AFAM: Hello Léopold and thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. You are currently an intern at Atelier Première in New York. Could you please tell us a few words about your current role and about the company you work for?
Léopold: I'm working under a VIE contract at Atelier Première, as this entity had the qualifications required to host a VIE, but I actually work for Cypres Lessols Americas. Both companies belong to the same group, Ateliers de France, which specializes in heritage preservation and high-end construction. My company is specialized in luxury flooring, and I'm in charge of supervising all our projects in the US, as well as in Mexico and Canada. I'm a project manager, but also a business developer and a supervisor . The great thing about working in a small structure is that you become extremely versatile and get to do something different every day. More concretely, I handle the logistics, quotes, invoices and job sites for our projects. I also do a fair amount of prospecting, and I regularly get to interact with GCs, architects and designers, which I really enjoy.
AFAM: How did you obtain this internship? Why do you think you were the best candidate for this position?
Léopold: I got this internship by sending a spontaneous application directly to the management of the Ateliers de France group, and I was lucky enough to get a reply. An opportunity came up at the exact moment I was looking for an internship abroad, in the wood industry, which matched their needs perfectly. In all modesty, I think I had exactly the right profile for the job: as an engineer specialized in wood, having also completed an internship in a flooring factory two years ago, and being someone who adapts easily to many different environments, I met their need for a manager who is both technically skilled and open to the commercial side of the job.
AFAM: What do you enjoy the most about your current role? What is or was the most challenging for you?
Léopold: What I appreciate the most is the responsibility I'm given and the ability to make my own decisions. To give you an example, barely a month after arriving in New York, I was sent to LA to supervise a job site, all on my own! There's no better way to learn and get to grips with the trade quickly. I travel a lot, I meet very different people, and unexpected situations come up all the time, it's all very stimulating.
AFAM: How did being a Gadz'Arts help you in your professional journey so far?
Léopold: What I see as the greatest strength of a Gadz'Arts in a professional setting is their adaptability and their responsiveness in crisis situations. Always being willing to step up, and tackling a problem quickly while still taking the time to think it through: that's a mindset I learned to develop during my two and a half years at the school.
AFAM: You live in New York. Any activities you enjoy doing outside of your work? How do you like the city of New York?
Léopold: That's a really tough question… No, I'm kidding, of course I love New York! This city is absolutely crazy, and I'm not exaggerating the way Americans do. Actually, if the question is tough, it's because it's not easy to describe this feeling of happiness that never fades. For me it's even more special, because I never asked to come here; it was an offer that was made to me, and one I almost hesitated to accept at first, as I rather wanted to head to the countryside after my "Cluny" period. A Gadz'Arts feels right at home in New York; there's a lot of partying. I meet people from all walks of life, and there isn't a single evening when I come home without doing anything. Discovering the city is an activity in itself, and an almost endless one. I've been here six months and I still haven't finished exploring my own neighborhood. On weekends I go to concerts, to the beach, to exhibitions, to shows, to soccer games (the World Cup was on), on hikes, and I travel a lot to visit other cities (New Orleans, Dallas, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, etc.).
AFAM: What advice would you give to Arts et Métiers students looking for internships in the United States or willing to start their internship search?
Léopold: Don't hesitate to be bold, ask for face-to-face meetings, make them happen, knock on the door (literally) of the companies you dream of working for. Many VIEs found their contract by showing up in person. And be curious about everything, ask questions even at the risk of sounding naïve. It may sound clichéd, but it's incredibly rewarding.
AFAM: Anything you would like to share with us about your future plans?
Léopold: I'd like to stay here — it's actually under discussion. I'd love to extend my experience with this company for a few years and learn as much as possible before joining another company within the group, one that works in the restoration of historical monuments (Atelier Perrault).
AFAM: Thank you, Léopold!
Photos - courtesy of Léopold (Leopold at work and in New York)
Léopold presenting a new product at the Atelier de France Showroom in New York
Léopold at the Edge, New York
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