"A CFO Is The Conductor of Strategy": How Charlotte Chauvel Built Her Leadership Through Action

Dealing with uncertainty, making tough decisions, bringing teams together through periods of change—Charlotte Chauvel has faced these challenges firsthand as a CFO. Drawing from her professional experiences and time at HEC Paris Executive Education, she has developed a leadership style grounded in strategy and action. Charlotte embodies resilience and pragmatism in a changing environment, moving seamlessly from finance to strategy, proving that a CFO is, above all, someone who can translate vision into concrete actions.

Career path, resilience, and female leadership

Looking closely at Charlotte Chauvel's career, you’ll find much more than financial expertise. A CFO continuously building her skillset, Charlotte is strategic with numbers, skilled at managing demanding transitions, and able to shift effortlessly across diverse industries and significant financial challenges—all without losing sight of the human element of management.

Her professional story began at Club Med, a hybrid role where finance intersected with human resources.

" I was 23, had a very finance-focused profile, and suddenly found myself working alongside colleagues who were far more experienced. It became an incredible learning opportunity,” she recalls.

This initial position set the stage for Charlotte’s ability to decode organizational structures and quickly adapt to unfamiliar environments.

Taking the risk of change

After eight years, Charlotte faced a decisive moment: stay in the tourism industry or demonstrate her abilities could be transferred elsewhere. The recruitment world had its hesitations:

Recruiters would often say, ‘Charlotte, you’d be perfect for another tourism company—why leave?’ 

But Charlotte was driven by curiosity and a desire to grow. She took on an assignment in the tech sector, followed by a role at Manutan, a major B2B player. There, she gained direct exposure to acquisitions and the integration of subsidiaries.

This strategic turn required personal sacrifices:

“The job was over an hour’s commute from home, but I knew it was something I had to do.”

Her commitment broadened her perspective on what being a CFO involved and positioned her to manage performance at a more strategic level.

HEC Paris Executive Education: a chance for transformation
 

At Fraikin, Charlotte encountered one of the biggest challenges of her career. During the company's restructuring, she had to improve financial performance while earning credibility with colleagues who weren't always ready to listen.

'At Fraikin, I realized I needed to expand my skillset and take a step back to handle the role effectively', she explains..

It was at this moment that Charlotte chose to enroll in the “Financial and Non-Financial Performance Management” certificate at HEC Paris Executive Education. The program offered more than theoretical insights—it provided the immediate chance to put her learnings into practice through a significant project: building a vehicle-by-vehicle income statement for Fraikin. With a structured approach and support from HEC’s mentoring, Charlotte delivered a practical solution to an ongoing challenge, strengthening her credibility within the company.

Building on these new skills, Charlotte leveraged her certificate experience to join the Global Executive Master in Management (GEMM) Finance. Here she expanded her research on restructuring mid-sized companies in crisis—a topic she explored in her professional thesis. This demanding exercise, completed during a critical transition phase in her career, earned her the prestigious Fondation HEC prize, highlighting the depth and impact of her analysis.

 

“These awards mean a lot to me, as they recognize the progress I’ve made. The Marc Salez prize, awarded for a project our team genuinely believed in, confirmed my ability to rally people around tangible, impactful initiatives. My thesis represented a comprehensive reflection on restructuring mid-sized companies facing crises.”

A CFO, a strategist, an elite athlete

Far from the stereotype of a finance expert stuck behind spreadsheets, Charlotte sees her role as similar to that of a maestro. She also draws parallels with elite sports, rooted in her experience as a bronze medalist in pistol shooting.

'A CFO is like an elite athlete: stress management, precision, and endurance are essential', she explains.

Her ability to handle challenging situations such as LBOs and acquisitions comes down to three strengths: resilience, discipline, and the ability to lead teams through complex transitions. “A CFO is like a conductor, translating strategic vision into concrete actions, guiding multidisciplinary teams toward creating value,” Charlotte says.
 

In these situations, every decision requires clear judgment, every action demands strategic thinking. This mindset has enabled her to successfully deliver demanding restructuring projects and build trust within her teams during uncertain times.

An engaged, collaborative leadership

In an environment still predominantly male, Charlotte asserts herself without trying to imitate anyone else.
 

'I like the idea of an iron fist in a velvet glove: assert your ideas clearly, but always remain flexible'.

Her strength lies in her ability to unite and keep teams motivated, especially in challenging times.

“Resilience and pragmatism are essential when facing uncertainty. Being ready to roll up your sleeves reassures your team and shows genuine commitment,” Charlotte explains. Above all, Charlotte quickly identifies priorities, making tough but necessary decisions to transform situations that aren’t working.
 

But beyond professional responsibilities, she places great importance on personal balance.

'Surrounding yourself with the right people is key. My husband was a tremendous support while I was studying, especially when our daughter was very young,' she shares. 

She strongly believes in the necessity of balancing professional dedication with personal fulfillment:

“At certain times, you need to give a lot to achieve your goals, but never at the expense of your well-being or your family’s.”

With her solid experience and the support of the HEC network, Charlotte continues pushing forward, already preparing for her next professional challenge.

Her journey perfectly reflects the spirit of HEC Executive Education: resilience, adaptability, and strategic vision. By continually questioning her own assumptions and daring to step outside her comfort zone, Charlotte proves that true leadership isn’t something declared—it’s built, one challenge at a time.