remember that uh 27 uh the music industry was one of the first industries to be uh impacted by uh the digital revolution. Uh then uh at that time you know we really started to look at uh like innovations, innovators, and uh and I headed up the innovation topic for MIDEM through through different roles. Uh one was like you know building conference programming, because you know we needed to uh yeah cover uh the digital parts of that industry and also really support the the traditional music players to to help them create value again, you see, because they were disrupted by uh by tech, by uh the digital. Uh and then years after that, I uh led the uh growth strategy on the startup segment uh to make sure that uh startups will come uh in numbers at uh at mid em. Because yeah, we we needed them to reinvent the uh consumer experience and again to create uh value, you see. So I really went from music to music tech and then tech, and and again because uh because of that passion that I have for uh yeah for all the topics that I handle uh uh on a daily basis. Uh I was also doing uh like content marketing, I build the content marketing activity for read medium, but my hurt was with startups, and actually my dream at that time, it was like uh in 2018, my dream was to work in a in an incubation program like incubator. Uh, and um and I must say that uh the story became even more beautiful than I could have imagined, because uh after ReadMeDime, I launched my own incubator. You you see. Uh by joining, yeah, yeah. By joining, I had this amazing opportunity. I I joined WeWork, the leading uh office space uh provider at that time, uh, actually, and uh and I launched uh and lead WeWork Labs. We which used to be the uh uh incubator uh uh program within WeWork. Uh so I launched uh the uh the uh the incubator in in Paris, and and yeah, and my daily role at that time was to support funders uh on a daily basis to really help them grow their company, to you know, to bring the right resources to help them build their company, raise funds, and uh and meet uh clients and meet uh and secure new partnerships and new deals and uh with uh with clients. So that was before Vivatech, uh actually. And then I joined VivaTech uh two years and a half ago. So that's 25 uh years of career resumed in uh like yeah, five minutes, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

I love that. And I love that your route isn't traditional as well. That's something that we really celebrate on on this podcast, especially starting in music, because a lot of people we speak to in tech, they they have this misconception that working in tech actually isn't very creative, or the people in tech aren't very creative, and that you do computer science, you come in and you code, and that's it, you know, your day um isn't very varied, it's not going to be very creative. Um, and I love it when we hear from people that have come in from really creative roots and found their way into the tech industry. Um, it's just one of those myths that we try and bust because your career sounds like it's been really creative and um has taken you, you know, to to lots of brilliant places. And is is that something that kind of what did you think of the tech industry before you came in? Did you think that's what that was what it was gonna be? That that's not for me because I'm not technical in that way.

SPEAKER_00 6:45

So actually, you know, when I um when I started my career, tech didn't exist, like it was in 2004. Yeah, I'm not so young, and and tech didn't exist, so you know, I really went with the flow, you know, and that's really like music who brought me to music tech because you know we had no choice at that time than uh embrace technology to to create value again, to support the music industry, you you see, and then uh yeah, and I feel like you know, after years I was like a bit also uh uh not fed up about music tech, but you know, but um at I felt like you know it was not uh creative enough, and and and tech can solve so uh much more important uh issues, you you know what I mean in in lives than I decided to yeah to embrace uh all uh industries, but uh with the tech uh angle, if I can say.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

Yes. Yeah, I love that. Love that.

Visibility Versus Real Influence

SPEAKER_01 7:44

And um you as well, you've spent much of your career creating stages and and opportunities for founders, um, as you mentioned. So, what have you learned about the difference between being visible and actually having influence in the tech ecosystem?

