Inspiring confidence as a young woman entrepreneur in industry

Transcription de l'intervention de Marie-Christine Mariani

Making mistakes doesn’t always mean you’re bad at something. It means “I tried, but maybe it wasn’t the right time, maybe it wasn’t the best thing to do. And from there, you learn to move forward.”

Marie-Christine Mariani, founder and manager of MCM STEEL since 1998

Converting international customers

I was doing a lot of trading not only with men, but men from Muslim countries and faith. So it wasn’t that easy at first, but I must say that I found my place there, too by gaining their trust, by giving them the product and price they wanted and by showing them that what I said lined up with what I sold them. Because they had had bad experiences. So that was really good. And respecting them above all. I did a lot of traveling in their countries. I understood their culture, what to do and what not to do. And that’s why today, when we built here, we added a room we call the prayer room. It’s a small mosque, you could say, so when clients of Muslim faith come see us, they can do their prayers. I have an African client who brings necklaces back from Niger for me made by people there, they’re really unique specimens. Respecting all that is, shall we say, affinity with the client.

Attentiveness toward clients

For example, if a client’s son has a baby, I send a little gift. It’s the feminine touch we have that others might not.

Doubting as an entrepreneur

If you don’t have doubts, you’re not… I don’t want to say you’re not normal, but there is always doubt. You need to have strength in your abilities, especially not to say “Oh God. Do I do it, do I not…?” You have to go for it, to not have regrets either. Because if you say “I don’t know… Why…” If you dither too much, you get stuck. Now, maybe my mindset is more American than European, that failure also allows you to continue and improve. Making mistakes doesn’t always mean you’re bad at something. It means “I tried, but maybe it wasn’t the right time, maybe it wasn’t the best thing to do. And from there, you learn to move forward.”