Last night, six female entrepreneurs from the region were honored for their efforts and dedication during the first edition of the Femme du Rebond Trophies at the Nice Opera House.
Being a female entrepreneur is not easy, especially when the road to success has been paved with challenges and personal turmoil. These life trials are now recognized during the Femme du Rebond Trophies evening, organized for the first time by the City of Nice and the association ” Women Business Leaders Nice Côte d’Azur “. An award ceremony specially designed to honor the most valiant business leaders in the region, acknowledging their sacrifices and their ability to transform obstacles into opportunities.
An event created by women, for women. Maty Diouf, Deputy Mayor of Nice, in charge of Combating Discrimination and Women’s Rights, did not miss the opportunity to recall their rallying cry on the stage of the Nice Opera: “When women are alone, they are invisible. When they are together, they become invincible.“
Marielle Walicki, founding president of ” Women Business Leaders Nice ” and Anne Aubert-Larmoyer, current president of the delegation, initiated this. “[…] We already have the Trophies for women leaders which distinguish women who have succeeded with good revenue figures. But there are women who cannot identify with them. This is where the idea of encouraging entrepreneurs who have faced difficult life challenges came to us. These women also need to be highlighted because they are extraordinary,” explained Marielle Walicki.”
The Six Women of the Rebound
Here is the list of the six categories and the winning entrepreneurs with unique backgrounds:
From Law to Wellness
Barbara Ghighi, founder of the massage institute B.Happy, wins the Health & Wellness trophy. This former jurist, founder of AJFR, the first legal training center in France, has come a long way. Ten years ago, before B.Happy’s inception, Barbara experienced three burnouts. The last lasted seven months. Despite these challenging times, Barbara bounced back from her setbacks by founding her wellness salon, a warm place reflecting her values.
Today, she is thriving in her activity, delighted to please others. Barbara even plans to organize “A wallet-friendly day” once a month “where everyone can come and get a massage” at a low price.
A Success Woven with Trials
Créscence Abougou walks away with the Commerce category trophy. Life hasn’t always been rosy for the young woman. Originally from Lyon, Créscence moved to Nice with her husband and two children a few years ago. When she founded La Centrale Capillaire in 2014, Créscence faced disappointments. First, her mother’s death and then her divorce within two years.
She found herself raising her children alone and managing her new company. But her determination, combined with the unwavering support of her two boys, kept her on course. Driven by her desire to succeed, Créscence is now stronger than ever, ready to face the future. Her advice: “Never give up. It’s necessary to fail to better savor the victories.” As author Mathieu Kassovitz aptly put it, “what matters is not the fall but the landing.” And Créscence’s landing was quite successful!
A Soap of Hope in the Heart of Mercantour
Virginie Tollardo is the winner of the Agriculture category trophy. In 2013, Virginie’s professional life took a turn. In addition to her work at the Alpha Animal Park, she decided to venture into beekeeping on family land and trained in soap making.
When she founded her company Le Savon du Mercantour and fully committed to it, several events tested her. COVID struck her, but Virginie recovered. Storm Alex came her way, but Virginie held strong. Her goods warehouse caught fire, but Virginie got through it with her husband’s support… So many reasons to give up, but Virginie never wavered and always clung to her three words: “Hope, passion, and energy.” A perseverance as remarkable as the quality of her artisanal products.
Love, a Synonym for Success
The Revitalization of Territories category trophy is awarded to Céline Devocht. After 17 years as an aesthetic salon owner, Céline switched career paths. Goodbye aesthetics, hello organic baskets with her company La Ferme à la Maison. During COVID, her business flourished, but the reopening of borders jeopardized her company. To top it off, she separated from the father of her two children, a painful trial for Céline.
Later, she moved to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée with her boys. After these setbacks, the former entrepreneur found Love. A new chapter unfolded. Unbeknownst to her, Céline would dive back into entrepreneurship with her new partner. He managed to persuade her to found Le Crayon Cassé, a tea room currently enjoying great success according to Google reviews. Warm, friendly, and welcoming are the main terms frequently mentioned. In accepting her award, Céline expressed thanks “to FCE for always being there for me,” and to “my darling and my children.“
Green Ideas Cartridge
Christine Petitpas wins the Sustainable Development category trophy. A mother of two, Christine struggled with her dyslexia diagnosed in the 70s and poliomyelitis, which ultimately didn’t defeat her. Christine is not one to be easily discouraged. After an unintentional career choice, she decided to drop everything to become an entrepreneur. An unwavering strength and courage she inherited from her mother. Her decision also arose from her desire to be able to pick up her children, whom she raised alone, “at school every evening.“
In 2001, she founded Cartouche Vide, a company recycling used cartridges, an idea inspired by her Scouting memories from childhood. Since then, her company has boomed across France and Europe. In receiving her trophy, Christine reminded everyone that “companies led by women are more profitable than those led by men,” with humor. Her motto: “Turn your weaknesses into professional strength.”
A Doughy Heart, A Crunchy Victory
Finally, the Jury’s Favorite category trophy is awarded to Domenika Zielinska. Originally from Poland, Domenika left her homeland at the age of 27 for France. After a remarkable encounter with a farmer-baker, Domenika fell in love with ancient varieties of wheat and baking, a new passion, marking the beginning of a long adventure. Separated from her husband and forced to raise her daughter alone, Domenika never gave up.
Determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a baker, the single mother began making bread at home, then in a lab. She succeeded in building a loyal customer base. But challenges began to arise, especially with the health crisis. The baker had to let go some employees and chose to go without a salary for over six months to avoid bankruptcy.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Domenika made a strong comeback by establishing Le Fournil Zielinska in 2022. The beginnings were not fantastic, but after winning M6’s competition “Best Bakery in France“, sales soared and haven’t stopped since. “It’s important for me to have this award, to be encouraged by women, thank you to all for your support, it’s priceless,” concluded the Jury’s Favorite award winner on the stage of the Nice Opera House.