SPEAKER_00 8:00

That that's a very, very interesting question. Uh so visibility is definitely being seen and and then being uh known, but influence is being uh listened to when cameras are off. And it's also about having uh an impact. And and my feeling is that uh and especially when it comes to startup funders, uh, you know, every funder can really have an influence because you know what they are creating, like the products that they are building, can really influence the way we we live, the way we work, the way we consume. They also create jobs, so that's definitely uh influence. And products that they are building uh can also uh uh can have an impact on the planet, on our lives. Uh one example I have in mind, um at Las Vivatech at I met with uh a female founder and she is building a product right now. It's a bra, like a bra, that uh will uh detect tumors. So imagine. So you know, this product and and this funder, you know, she may impact like millions of lives. Imagine you see. Uh but um yeah, coming back to visibility and influence, my experience showed me that you have different profiles of funders. Uh, those who are running after uh tech events organizers to get a speaking slot at an event, uh, those who decide not to be visible at all, you know, you don't see them at conferences, you don't see them at networking events, because they are too focused on building their product or growing their company. Uh and I see a third category of uh funders, those who are combining both, like you know, visibility in and influence. And and usually those ones are like a bit famous uh in the startup uh ecosystem. They are driven by a mission, and and the world is expecting them to uh influence the tech ecosystem and sometimes the laws. Uh and and one great example I have in mind, pretty sure you know him, it's Arthur Mensch from Mistral AI. You know, Mistral AI is one of the leading players in the AI uh models uh in Europe. Yeah, and actually, this guy uh he started his career uh uh only three years ago. And at that time he was not really good at uh public speaking. So uh obviously he got trained because today he speaks at uh every uh conference. And and actually, you know, last month uh he was heard by the French National Assembly uh regarding structural dependencies that we have in France, like you know, in the digital uh sector, and the risk to uh France's independence, you know, as as we are dependent on uh US and Chinese technologies, uh pretty like the the UK, you you see. And so uh this committee wanted to heard from like uh uh this guy, like you know, a key player in the French tech sector on this issue. Uh and and and to me that's really what we call real influence, you know, what real influence looks like, like you know, not a stage, but a seat at the table, like where decisions are made. That's the big difference.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Yes. Yeah, I think you you're so right there. When people think about visibility, I suppose there is a balance as well when you are a founder. If you know you're trying to get your your business growing, you are focusing on that, remembering to be visible, but also whether or not it's worth what what you're doing when you are being visible. Like you said, you can sometimes have a stage, it might not be the right stage in front of the right people, um, but having um uh a seat at the table where you can actually influence decisions actually is just finding where to spend that energy. I suppose it's uh assigning time to do it and then figuring out where is the best. Uh because you you don't have a lot of time when you are a founder, obviously. So um that must be quite difficult to um balance.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

Yeah, and it's and what I explain is like it's different level of influence. Of course, Arthur Mensch uh will probably influence the like legal framework, you you know what I mean? Or uh but any founder, you know, uh when you create jobs, uh you have an influence on the economy on

What Earns A Speaking Slot

SPEAKER_00 12:48

people.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Yes, exactly. Yeah, yeah. What do we mean by influence? Yeah. Um, and as well, when you're assessing founders or start or startups, what qualities tend to get rewarded with attention and exposure? And do you think these criteria unintentionally favor certain groups over others?

SPEAKER_00 13:12

Ah, so this question is not that easy. Uh I don't think I have any criteria, or maybe one. I would say like achievement. And I and I I have one example in mind for this. Uh this year at VivaTech we launched a new stage that was called the Funders Arena. And uh and on this stage we deliver a hands-on uh programming that it's all about you know what it takes to build a company today. So you know, topics go from fundraising to product development, uh, go-to-market strategies, etc. etc. And it's it's really for funders and their teams, like you know, startup funders and their teams. And on stage, we put uh funders and investors only, uh, and and they come to share the you know best practices based on their experience and and and the promise for the audience is to really live with key takeaways they can apply to their businesses. And I would say that you know, for this stage, uh yeah, the first criteria is definitely to um you know what those funders achieved with their company and the fact that they built a successful business. You see? So it's sort of there is those who successfully pivoted uh their products, uh, those who managed to crack the ASEAN market or the US market or build uh uh like uh successful uh collaborations with enterprises and etc. etc. etc. Uh and and actually you know that was not easy to identify those people, uh, because uh um usually funders who come on stage they usually share their vision on the industry in which they are evolving. You you know what I mean, and less about business topics and how they did this or that, or uh and there is little literature uh uh on this. So um so we really co-built the uh programming with key ecosystem players, and and then yeah, uh achievement was definitely and and some of them, some of the speakers were not so known and so famous, but they made it. You you so they have something to share that can be really useful to uh to other funders. You you see, and it's also a way to give back, and it's uh

