Our Stories

As General Counsel and a member of the Executive Committee at Valneva, I lead a team that has unintentionally become predominantly female. While not by design, this has reinforced my appreciation for the strengths, perspectives, and contributions that women bring to the workplace.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to reflect on my experience as a woman in business, the value of female leadership, and how to help the next generation of female leaders thrive, at Valneva and beyond.

Finding Purpose at Valneva

Growing up in the United States, I knew before I went to university that I wanted to work abroad, and I knew even earlier that I wanted to become a lawyer.

I joined Valneva in 2020 after working in the Capital Markets practice at an international law firm in London and Paris and then in the US for a big tech company. Having a meaningful and positive impact in the world has always been important to me, so joining a purpose-driven vaccine company that is focused on saving lives and making the world a safer place was a huge attraction, especially at the height of the pandemic.

Women in Leadership: Progress and Challenges

I learned the value of my communication skills, creative problem-solving ability, agility, and resilience while working in public education earlier in my career. However, in the often male-dominated environment in which I found myself as a lawyer, I was in a lot of situations where it was easy to experience impostor syndrome. There were moments when my contributions to a meeting were overlooked until echoed by a man, and instances of microaggressions that, while small on their own, add up over time.

Overcoming such challenges and tackling imposter syndrome requires self-awareness, challenging of assumptions, and seeking mentors that can support you and validate your contributions. Thankfully, throughout my career and particularly at Valneva, I’ve worked with both men and women who have appreciated and encouraged my contributions. I’ve been able to add value in my roles because I felt comfortable “flexing” and proposing new ideas or challenging existing ways of working.

Unfortunately, many women still face challenges in being recognized as valued partners in business, and the importance of women in leadership positions continues to receive attention, and for good reason.

Awareness of the challenges women face has grown, and that’s led to progress. But there’s still work to do – not just in addressing overt barriers but also in recognizing the ways we, as women, sometimes internalize biases that hold us back. We need to be conscious of behaviors that subtly undermine our own confidence or that reinforce outdated stereotypes.

Why Diversity Matters

Research consistently shows that diverse leadership teams drive better decision-making, innovation, and performance. Women often bring unique strengths to leadership roles, from transformational leadership styles to the ability to improve team collaboration, and it’s been shown they generate greater expectation of fair treatment. Beyond data, I’ve seen firsthand how women’s strong sense of intuition, although often an undervalued leadership skill, plays a critical role in navigating complex challenges.

For a company like Valneva, where innovation is fundamental to our success, diversity is critical. A culture that embraces different perspectives and encourages smart risk-taking is paramount to achieving scientific and business breakthroughs.

As a global organization, we bring together employees from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds. When people feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to challenge the status quo, share bold ideas, and contribute their best work. True diversity – across gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and all facets of identity – creates an environment where innovation thrives and provides a competitive advantage.

Advice for Future Female Leaders

I recently realized that I frequently use the adjective “strong” to describe women that I admire, and on reflection, this implies that women have to have a particular type of personality to succeed. I’ve seen women with quiet, reserved personalities prosecuting men for genocide, and the highly respected and influential US Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a tiny and relatively shy woman in her 80’s. You don’t have to be loud or take up more than your share of space in the room in order to make an impact.

While there are many different ways for women to be effective in their roles, I think the most successful women are the ones who stay true to their authentic selves, which means playing to their strengths, honoring their values, and pursuing (or creating) opportunities that interest them.

My other advice for female leaders is to be confident in yourself. We all have moments of self-doubt, and it’s important to learn to distinguish between the doubt that comes from fear (which should be ignored) and the doubt that might be more reasonable (you legitimately do not have the knowledge necessary to perform a task). It is often too easy to assume that we can’t achieve something, so it’s important to challenge our assumptions and take risks to prove that, in fact, we can!

Looking Ahead

Valneva is a company that genuinely cares about its employees, and I’m pleased to say that our Executive Committee of nine includes four women, and the chair of our Board of Directors is a woman.  This representation of women in leadership matters.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I ask that everyone regardless of gender or age commits to empowering each other, elevating each other’s voices, and continuing to shape workplaces where the next generation of female leaders can thrive. I personally will continue to champion women at Valneva and continue to nurture an environment where everybody can fulfil their true potential.

My 6 top tips for future female leaders:

1. Know your strengths and play to them. Ask for more opportunities to do the things you’re great at, including things outside your defined job responsibilities.
2. Recognize your weaknesses and take steps to address them. No one expects you to be perfect; if you show that you are self-aware and proactive, you’ll impress most leaders.
3. Don’t wait to be invited to sit at the metaphorical table. Pull out a chair and sit down. If your involvement or voice really isn’t welcome or appropriate, someone will tell you, but I suspect that there are many times when women in particular assume they can’t or shouldn’t contribute when in fact their contribution could be very welcome.
4. Don’t limit yourself through your actions or your speech. This is SO hard and something I’m always working on. Don’t say things like “I just want to…” as if you don’t have the right to ask a question. Don’t say “sorry” when you have nothing to apologize for.
5. Don’t assume that people you’re working with know how to advocate for women. It is not pleasant to call out microaggressions or offensive remarks, but it is 100% necessary to give that feedback if we want things to change. If you don’t feel comfortable giving that feedback yourself, ask an ally to do so on your behalf.
6. Learn to set boundaries. Women are givers. We are generous and nurturing by nature, and as a result, it is really easy for us to become overcommitted and overwhelmed. This makes setting and honoring boundaries an essential step on your personal growth journey. There are plenty of resources – books, articles, and podcasts – out there to guide your reflections. Ultimately, none of us can show up at work or in life as our best selves if we aren’t taking care of ourselves!