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Published: 22 September 2021

Xavier Wartelle ( Li 82), CEO at AFAM, CEO at Avatar Medical and founding partner at bang bing factory, participated in a school conference organized by Sandra Cologne, in charge of Parcours Entrepreneuriat et Innovation Technologique (PEIT) at Arts et Metiers school. The conference took place on September, 22th.

Xavier came in the US to work for Thales at the beginning of his career. He has been living and working in Silicon Valley for 26 years now. He is a founder of 7 startups, 4 of which were sold. Xavier organized and led more than 1000 coaching sessions with entrepreneurs all over the world.

Xavier told PEIT students about  the Shasta program and mentioned that AFAM team is about to launch a new Yosemite mentorship program for gadz'arts entrepreneurs ( more information to follow)

Then he gave a presentation about startups, corporate differences in French and American cultures, main elements of a successful startup venture and Brixlogic business case.

Xavier Wartelle: "Successful startup model is first of all a successful team model. As an entrepreneur you need to be humble and learn everyday. "

Another speaker of the conference was Julien Artur de la Villarmois ( Cl 218). Julien is a Georgia Tech and Arts et Metiers student pursuing a dual degree in Atlanta. Julien is a young researcher and entrepreneur. During the conference he shared his rich and diverse 2-years experience of working at AutonomHy on a prototype of a small hydrogen station.

We hope that AFAM will continue to take part in PEIT events and may be some of PEIT students will become Yosemite mentees in the future ( stay tuned for more detais coming soon on a new AFAM's mentorship program).

Xavier Wartelle (AFAM) and Sandra Cologne (PEIT) during the online conference

Julien Artur de la Villarmois during the online conference

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Published: 01 September 2021

AFAM: hello, Jean and thank you for your time. How have you become acquainted with AFAM?

Jean: ah, like many things in the Gadz'Arts community, and business in general, around a meal! Shortly after I moved to the Bay Area in 1998, I met Frédéric (Garderes) and Xavier (Wartelle) and we formed a habit to meet for lunch in Mountain View. A few years later, when Xavier co-founded AFAM with Eric (Benhamou), he knew who to call to give a hand!



AFAM: When and why did you decide to help American Friends of Arts et Metiers? What was your main motivation?

Jean: great question! When you live 9 hours and more than 5,500 miles away from Paris, the ties with the mother ship for our Gadz'Arts alumni organization, La Soce, can appear rather weak and distant. Add to this the busyness of the life of an expatriate in a startup, with a young family, and you have the recipe to forget about the ideals of our community. With its dynamism, financial means and local presence, AFAM gives all Gadz'Arts in the US a pragmatic opportunity to reconnect and help the next generations and classes experience the passion which got us to cross the pond ourselves in the first place. And, beyond this passion, ton of logistical support to make the hop or plunge easier! A joined AFAM for this opportunity to reconnect and give back with more impact and scale.


AFAM: What did you do for AFAM at the beginning for your volunteering experience? What is your role inside the organization now?

Jean: I first joined as a paid member, processing both membership to AFAM and La Soce through AFAM. I then joined our Shasta team, Shasta being our AFAM program focused on providing assistance and support to Arts et Métiers students who are seeking internships in the US. We are also helping those who want to study in universities in the US. Later, in 2017, I got elected to the AFAM Board. It's so rewarding to see for instance one of my mentees blossom and now work for Tesla!


AFAM: Do you have any previous experience helping non-profit organizations? Any non-profit you knew of and helped to when you were a student at Arts et Metiers?

Jean: yes, quite a few actually, and I'd start with all the volunteering opportunities which were provided to us right during our 3 years with Arts et Métiers. From representing students with the staff (DDE), organizing meals and events and later representing my class (DDP), I never counted the hours, but that was clearly not for profit! One of our sons organized a trip and we spent 3 weeks in Ethiopia helping a 2,000-people community displaced by a major drought. Later, through IBM's Corporate Corps program, I spent 4 weeks in Senegal helping Coders for Africa. I also volunteer in the Toastmasters organization, and I'm an official and sub committee chair with USA Track and Field. Plus a few other engagements so, on top of two big jobs, an executive position at IBM and highly competitive ultra marathon running, never a dull moment!


AFAM: Anything you’d like to wish to AFAM?

Jean: saying success looks quite cheesy, who wants to fail, right? But, still, success of AFAM's mission, definitely! Both reinforcing the connections among Gadz'Arts in the US, and the local friends and supporters of our School, as well as expanding the recognition of the Arts & Métiers brand. While the name has such an outstanding reputation in France, it doesn't as much outside of the Hexagon. Glad to give back to our community this way, and hoping other Gadz'Arts will also get the calling to join us, either financially or volunteering their time to assist the next generations, or both!

Jean during one of his beloved marathon races in California (photo courtesy: Jean Pommier)

You can easily donate to AFAM: here

You can help AFAM: by becoming a Shasta mentor or our expert/referrer

You can share your ideas with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or any member of our team

Please read other interviews of "Giving back to your community" series:

With Michel Vulpillat (Ch 183), our new representative in Southern California

With Valentin Fehr (Cl 212), our new representative in Atlanta region

With Alain Mutschler ( Ch 190), our Shasta mentor

With Jean-Luc Nauleau ( An 81), AFAM board member

Details

Published: 27 August 2021

AFAM: Hello Alain, and thank you for your time! Please tell me, how did you first hear about AFAM?

Alain: I moved to the United States at the end of 2008, the day after the Lehman brother’s bank collapsed. I initially planned to stay for a few years as an expatriate, but I never left New England and eventually relocated with my wife and kids.

