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Nathalie Rozborski Deputy CEO Trendforecasting Nelli Rody
Mother or businesswoman – why decide? ?We met up with Nathalie Rozborski whilst still on maternity leave. Giving birth to her second child only 6 weeks ago, the director of Nelly Rodi doesn’t believe in barriers – especially those that separate home and work life. In the chic new offices of Nelly Rodi on Rue Cadet, the international business mogul greets us, child in arms. Reframing the old feminist adage of ‘having it all’, L’Exception sat down for a true talk about the risks & rewards of being a working mother – and how to balance life in the boardroom with a happy home. A passionate powerhouse with contagious energy, Nathalie Rozborski is an eponym of her era, proving that choice doesn’t mean sacrifice.
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Portrait Nathalie Rozborski Nelly Rodi
L’Exception : For any readers that aren’t familiar with you or Nelly Rodi what’s the first thing we need to know?

Nathalie Rozborski : I think the first thing you should know is that I’m Franco-Polish, I’ve always navigated between two different cultures, I think this dichotomy really characterises my personality. My education says the same thing, I was working as a hip-hop dancer whilst studying international business marketing – this complementary contrast is a big part of my personal and professional identity.


What did you want to be when you grew up?

A dancer! I lived in Dijon and from the first semester of university, I knew it wasn’t for me. I moved to Paris with the goal of becoming a professional dancer, specialising in urban dance. I knew about the dance-offs outside the Gare de Lyon & Châtelet, but I also understood only a few people ever made it big. My father is an ex-professional footballer and he reminded me that a career like that only lasts until you’re 30. So, I decided to continue my studies at the Sorbonne – qualifying in fashion & luxury creative management, the job I do today.

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New Office Nelly Rodi Paris
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You’ve got two kids. What do they think of your job?

Zacharie is two and a half, he loves to read magazines with me and look at the marking campaigns on the way to the nursery. He’s already got a discerning eye when it comes to aesthetics, it’s pretty funny. I think brands should do focus groups with kids for marketing and perfumes. Children have a more direct relationship with imagery without the social filters that adults apply to everything, it’s really interesting. I explain to him that ‘Mummy has clients & she helps them make decisions’, he responds ‘what’s a client?’ – so, I don’t put too much focus on it, he’ll understand in his own time.


Has becoming a mother changed your goals or professional life?

Firstly, I think becoming a mother radically changes your priorities. You manage yourself a lot better. Because I know I don’t have time to waste, I’ve become much better at delegating, which had long been a big issue for me… Having less time has helped me to focus on the most important aspects of each task. Being a mother is like being a project manager - you’ve got to be on top of everything. My day only works if I respect my agenda. I like to keep a little spontaneity, but I think children need structure, so do the teams I work with, it’s important to maintain a rhythm so everyone is on the same page. Being a mother, you’ve also got to learn to go with the flow.

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" It’s important to maintain a rhythm so everyone is on the same page.
Being a mother, you’ve also got to learn to go with the flow”"
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Nathalie Rozborski baby mother woman business

… It’s the children that dictate the day.That was a real personal challenge to overcome. They’ve taught me that there’s always a different way of doing things, that there aren’t any rules when it comes to having a career and kids. I think that the debate is over. Women don’t have to decide whether to be a homemaker or a breadwinner – do both.


How many things do you roll into one day? How do you get it all done?

I go to bed really early and wake up at 6.30 am. It might not be particularly sexy, but my day doesn’t work without a good night’s sleep – I’m always in bed before 10.30pm. I love to sleep and the best is before midnight! I get up so early because I need 30 minutes of ‘me’ time in the morning, to think about my priorities and structure my day. After that, I’m ready and the day can start! I look after the kids, the house, work and everything else in between. You’ll never see me at a dinner party after 11 pm.

Director of Nelly Rodi, you’re 34 years old and have two children. Your age is brought up a lot, do you think it’s because the French public is amazed/curious at how much you’ve achieved, or because you’re a woman?

It might be both! I got my chance really early on in my career. By 27 years old, I was already the fashion director for Nelly Rodi, the largest part of the business – and accounted for ¾ of its total earnings. I was young and, in my first year, I travelled to over one hundred countries - only returning to my apartment once a month! I was doing seminars in Singapore, China, Morocco, the U.S.A, organising conferences for more than 350+ people in English. I gained 10 years of experience in 12 months. It’s true to say that we have a problem regarding age in France but, I think there’s definitely some bad old bosses and really talented up starters out there. I wish we got better with age! You do gain maturity, stability and experience, but talent isn’t something you can learn.

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Entrepreneur way of life Nathalie Rozborski from Nelly Rodi
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Business and mother Nathalie Rozborski Nelly Rodi Fashion consulting
What kind of manager are you?

I work on a balance of trust and control, I encourage people to take responsibility and grow in their role. I know that’s not a common management type in France… I don’t believe in working late just for the sake of it. The last person at the office isn’t the person working the hardest, I see it as a sign of disorganisation. Irrespective of what time of day my team arrives or leaves, we work in an industry where only the final result counts, ensuring our clients are satisfied. As a manager, I value a work/life balance. If one of the girls ‘needs’ to go to her boxing class and can’t come to a meeting? I say go. All I ask is that her work is done. We sell advice, therefore the ends justify the means. Moreover, if someone wants to present a video instead of a PDF, they do it! The only thing that matters to me is the result. I am very strict on objectives, even a bit radical. I have a lot of faith in the next generation of entrepreneurs and I feel very close to them in terms of their values, like Guillaume Gibault (founder of Slip Français), Julia Bijaoui (founder and president of Frichti) and Juliette Levy the founder of OhMyCream. When this generation reaches the top, they’re going to change the workplace forever. It’s going to take a generation, but it’s coming.

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‘ I don’t want him to rush, to the point where he can’t stop to appreciate a ladybird – or let the lorry pass.
Everything can be planned. I don’t want to live life in a frenzy. » "
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What do you refuse to compromise on when it comes to your professional & personal life?

Everything is a question of balance. I have an on/off switch. I don’t feel guilty about leaving the office early and finishing my work when everyone else has gone to bed. It’s important to be there for bath time, dinner etc. But, there are always exceptions, like during tradeshows and Fashion Week. I have a tacit understanding with the office, teams can get in contact with me 24/7 – day or night, but when I need quality time with my family, everyone respects that, they understand it’s essential.


Would you consider yourself a model parent?

No one’s perfect, I’ve learnt that with one thing in particular - I find it hard to say no to electronics. I know it’s a problem for children 0-3 years old. I’ve got friends that have a 0 screen policy and only wooden toys. I’d find that hard. Then again, when I drop off my child at crèche, I always hear parents saying ‘quick, quick, quick’ – dragging their kids by the hand. I did that once because I was late for a meeting and I promised myself I’d never do it again. Getting up a bit earlier so he can have more time isn’t the end of the world. I don’t want him to rush, to the point where he can’t stop to appreciate a ladybird – or let the lorry pass. Everything can be planned, I don’t want to live life in a frenzy. I think that’s where I do best as a mother, respecting his childhood.


What was the last thing that made you tear up?

The last thing that made me cry was a short film by James Bort, his wife is Dorothée Gilbert from the l’Opéra de Paris. Without giving it away (because you really should see it for yourself), Catherine Deneuve has a powerful line, ‘don’t choose, you have the right’. She talks about choosing between being a dancer and a mother. It really touched me - I cried my eyes out at the preview. That’s the point. We can have it all if we give ourselves the means to succeed, if we are supported, but you don’t have to choose.

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