Women Founders And The Funding Gap

SPEAKER_00 15:44

you uh we had great feedback actually from uh from the audience on this uh new uh format that we uh delivered this year.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Yes. Um this might be a controversial question, um, but a lot of our members um have uh spoken to us about um when they became founders um trying to find funding. Um, as a woman in tech sometimes can be very difficult. Um and a lot of them have shared that they actually went and found a male co-founder to help them um when they had that disability and when they went to go and um find funding, um, they actually found it easier um with a male co-founder um to to be out there or at least you know have him being the the visible part of of the company. Is that something that you have seen as well with those types of challenges? They they still happen.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Yeah, no, no, they definitely like um this is definitely a big issue uh on which we put the spotlight every every year with the what we call the Fermal Founder Award. Uh just to share with you a data. Uh last year, uh company funded or co-founded by uh women received only 12% of the global VC VC funding. 12%. And so this is definitely not acceptable. Uh and and this is also why we uh we we've been uh running the female funder award for eight years now, uh not only to amplify the visibility on female funders and uh innovative companies that they are building, but but also to amplify this issue when it comes to the the access to the funding. Yeah. And actually, you know, we help them also. Uh we we we bring them every year networking opportunities and and possibilities to uh access uh and and meet at VivaTech uh with uh VCs, like venture uh investment firms.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

Amazing, yeah, yeah, yes, I have heard it often. Um, and uh obviously there are still those challenges um and and how um people get around them and and on that topic as well, I wanted to ask you about um getting more women on on um channels because we hear that a lot. We hear we see um companies as well uh always looking for you know women for speaker lineups and and um things like that. And I remember uh in the past that used to be a big thing where people would jump in and be like, there's a brilliant list of ladies here, why why don't we, you know, why haven't you um gone to gone to them? There used to be almost like a bit of an argument happening on social media to make sure that it was always women on um panels um and speaker lineups uh and also startup stages. Um but how does visibility matter if the decision-making power still sits elsewhere anyway?

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Yeah, yeah, good question. So so visibility definitely m matters, but but you're right, you know, it cannot be uh the end uh goal. Uh it's super important because you know it creates uh role models and and it it helps uh normalize uh the presence of women in tech. Uh, but but but that's true that if women are only visible on stage and not uh at the table, like you know, where decisions are made, uh then we are missing the point. So definitely. Uh but but at the same time, I do think the ecosystem is changing, and especially in tech, more maybe than in other industries. Uh maybe not fast enough because um there is still some gaps, like you know, in AI uh there is not enough women, definitely. But but we see more and more female funders, uh more and more women partners in uh investment firms and and also in corporate uh leaderships. Uh what we see also in in sectors like uh health tech, there is like a strong momentum uh when it comes to uh like you know women building companies in LSTEC and or women taking uh uh leadership positions. And at VivaTech, we are um we we've been committed for years, years uh to bringing uh a gender balance uh in the conference programming, like in uh across our stage. And and we are we are getting closer and closer to uh our objective of having 50 percent of women uh among our uh uh speakers. And um and honestly, my feeling is that you know if you want women on stage who are experts in their field, you find them. You just need to work a bit more. You know what I mean? Uh and you find them. And um so so so uh and we do find them uh in every vertical, every industry, uh, funders, investors, corporate leaders, but we just sometimes need to work double. So so my answer will be visibility is important, but true, it has to come with uh power, uh, it has to come with decision making. Uh, and and the goal is not only to see more women on stage, it's uh to see more women uh uh shaping the uh the agenda. And and and and fun fact, uh at VivaTech, our uh exec committee is gender balance. So it's not only uh across our stages.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

Yes, I love that. And you're so right as well, uh you know, in that comment about if you want female speakers, you have to go and look for them. Uh we find that um sometimes with our um partners, so partners that come to us and they're looking to diversify their workforces and with more women in tech. And we love the fact that they know that it takes work, that you need partners that can help with that. There isn't a a silver bullet fix. That if you want something like that, you want um uh more females, for example, as speakers, you have to go and do the work. Like it doesn't happen by magic. Um, and uh our partners say that all the time that you know you only um see improvements when you actually start um actively searching and actively trying to bring about change. Um and those ladies are there, you can find them. Um, but once you get that visibility, it inspires other people as well to come forward to come forward and think, actually, I could do that, maybe I could speak on a stage about what I know because I saw somebody that you know was an inspiration to me at that event. Um, and I sometimes I uh I think our members don't realise how inspiring they can be to other people just by telling their story. They might think they have a very small story to tell, and actually it can really inspire somebody else to think I was on the fence about starting my own business or going for funding or even retraining and just going into tech as a new career route. Um, and

Networking Meritocracy And Access

SPEAKER_01 23:10

sometimes sharing what you think is your little story actually can really open the floodgates for lots of people as well. Um, yeah, visibility so so important.

