Cynthia-Laure Etom, WIF France
“No one feels 100% ready when an opportunity is right around the corner. Because most of the great opportunities that come along in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones.”
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Femmes du Numérique:To begin with, what is your definition of “digital”?
Cynthia-Laure Etom: “Digital” is, first and foremost, the field of new technologies and innovation. And by extension, it’s a set of web 2.0 actions that enable you to create, boost your visibility, stay connected, make connections, share points of view and meet people from all over the world.
FDN:Women, an opportunity for digital. Digital, an opportunity for women. What do you think about it? Why did you choose this sector?
CLE:Les femmes, une opportunité pour le numérique, to dispel prejudices about this sector, which has a reputation for being exclusively a male domain. It’s also a way of dispelling gender stereotypes. Digital is an opportunity for women, because today only 27% of the workforce is made up of women. A figure which suggests that there are still a huge number of possibilities and opportunities for women in this constantly evolving sector.
That’s why I chose this sector. For me, it’s the best way to make the most of digital technologies, and to create the first digital operator for women in the fields of cinema, television and new media.
FDN:Is being a woman entrepreneur a plus?
CLE :At the outset, everything suggests that I’m not. I work in a field where men are very present, a field where it’s sometimes very difficult to get the credit you deserve as a woman. I remember a discussion about a film I’d really enjoyed. My interlocutor completely dismissed my argument with a“no, the film is simply not worth watching”. While another person (a man) gave a point of view along the same lines, my detractor immediately retracted, saying that he hadn’t actually seen the film… It’s completely destabilizing, but I love challengesand this kind of situation pushes me to give myself more and work harder.
FDN:Did you have any doubts, hesitations or difficulties in setting up your own business?
CLE :When you embark on this kind of adventure, it’s important to be confident, but sometimes, when faced with difficulties, you can have doubts and it’s very easy to give up.
I have a Master’s degree in Communication & Marketing, so it hasn’t been easy every day. I remember a rather virulent director telling me to “Go and make films first…” According to this person, I had no legitimacy in my work. I could quite easily have given up at that point, but I persevered. And as time went by, I realized that it wasn’t a diploma that was going to give me legitimacy, but my passion, my skills and my values.
FDN:Tell us about your project. How did the idea come about? What needs do you meet?
CLE :With FCTV Paris, we are committed to working with women in the film, television and new media industries, to build film projects with them.
FCTV Paris has been the leading network for women working in Film, Television and New Media in France since 2011. It is affiliated with Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) as the official French network. Women In Film comprises some 40 networks worldwide and over 10,000 members.
Our role with FCTV Paris is to raise the profile of women’s cinema and to promote the young creators of tomorrow’s cinema through monthly events: screenings of both short and feature-length films, networking evenings and conferences… Our objectives with the FCTV Paris network: discover new talent, develop audiovisual projects, create a platform for exchange and federate.
FDN:How do you defend gender equality in your professional and personal life?
CLE :Through my professional activity, I invite men to take part in our business. In my personal life, I don’t let gender stereotypes guide any of my judgments.
FDN:And personally, how have you managed to reconcile work and family life?
CLE :The question that women are inevitably, and strangely, asked the most…
I think men and women are equal when it comes to everyday worries. I find it just as difficult and just as easy to reconcile work and family life as a man.
FDN:What advice would you give to a young woman hesitating to work or start a business in the digital sector?
CLE :Don’t be passive, stop telling yourself you’re not ready, don’t overthink, so as not to create a problem that wasn’t there in the first place. Evaluate the pros and cons in order to take decisive action. And above all, stay positive throughout the start-up phase, ignoring the difficulties.
Biography
Cynthia-Laure Etom is the Founder of WIFT FRANCE WIFT FRANCE WIFT PARIS FCTV PARIS, the network for women in cinema, television and new media.
As founder, she coordinates the entire network, from event organization to content writing, communications and press relations. Her role is to raise the profile of women’s cinema, television and new media, and to promote the creative talents of tomorrow through monthly events.