A specialist in ESG, strategy and communication, Laurence Ponchaut is experienced and pragmatic. With a solid network in Luxembourg and internationally, and excellent reputation management skills, she helps players in the industrial and financial sectors to design and implement their strategies.

On boards of directors, Ponchaut contributes international experience, extensive cross-sector expertise and financial knowledge, as well as competence in reputation management, ESG and governance.

Ponchaut sits on several boards of directors already, including that of ProRSE Luxembourg (as a member), Los Jardines de Abama (as president) and LetzPact (also as president). She is also the chair of the remuneration and nomination committee of Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I.

Paperjam: What are the main challenges you have encountered as an independent woman director?

Laurence Ponchaut: Often, the main obstacle we face is ourselves. As women, we sometimes tend to doubt our skills or censor ourselves. This can hold us back in asserting our ideas, especially in male environments.

How do you deal with any resistance or scepticism towards you?

I try to handle resistance calmly and assertively. When inappropriate behaviour arises, I deal with it directly and professionally, emphasising mutual respect.

A striking anecdote illustrates this point: I was only once confronted by someone who, disagreeing with my position, became aggressive and raised his voice. I calmly said that I thought his behaviour was aggressive and inappropriate, stressing that I doubted he would address a man in the same way. He apologised, saying that he appreciated my liveliness and that we could all have bad days. This incident never happened again.

Do you think that gender equality is progressing on boards of directors?

Gender equality is progressing, although we are still a long way from parity. Initially supported by quotas, it is now gaining ground following initial positive feedback demonstrating the added value of gender diversity. But there is still a long way to go.

What do you think about quotas for women on boards?

Quotas are a necessary evil and a necessary step in getting things moving. They have made it possible to break through glass ceilings and demonstrate in concrete terms the benefits of diversity on boards. Once these benefits have been recognised, I hope that gender diversity will naturally become a sustainable norm.

As a female director, do you feel a particular responsibility to champion issues of parity and inclusion?

Absolutely. We need to support each other as women, just as men support each other. Women can be their greatest support or their greatest obstacle. Let’s choose the side of support, because that’s how we’ll move forward collectively.

In your opinion, how does diversity influence the performance of a board of directors?

Diversity has a significant and positive impact on board performance, as many studies attest. With regard to gender diversity, women often ask more questions and seek to clarify situations before making decisions. They do not systematically follow the loudest voice, which contributes to better collective decision-making.

What solutions or policies do you think could encourage better parity?

The introduction of mentoring and professional development programmes to support women in accessing and holding office.

What advice would you give to a woman who is hesitating to take the plunge?

Have confidence in yourself, look for a female mentor if you need one and go for it! Taking the plunge is the hardest part. After that, all you can do is swim!

What specific advice would you give to a young woman who wants to advance in a company?

I would advise her to always remain authentic, to have confidence in her skills and to value what makes her unique. Find allies, look for a mentor and surround yourself with people who believe in you. I would advise against trying to adopt a masculine attitude in order to meet supposed expectations. Our added value lies in our differences, our sensitivity and our unique perspective.

This article in French.