SPEAKER_00 23:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Um, and in your career, you've supported more than a hundred startups from preceded to series A. Have you seen have you seen women founders approach networking, fundraising, or self-promotion differently? And how does that affect the opportunities they receive?

SPEAKER_00 23:45

Yeah. Um so the answer is yes, sometimes, but uh but I would uh avoid uh generalizing. Uh but true that many funders I met in the past uh uh were more cautious, like not into uh fake it until you make it, more into waiting until they feel ready. Uh until they and then you know, usually uh they are more than ready when they start fundraising, when they go to market with their product, or uh this is what what I observed. Um but but things are evolving. Things are evolving. Uh one thing that we observed uh during the past year is the female representation in tech. Like five years ago, um uh female representation in tech used to be in FEMT tech, in fashion tech, in beauty tech. And uh for a few years now, you know, female funders who come on stage at VivaTech. They are in Deep Tech, they are in uh health tech, they are in GreenTech, etc. etc. etc. And most of them have PhD. And uh yeah, and the products that they are basically building uh really have an impact on the uh on the way we live, on the planet, uh, etc. etc. So things are evolving. Uh something that didn't change is is what we discussed earlier is the access to funding. Uh so uh this is uh this is a tough topic. Uh and no one has the solution except for like um maybe uh having more uh women in working in an investment firm on the investment teams, because you know how it is. Like uh uh men in um investment teams in uh in a VC fund usually invest. This is what we say, uh it's not like a truth, but it is like a feel-in. They invest in people who look like them. So uh so if I am a man, it's likely that I will invest in a in a other uh in a company built by another man. Uh yeah. Uh so this doesn't change. Uh but but but but I my feeling is that yeah, uh when it comes to entrepreneurships also, you know, we see more and more female, uh more and more women, sorry, uh building companies. So um so probably the tech sector is one of those industries where uh evolving uh uh the faster when it comes to uh yeah female representation and uh yeah and and and yeah, we are bringing bring bridging the gap. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 26:44

Uh yes, yeah, and uh you're so right. Um where uh the the types of businesses that women are launching nowadays in tech, it always did used to be right at the start. I remember it being like wearables, or like you said, um uh health femtech. Um and there's such a range now of companies um that that women are launching, um, which is fantastic. And we do hear that a lot as well, and it has been um something that has gone on for a long time that you you hire what you know, or you almost think I can take a chance on that person because I kind of know what I'm gonna get, because you know, they might remind me of myself. So I kind of think I know what I'm gonna get from that person. Um, and if there are never any females on the hiring panel, um, then that can be a very difficult thing um to happen. And and again, it's with that effort, you have to make um that effort to think we want to bring about change as we grow our startup, we want diversity to be built into the DNA of our culture, not just always um you know, hiring what we know um and what we think works, um, and then getting you know further down the line and thinking, you know, why isn't our product working like we wanted it to, or why isn't it resonating with our audience like we wanted it to? Um and sometimes that's because of who you have in your workforce and you know whether or not they are diverse or not. So um, yes, we definitely uh what you said resonates a lot with uh our community as well. Um and so tech it describes itself um as a meritocracy, but you've seen our ecosystems are built from the inside. So, how much of success is actually built around merit, and how much is about access networks and who gets championed?

