Director of Operations at Domaine de Grand Baie since its opening in 2021, Valérie has ten years of management experience with the Domitys group, in addition to a long career in hotel management in France and the West Indies! But who’s the woman behind the manager?
Delphine Raimond
The presence in Mauritius of this islander – born on the Île-de-Bréhat in Brittany fifty-six years ago – is certainly no coincidence. Comfortable in her shoes, Valérie loves her life, her ability to act and make decisions. “On an island, I feel cut off from the world and therefore free! She tells me about her happy childhood, the feeling of freedom that immediately enveloped her when she got off the boat from the mainland… her island life. As a result, she feels deep down the unique attachment of Mauritians to their island, and the solidarity inherent in a strong territorial identity.
In her work, Valérie is strict because she’s determined. She likes things to move quickly, as soon as they’ve been decided. But she also believes that openness, sincerity and (self)laughter are the cornerstones of effective management. “I work seriously, but without taking myself too seriously! She adds: “They know I care about them, we’re a family, we share all the moments, the good and the bad! I work on the assumption that people don’t do things badly on purpose, and that you have to understand why everyone does things in one way or another. A good manager shows respect, analysis and discernment. He’s the example, the head of the family! I try to be driven by fair actions, not by decisions to be right!
All seventy members of staff are Mauritians, and what gets Valérie up every morning is the desire to meet them again, to encourage this team spirit. Although she is a genuinely benevolent person, she nonetheless acknowledges her quest for perfection, which can sometimes lead her to change her mind… just to try and do better! “I’m a bit stubborn, too,” she admits with a laugh.
As a child, she dreamed of opening a hotel-restaurant next to her house, where the local ladies would come and “stay”. And when they would laughingly point out that they couldn’t afford it… the little girl would reply, “But for you, it’ll be free, of course!” Retirement? She doesn’t think about it, but she can already see herself traveling the world by train! Her guilty pleasure? Chocolate. What refreshes her? The wind, nature and silence. So why should I be surprised when she tells me that her favorite film is none other than Out of Africa?
