Aurore Dos Santos, Héméra Editions
Femmes du Numérique:To begin with, what is your definition of “digital”?
Aurore Dos Santos:It’s an evolution in today’s world. Digital technology is revolutionizing our daily lives and our way of seeing the world. It’s incredibly rich, complex and tolerant: it allows every eccentricity, and has no limits – except those we impose on ourselves!
FDN:Women, an opportunity for digital. Digital, an opportunity for women. What’s your opinion? Why did you choose this sector?
ADS :Digital is an opportunity. Any emerging market is an opportunity. Whether digital technology is an opportunity for women is another matter. It can be, if women seize it and invest in it en masse. I chose this sector precisely because it’s an opportunity! It’s an emerging field, where everything remains to be done and created.
FDN:Is being a woman entrepreneur a plus?
ADS :It’s something else. It’s different. It’s a plus for me, because that’s what I’m looking for. It’s a plus in terms of autonomy and responsibility. But above all, it’s different! And that’s what I was looking for too.
FDN:Did you have any doubts, hesitations or difficulties in setting up your own business?
ADS:Of course! Every entrepreneur, man or woman, has doubts at some point along the way. It’s doubt that keeps us going, because it allows us to question ourselves, refocus, reposition ourselves, and improve our offering. Doubt is wonderful! Provided we know how to manage it, and know when to regain confidence, and say “stop: that’s fine, thank you”.
FDN:Tell us about your project. How did the idea come about? What needs do you meet?
ADS:Héméra Éditions is a Youth & Digital publishing house: we design and produce interactive game books for children aged 2 to 10. Available via a multi-support application (tablet, smartphone, computer), these books are more than just books: combining animated stories, games and exercises (French-language), “Héméra” products provide a complete offering, accessible everywhere!
This offer was built up and evolved over several years. Initially, I wanted a “classic” publishing house: only paper books. Because I loved books, and because that’s what I’d trained for. But the further I got into my project, the more I came face to face with the market. The book industry is in a state of upheaval, and the digital issue is rapidly becoming a major one. So I looked around me at the new uses that were gradually emerging. I studied the market. And I realized that this was a sector for the future. And what’s more, it was much more attractive! Digital technology offers a lot more freedom and creativity. It’s an exciting sector, with no limits.
FDN:How do you defend gender equality in your professional and personal life?
ADS :I simply try never to set myself the limit: “because I’m a woman”. That’s a poor excuse, and has no basis in fact. There’s nothing a man can do that a woman can’t do. On the other hand, I tend to remove the guilt from some of my actions and decisions by saying to myself: “If it had been a man, no one would have been shocked! So why shouldn’t I?”. And it works.
FDN:And personally, how have you managed to reconcile work and family life?
ADS :Very easily! I’m lucky enough to have a partner who has also set up his own business. There are always compromises to be made, as we have different ways of working, but life itself is one big compromise. As far as the wider family is concerned (parents, brothers/sisters, uncles/aunts, etc.), things go pretty well. We often have to re-explain certain things, but that’s what the profession is all about: you’re doing something new when you’re working in digital! And when you start your own business too!
FDN:What advice would you give to a young woman hesitating to work or start a business in the digital sector?
ADS :Be self-confident. Have passion. When you know that you want to see this project through no matter what, then the barriers are surmountable, and the doubts are reasonable. When you’re driven by passion, the work (almost) falls into place. You have to be sure of yourself and your project. The rest takes care of itself: you just follow the road and keep moving forward!