SPEAKER_00 28:39

So, no doubt, merit uh is uh real. I've seen it too many times to uh to doubt uh it. And actually, I'm a living proof because uh uh I didn't go to a renowned uh business school, uh, I went to the university. Uh, when I moved to Paris to Paris for for my career, uh I only had two friends in Paris. Like, you know, I knew two people only, and uh yeah, and if I made it, it's because um I worked hard, I dreamed uh big, uh I went to networking events, uh, I met people, I developed strong relationships with people because I love people, and and I learned to be bold. Uh and and so there is still like many, many funders uh who are self-made, no network, no business school at the very beginning. So so this can can work. Definitely everything is possible. But but true that um uh of course not everyone starts from the same uh position, like being championed by the right person, uh going to the best uh schools, uh uh having the right network from the beginnings uh that makes uh things uh easier and that makes a real difference. So maybe you know when you don't have access to all of this, it will take twice as the effort. Uh but but but but again, things are changing. Uh like for five or ten years, uh there is like more and more programs, events like uh Vivatech, communities that bring resources to help uh uh people create connections to help people grow, uh you know, get educated, uh network, etc. etc. Vivatech is one of them. Uh at Vivatech, for instance, this year we um uh guaranteed meetings to startups with investors, like you know, meetings with investors to everyone. So meaning that you know investors didn't pick the startups they will meet at Vivatech, because it was like first come, first first. Uh and that's an example. Uh so I feel like there is like so many resources available, sometimes for free, to funders, uh, through incubation programs, or sometimes also programs for underrepresented uh funders, like you know, uh those who come from uh underprivileged uh area. Uh it has never been as easy as now. Uh everything, and maybe probably more easier than when I started. So um yeah. So uh if you work hard, if you also surround yourself by the right people who will elevate you on the personal matter and on and on the professional matter, uh you you can uh make it. And uh you you know that expression, if you are the smartest people in the room, you are in the wrong room. I I love this. I love this one. So learn from other. Uh uh I I learned so much from the founders I supported uh in the in my previous uh role and and even at VivaTech also, like because I'm um I meet um I often meet with uh founders and uh who share different challenges, different texts, and and we talk about it, and we you we try to uh solve uh uh issues or find solutions. Uh and and and I feel like sometimes through conversations you can learn more from article or books or so um yeah, everything is possible. But you know, I'm a I'm very positive, usually. I I'm a uh I have a positive mindset.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

So yes, and and what that as well is um especially being around founders and startups, and that is very important to be positive and to keep going when you know things are not always looking their best. Um, so definitely important in the environment that you work in. Um I think as well, I agree with the the merit. Sometimes I've heard from um a lot of our members about uh even wanting a promotion, even if you don't work in a startup, but um some of our ladies have said, you know, I thought sometimes that in my career merit alone would get me that promotion, or somebody would see that I am working that hard. Um, and it's not always the case. It's almost like you do have to um make that that case for yourself and and find a way that other people know about what you're doing exactly because you can work and work and work and and then wonder, you know, like my manager isn't a mind reader, they know that I'm working hard, but they might not know that actually I'm working hard because I would like a promotion, or that's that's on my um path, I would like that. And then some people, you know, they don't always vocalize what they would like next in their career as well. And and many of our members have said to me, the moment where I actually started speaking up, letting my manager know, did I want that promotion? Did I not want that promotion? And by the way, here's all the things that I do, and um, we love an awards um uh ceremony on purpose, um, because we get to highlight a lot of um of our members that are doing brilliant things that might not have let other people know just to make them visible that they are doing brilliant things. So other companies might see them and think, actually, she's doing fantastic things because she won this award. Um, because we don't always speak up when when we should. And if you're running a business, that is a very dangerous place to be where you're not speaking up about everything you're doing without it coming across as arrogant as well, I suppose. There's a trap there, isn't there?

SPEAKER_00 34:53

Yeah, you need to find the right balance. Yes, like not enough, but but but definitely speak up and uh yeah, share what you're doing

Normalize Failure And Share The Messy Middle

SPEAKER_00 35:04

with the world, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:05

Yeah, highlight your achievements and yeah, yeah, yeah, um, in a balanced way. Um so if you could change one thing tomorrow about how the global tech industry identifies and elevates talent, what would it be? And what impact would that have on women founders and leaders?

SPEAKER_00 35:25

So this one is definitely a tough one. Uh I will say stop treating failure as a red flag because um we learn we learn so much when we fail. And and especially in uh entrepreneurship, you know, usually you don't make mistakes uh twice when you build uh a second business. Uh and and I I feel like you know this matters uh even more for women because sometimes uh I feel like society is more uh demanding with women. We we need society in society uh is expecting women to be the to be good mothers, to be good wives, to be good employees, good leaders. Uh and and when a woman falls, um yeah, the the j the judgment is uh is often very hard.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 36:24

So uh so if we normalize failure as part of the journey, if I can say, uh, we definitely remove some barriers and and that that also holds uh woman uh back, you you you see.

