“Over the past 5 years, I have made sure to carefully target my choices and try to have a comprehensive vision of the sector.”
Nice Premium: Tell us about the company you work in.
Gersende Giordano: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nice Côte d’Azur works to energize the economic fabric of the Alpes Maritimes. Its main mission is to help local businesses move towards competitiveness and innovation. To do this, the institution must listen to its members and represent them. It is important to mention one of the main areas of the CCINCA, which is training, education, and apprenticeship.
NP: What is your role within it?
GG: I have been part of the tourism division of the CCINCA for two years now. The main mission of this branch is to energize the Azurean tourist network through unifying actions tailored to a very specific sector. My position is very interesting because it is based on various angles. I am responsible for leading certain European projects or local entertainment, thinking and implementing key actions for the development of our sector. I may also work with the support unit on specific issues related to the tourism field, such as positioning, marketing, or the strategic direction of a company. An essential part of my mission also involves listening to stakeholders, which is imperative as it allows us to then adjust our actions according to their needs.
NP: What have you done since graduating? What has your professional journey been?
GG: I joined the CCINCA at the end of my studies. The experience I have accumulated in the tourism sector is primarily based on successive internships, seasonal jobs, and personal projects carried out during my studies. Over these 5 years, I have made sure to carefully target my choices and try to have a comprehensive vision of the sector: convention centers, receptive agencies, event agencies, tourist offices, etc.
NP: Have you always wanted to pursue this career, or was it the result of opportunities?
GG: Very interesting question that leads to a delicate answer. To be completely honest, tourism was not initially a heartfelt wish. I think it’s essential to distinguish between a job and a sector. A job for me is a discipline like communication or finance. Tourism is a sector that can encompass all these jobs. After graduation, I had to ask myself the right questions. The answers were obviously difficult to find; I wanted to work in advertising creation, but the courses were too expensive and often in the capital. I wanted to travel to improve my language skills, become a professional coach… as you can see, tourism was still far away. So, I decided to move towards commerce, telling myself that time would help me choose a specific sector or job later on.
An initial experience in communication at the Nice Tourist Office and my love for the Azurean destination naturally led me towards the tourism field. It was a way for me to make a living while contributing to the development and image of a region dear to me, all while maintaining a strong connection to humanity.
NP: What is your educational background, and what degrees have you obtained?
GG: My educational background is as follows: IUT TC Nice/ IUP Master in Business Management with a Focus on Business Tourism, Title of Engineering Manager/ IAE Master 2 in Marketing and Organizational Communication, Major.
NP: What is the perception of students from your former school in the professional environment in which you work?
GG: I mainly have good visibility on alumni from the IUP Tourism program, and the feedback is very positive. The positions they have obtained are good and very interesting. Most have found positions of responsibility, some have become their own bosses, while others have gone abroad… As for the IAE, I know this school is nationally recognized, but I haven’t maintained real contact with former students.
NP: What advice would you give to students considering a career in the tourism sector?
GG: Whatever sector you choose, I would advise future professionals to always treat each experience, no matter how short or unengaging, as a job in its own right. I would also tell them not to settle for attending classes, submitting assignments, and obtaining a diploma for the sake of it. It’s crucial to go further, make connections, get out of your home, open up, and make your life a kind of career plan.
According to you, is it better to start with SMEs or large companies?
GG: I am convinced that starting in a small structure is very educational because the responsibilities and versatility of tasks are heightened. The same position in a different-sized structure can change completely… It may be more appealing to call oneself a manager of a large group than of a very small enterprise (VSE), but the real question is “what’s the content?”, “what’s the exact function?”
NP: Why did you choose to work at the local level?
GG: I’ve already somewhat answered this question… I’m in love with the Côte d’Azur. But that choice is at a particular moment in my life; the international aspect doesn’t put me off at all. Let’s just say that today I am on the Côte, and tomorrow is another day. For now, I’ve found what I’m looking for here, which is a job combining operational work and analysis, which isn’t always easy to find in this sector.
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