Can you tell us about your background and what led you to create INSPIRE as an independent consultant?
“My background has always been focused on information and communication. I worked as a journalist in print media for eight years before joining Decathlon, where I spent ten years in various communication roles: starting with corporate communication, then leading employee communications, and later serving for five years as the Group’s Director of Information & Sustainable Development Communication.
This experience was incredibly enriching, allowing me to develop a vision of corporate challenges within a company questioning its impact and business model while engaging with multiple stakeholders (customers, employees, media, institutions, NGOs) both in France and globally. This role helped me shape my vision of communicators’ responsibilities in addressing transition challenges, and it also revealed the needs faced by industry professionals—whether working in agencies, organizations, or even as students. With the goal of contributing to environmental transition within my field, I decided to leave Decathlon to create INSPIRE, a consultancy dedicated to supporting communication professionals in this crucial transformation.”
What concrete benefits do large corporations gain from working with freelancers or independent consultants for communication and marketing advisory services?
“I believe that an independent consultant primarily offers an external perspective and valuable insight to rethink a problem. This is especially true for communication teams, which often sit at the end of the chain within organizations and face intense short-term pressures. Bringing a fresh perspective while drawing from experiences with various companies adds immense value.
When it comes to sustainability issues, hiring an external consultant is also frequently about gaining specialized expertise on complex and evolving environmental or social topics, which can be difficult for internal teams to grasp.
Finally, given that CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) topics are highly strategic and require breaking down organizational silos, a consultant also plays a key role in fostering a cross-functional approach by building bridges and collaboration processes within the organization.”
Why do you think large corporations should work with specialized freelancers to integrate responsible communication and marketing strategies?
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that large corporations must hire a consultant, but what they must do first and foremost is integrate environmental and social transition challenges into their core strategy! Once these strategies are in place, they influence all company functions, including communication. The expertise in responsible communication can either be developed in-house or outsourced to a consultant.
Even in organizations that internalize this role, external consultants remain essential. These topics are complex and constantly evolving—regulations change quickly, and teams need experts who continuously monitor these issues. Consultants help transform communication practices at a deep level, better understand CSR challenges, and, most importantly, avoid greenwashing.”
As an independent consultant, how do you build a relevant strategic watch to help your clients anticipate trends in environmental transition?
“Staying informed is absolutely crucial in this field. I conduct daily monitoring of qualified information sources on CSR topics, including media, podcasts, and platforms. I also attend industry events such as Produrable, Change Now, and the Responsible Communication Congress to stay up to date. Additionally, I am fortunate to be part of a network of professionals working on these issues—regular exchanges with them are also invaluable for staying informed.
Every six months, I take the time to consolidate my research into a strategic report of around a hundred pages, which is useful both for myself and my clients.”
What advice would you give to a company still hesitant about working with freelancers for this type of mission?
“My first piece of advice would be to take the time to discuss and fully understand the company’s needs, ensuring that the identified issue aligns with the organization’s real challenges and strategies. This scoping phase is essential—it allows the right questions to be asked to accurately define the problem and determine whether a consultant is the right solution. If not, it’s important to be transparent about it.
The best service we can offer organizations looking to advance in environmental transition is to be honest about the key issues they need to address, rather than simply helping them tick the CSR compliance box.”
LittleBig Connection plays a key role in linking large corporations with responsible marketing experts who can support them on a variety of strategic projects. The Connect for Good community helps organizations keep up with rapidly evolving regulations, technologies, and tools related to sustainable transformation.
LittleBig Connection also hosts networking events dedicated to independent professionals, allowing them to share best practices and discuss sustainable transition challenges. Through these initiatives, LittleBig Connection fosters collaboration and accelerates the adoption of responsible solutions within organizations.