SPEAKER_01 36:39

Yes, and how much that failure, sharing that failure helps other people. Yeah, true. Other people want to hear that. Oh, brilliant. Like I won't do that, or I can I can totally see you know that happened in my business as well. I'm so pleased I'm not the only one.

SPEAKER_00 36:56

Yeah, true, true. You're right, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

So, yeah, failures. Uh you know what something we discuss on here often is um social media and uh social media obviously it's great, you know, you can get your brand out there and you can talk about what you do. Um LinkedIn sometimes has those posts though that say things like, One year ago today, I started my business and look where I am now. Nothing in between is shared. And that doesn't help people that are thinking, actually, my business isn't going as I thought it was gonna go a year ago. Like we want to hear what happened in between and all the things that went wrong and the failures that happened along the way, because sometimes we do have that Instagram picture of starting our own business and you know having this fantastic team behind you, and you're like, oh, that didn't work.

SPEAKER_00 37:49

Yeah, and I actually, you know, 10 years ago in Paris and and maybe in London as well, we used to um there were like a tech conference called uh fail con. And so it was all about funders coming on stage to share their uh failure, like you know, how they f they fell uh with their their uh business. You you see? That would be useful.

SPEAKER_01 38:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:16

Yeah, and even that brilliant way to get visibility, being honest about what you're doing, what works, what what hasn't worked. Um, yeah, I love that. What what amazing uh uh events. Um Olivia, I could keep talking to you on this topic all afternoon, um, but we're all out of time, I'm afraid. Um it's been an absolute pleasure. I thank you so much for finding the time um to to come and chat with us. Um and members are absolutely gonna love um hearing all about your insights.

SPEAKER_00 38:45

Thank

What A Chief Ecosystem Officer Does

SPEAKER_00 38:46

you so much. And I realize we forgot to uh I forgot to explain you what I do at VivaTech. Yes. People always ask me what does it mean, like chief ecosystem officer.

SPEAKER_01 38:59

Well, it and here on Spilling the Tea as well, we love to hear the broad roles that are in tech. Like what what when you when people ask you what do you do, what what do you tend to say?

SPEAKER_00 39:10

Yeah, so as chief uh ecosystem, uh I lead the startups, investors, and innovation teams at VivaTech. And uh our mission is to bring the right value proposition uh for startups, investors, ecosystem players, and and make making sure that we deliver the right programming at Vivatech, the right format uh to help them accelerate their business with us. So you know it's all about connecting with the right uh clients, the right potential uh clients or partners, uh, connecting uh for startups connecting with investors, getting knowledge on a business topic related to uh how it takes to uh what it takes to build a company, etc. etc. And uh and we are also very uh instrumental when it comes to the growth strategy uh on startups, investors, you know, making sure that they come in numbers at Vivatech. And so we do this through uh ecosystem partnerships with startup communities uh across the world. Uh and and and we also run uh roadshows uh like from uh Tokyo to Shanghai, Munich, London, to uh yeah, to raise uh Vivatech's profile uh in other ecosystems. And and this also uh brought us to build ecosystem collaboration. You you see? Yeah and this is also one one uh fun part of the of the of the role, if if I can say.

SPEAKER_01 40:45

Yes, yeah, it sounds like your days are um never the same, which is one of the exciting things about working in the tech industry, obviously, the broad roles um and and all of the things that you get to work on at VivaTech. We're gonna um include a link uh as well to what you do in the bio so our um listeners can um jump across and go and have a look at that as well. We have quite a few founders in our

Final Thoughts And Thanks

SPEAKER_01 41:12

community as well, and I'm sure they would absolutely love to hear um all about uh VivaTech and what you do and where they can find those free resources and um find uh another network as well. Um but it's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for sharing um today and um for inspiring our our community. Um and uh yeah, thank you. Thank you very much, Olivia. Pleasure is mine, thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you to everybody listening as always. Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope to see you again next time.