Christine Afflelou - The Other is My Strength
“Woman In” is series of portraits dedicated to women who invest their talent into all areas of business and society through their experience, personality and commitment. We have decided to celebrate remarkable women on and beyond the symbolic date of 8 March to highlight their diverse backgrounds and their powerful impact on society.”
The series was put together in honour of International Women’s Day by the Au Féminin by SGPB club. The club began three years ago to help women with decision-making around wealth management and finances. Marceline Try, Head of Business Development at Societe Generale Private Banking, met with Christine Afflelou, founder of Opinion Square, which introduces structured debate in France with the mission to reintroduce critical thinking through the distinct viewpoints of two speakers on current topics.
Christine Afflelou
Founder of Opinion Square
After completing business studies in France and the United States, Christine Afflelou joined a globally renowned cosmetics company, where she held key commercial roles before advancing to international positions.
In 2004, she founded "Paris Privé", a company specializing in the organization of exclusive, high-end events.
In 2013, she relocated to London and established The B&C Club, a private members’ club with a strong cultural emphasis, which she successfully developed over six years before returning to France.
In 2022, she launched "Opinion Square", an innovative platform for structured debates inspired by a traditional English casuistry method.
Marceline Try, Business Development Manager at Societe Generale Private Banking
As an opener, what would you say are the watchwords of your career?
I consider myself quite an atypical person. My journey began in a small town in Savoie, where I grew up, but I felt early on the need to escape and discover the world around me. That is how I left my native region. With a taste for adventure and trusting my instincts, I lived in Paris, Dallas, Texas, San Francisco, and then London before settling back in Paris. Each of these destinations helped shape my worldview and offered unique experiences, pushing me to create new reference points. I believe I have a great capacity for adaptation. The idea of forging my own path and moving forward is intrinsic to my personality. Starting from scratch to rebuild does not scare me. I might be somewhat daring.
I began my professional life as an employee in the luxury sector for over ten years. Then, I founded, first in Paris, an event management company, and later in London, a private members’ club dedicated to art and culture. Today, I lead Opinion Square, an initiative inspired by the United Kingdom. This concept offers 60 minutes of listening, understanding, and interaction to help everyone form their own opinion. For two years now, these debates have provided, I hope, a space conducive to reflection on contemporary issues, while allowing experts to contribute. Despite cultural and generational differences, I am delighted to see participants of various ages exchange and grow together during these discussions.
I carry with me this beautiful quote from Montaigne, which is somewhat my mantra: “When I am opposed, my attention is awakened, not my anger. I approach the one who contradicts me, who instructs me.”
What were your sources of inspiration?
Montaigne, as you can see...
More seriously, I would say my main source of inspiration is the need to feel alive. I detest boredom, routine, and everything that comes with it. I love movement—in people, in life, in art, in conversation and exchange. The other, in their entirety, complexity, and uniqueness, inspires me to nourish myself, challenge myself, learn, and awaken.
What are you most proud of?
Without hesitation, my two daughters. Being useful, being useful today and tomorrow to others, bringing interests and generations closer together—these are things that make me proud. But to be honest, recognition is not a driving force in my life. I do not operate that way. Likewise, I have no regrets. I act with enthusiasm, honesty, and without fear, telling myself it is always worth trying. Conflict always arises from ignorance or misunderstanding of the other. When, through Opinion Square, I try to bring together completely opposing opinions, I tell myself that I am contributing to the need to “Build Together!”
I like the idea of supporting one another, progressing together, and thus creating a virtuous circle that benefits all.
What is the biggest problem of the women of your generation?
I see where you are going!
My status as a woman is not something that concerns me. I have not suffered inequalities in my career or as a woman. Perhaps because I have always tried to take control of my life and remain the master of my destiny.
I am not obsessed with gender issues because before men or women, I first see individuals, lives, destinies, and paths.
I am a feminist because I defend the specificities of women and their complementarity with men. I am not at all engaged in militant combat.
What advice would you give to young people thinking about their future career?
I am an advocate for living together, respect, understanding, and acceptance of others. Let us train our youth in this fundamental way of life, this way of thinking, this way of living.
More concretely, my advice would be to focus on delivering the best of one’s skills before thinking about remuneration. Quality work will be recognized and will always bear fruit in the end.
DISCLAIMER :
This document has no contractual value. It is not intended to provide an investment service such as investment advice, a related investment service, arbitration advice or legal, accounting or tax advice from Société Générale Private Banking France (‘SGPB France’), which cannot therefore be held liable for any decision taken by an investor solely on the basis of its content. SGPB France undertakes neither to update nor to modify it.
Before making any investment decision, please review the details of the documentation for the service or product being considered, including any associated risks, and consult your legal and tax advice. If the document is consulted by a French tax non-resident, he or she will have to ensure with his or her legal and tax advisors that he or she complies with the legal and regulatory provisions of the jurisdiction concerned. It is not intended for distribution in the United States, or to a U.S. tax resident, or to any person or jurisdiction for which such distribution would be restricted or unlawful.
The past performance information that may be reproduced is not intended to guarantee future performance. These future performances are therefore indicative. The return to investors will vary depending on market performance and the shelf life of the investment. Future performance may be subject to tax, which depends on your present and future personal situation.
Societe Generale has put in place a policy to manage conflicts of interest. SGPB France has put in place (i) a policy to handle complaints made by its customers, available on request from your private banker or on its website and (ii) a policy to protect personal data (https://www.privatebanking.societegenerale.com/fr/protection-donnees-personnelles/). At any time and without charge, you have the right to access, rectify, limit processing, erase your data and the right to object to their use for the purposes of commercial prospecting by contacting our Data Protection Officer by email (protectiondesdonnees@societegenerale.fr). In the event of a dispute, you can lodge a complaint with the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), the supervisory authority responsible for compliance with personal data obligations.
This document is issued by Societe Generale, a French bank authorized and supervised by the Prudential Control and Resolution Authority, located at 4 Place de Budapest, 75436 Paris Cedex 09, under the prudential supervision of the European Central Bank (‘ECB’) and registered with ORIAS as an insurance intermediary under number 07 022 493, orias.fr. Societe Generale is a French public limited company with a capital of EUR 1 003 724 927.50 on 17 November 2023, whose registered office is located at 29 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, and whose unique identification number is 552 120 222 R.C.S. Paris (ADEME FR231725_01YSGB). More details are available on request or at www.privatebanking.societegenerale.com/. This document may not be communicated or reproduced in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of SGPB France.
In honour of International Women’s Day, the “Au Féminin by SGPB” club has put together a series of interviews to...
In honour of International Women’s Day, the “Au Féminin by SGPB” club has put together a series of interviews to...
Fresh water represents less than 3% of the Earth's total water supplies. As access to this vital resource comes...
In honour of International Women’s Day, the “Au Féminin by SGPB” club has put together a series of interviews to...