Véronique Lebaud, Supply Chain Manager EMEA

To mark International Women’s Day 2024, we spoke to some of the many women working at Rousselot. In this series, they share their thoughts on their experiences at the company, offer advice to young women aspiring to work in the industry, and much more. In this edition, we meet Veronique Lebaud, Supply Chain Manager EMEA. 

When did you start at Rousselot/Gelnex?  

‘I started at Rousselot Angoulême on the 1st of November 2005, working as a blending master/expedition manager. I oversaw the blending master and the packaging/shipping department, managing 10 men. At this time, the plant manager was a woman. She inspired me with her strength, sensitivity, and human-mindedness. 

 ‘From here, I moved into production, developing the Peptan process in Angoulême. I was the first woman to manage production in the plant. Being a woman in a 100% male production department was not always easy, of course, but at the same time, it gave me real strength. I came up with a different approach, one that people weren’t used to in production. 

 ‘In 2010, I moved into the quality department. This is a more 'classic' position for women in the food industry, and I often had to manage women during my 7 years in that position. These last two positions offered me the chance to work with a lot of colleagues in quality, sales, technical support, and customer relations—I really appreciated working with both women and men. In 2017, I became Supply Chain Manager, and I was part of a balanced team that kept contact with sales, technical support, marketing, and R&D. During this period, I also became Plant Manager Deputy on top of the supply chain position, and from September, I took on the Plant Manager position. 

‘Now, I have just started a new position! On the 1st of March, I took the lead of the EMEA Supply Chain on top of the Angoulême supply chain - as the only woman." 

What would be your advice for a young girl who would like to work in the industry?  

‘Don’t make excuses for yourself for being a woman: you deserve your position. Stay as you are and keep your sensibility - being a woman doesn’t need to be a topic.’ 

Why do you think Rousselot/Gelnex is a welcoming company for women?  

‘I see that Rousselot Angoulême welcomes women well. When I first arrived, the Plant Manager was a woman. At that time, she was the only woman on the board of the plant. But things have changed a lot, and now we have five women and four men as board members. 

"At the same time, we can also see women taking more and more positions across our plants, in corporate levels and even in production/technical services - which were considered 'men's departments' in the past. Now, women can reach all positions. For example, I became a Plant Manager. At this point, I don’t see women or men; I just see colleagues. And the fact that I can say that shows just how Rousselot is a welcoming company for women.’ 

Anything else you want to share…  

‘While Rousselot/Gelnex is a welcoming company for women, we still have improvements to make. For example, we still have more men than women in the highest positions. However, things are moving in the right direction, and I feel on the same level as men in the Rousselot family. 

‘I must admit that I put a lot of pressure on myself to excel in all the tasks I undertake, probably because I am a woman. I come from a generation where women had to prove their skills more than men, so it is difficult to shake off this mindset even though I do believe that things have really changed now. I don’t see this difference in the coming generations.’