Podcast of the Month: Muriel Pénicaud

On May 22, Muriel Pénicaud, who currently serves as France’s permanent representative to the OECD, answered questions from Pierre Weill on the occasion of the release of her book *Pousser les murs*. In the book, published by Éditions de l’Observatoire, the former Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Inclusion recounts her three years as a minister in Édouard Philippe’s governments.

In looking back on her career, Muriel Pénicaud recounts not only her own “struggle, but the struggle of all women—[and even] of all modern men.” She adds: “It’s a fight for social justice—to shatter the glass ceiling so that women have the same opportunities for career advancement, pay, and personal fulfillment. But it’s also better for everyone: the most successful companies are those with diverse teams.”

On the show “L’invité du week-end,” she explained that she had wanted to break through the glass ceiling long before joining the government. After serving as Chief Human Resources Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Danone Ecosystem Fund, Muriel Pénicaud took steps to promote gender parity at Danone, notably through “a major program to develop women’s leadership and self-confidence, so they dare to be who they are and succeed just as they are.”

Later, as a minister, she spearheaded “the requirement to achieve results in terms of equal pay and career opportunities, along with an index to track progress.” Listen to her as she explains that we must“be resourceful, even as attitudes shift,” understand the value of diversity, and know how to apply it in practical ways.

Check out the replay of the interview.