At that time, AFAM already had a presence on the internet with an initial website and was contacting the growing population of alumni located within the US through emails and LinkedIn profiles.

AFAM: When did you decide to help AFAM and become our mentor? What was your motivation? Please tell us a few words about your mentorship experience.

Alain: I was contacted by AFAM to support French students who were looking for a US internship. I had paired up with students in the past, and we worked together to equip them for their future challenges. I love to help people discover their calling. Having worked in many different countries (Mexico, Germany, China…), I also gained much cross-cultural experience that can be very useful. In addition, I am deeply involved with the local state universities here in Massachusetts, and I serve as a panelist and help students prepare for the workplace environment.

AFAM: Do you have any previous experience volunteering for any non-profit organization? Any help you provided to non-profits when you were still a student at Arts et Métiers?

Alain: Back in France and starting as a high school kid, I volunteered in many sports and cultural activities. I think it prepares us for life and a career by developing the soft and hard skills needed later to succeed.

Today, being in charge of American operations, I do travel a lot. However, I still try to volunteer as often as I can. I am also involved at a local level in sports activities and several business organizations. It has helped me meet fascinating and diverse people that I would not have met otherwise, and volunteering is very strong here, especially at the community level.

AFAM: What would you like to wish to the AFAM team?

Alain: AFAM has been around for quite a while and has expanded substantially over the last few years. Congratulations to the team, and I wish many others will join the organization and be active. I hope that our alumni and students can enjoy the many services offered by AFAM. With an ever-growing alumni and student population attracted to the USA, AFAM is like a compass and serves anybody who would like to contribute or is just interested in US opportunities.

AFAM: thank you, Alain, for your time!

Photo: courtesy of Alain Mutschler

You can easily donate to AFAM: here

You can help AFAM: by becoming a Shasta mentor or our expert/referrer

You can share your ideas with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or any member of our team

Please read other interviews of "Giving back to your community" series:

With Michel Vulpillat (Ch 183), our new representative in Southern California

With Valentin Fehr (Cl 212), our new representative in Atlanta region

With Jean Pommier (An 183), AFAM board member, Shasta committee member and Shasta mentor

With Jean-Luc Nauleau ( An 81), AFAM board member

Details

Published: 27 August 2021

AFAM: Hello Valentin and thank you for being a part of this new interview series “Giving back to your community”. Please let us know a few words about yourself. How long have you been living in the US and what are you doing in life?

Valentin: Hello Albina! After graduating from Arts et Metiers I joined Georgia Tech in Atlanta to get my master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. Getting more and more involved in statistics, modeling, and data in general, I joined Capgemini US as a Data Science consultant in 2019. I have now been living in Atlanta Georgia for 6 years.

AFAM: Congratulations on your new role: President of Atlanta gadz group, AFAM representative in Atlanta region! Please tell us how come you decided to join AFAM as a new regional representative?

Valentin: I have always liked being involved in the gadz community, so leaving France so soon after graduating was a big split. However, I soon discovered that Atlanta usually has several gadz around, ranging from students at Georgia Tech to people just working and living here. As soon as I heard about events organized by AFAM around town I was in! And now that the opportunity to organize and facilitate these events has presented itself, I want to give back by making the gadz in Atlanta feel connected and let them know we can help them if they need.

AFAM: Do you have any previous experience donating/helping/volunteering for non-profit organizations back in France (may be when you were still an Arts et Metiers student) or in the US? What are your thoughts on being a volunteer?

Valentin: While I was a student at Arts et Metiers in Cluny it was part of our daily life to be involved in the association. This is where I learned that when so many contribute even just a bit, it can lead to great things.

Today, I would like to continue by helping current students or even Alumni know more about opportunities in the US. I would also like to continue to feel this sense of community here in Atlanta as a continuation of our experience at Arts et Metiers.

AFAM: What would you like to wish to AFAM team and to the gadz’ arts community in the US?

Valentin: Well, with the current context I wish we all get to meet in person soon!

I do also wish that the AFAM team and the US gadz community gets a wider reach, because I know a lot of students and alumni do want to move to the US. It usually is a tall order but knowing they can count on other gadz already here or on AFAM to help them is a big plus.

AFAM: It is summertime. What are the best things to do in Atlanta now? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Valentin: Atlanta is a bit ruthless during peak summer season! High temperature and high humidity makes it difficult to stay out for too long. However, “Shooting the Hooch” is an Atlanta classic, tubing down the Chattahoochee river on an inflatable donut. One of the only refreshing outside activities around!  Another popular destination is Tybee Island, on the coast, for a weekend beach trip next to Savannah, GA.

Finally, the most popular place to hang out in Atlanta these days is anywhere along the Beltline. It is a bicycle track going through parts of the city and around which several hip places have opened lately, the most famous ones being Ponce City Market and Krog Street, where you can shop, eat, and drink before going on a walk or a bike trip.

AFAM: Valentin, thank you for your time and for this interview!

Midtown Atlanta skyline as seen from Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd stadium

Martin Luther King's childhood home in Downtown Atlanta

Both pictures - courtesy of Valentin

How you can help AFAM, our community and our students?

You can easily donate to AFAM: here

You can help AFAM: by becoming a Shasta mentor or our expert/referrer

You can share your ideas with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or any member of our team

Please read other interviews of "Giving back to your community" series:

With Michel Vulpillat (Ch 183), our new representative in Southern California

With Alain Mutschler ( Ch 190), our Shasta mentor

With Jean Pommier (An 183), AFAM board member, Shasta committee member and Shasta mentor

With Jean-Luc Nauleau ( An 81), AFAM board member