An Interview with: Alexandra Perra, Advisor to the CEO of EDFWe at the Spark! Contest were lucky enough to recently interview Alexandre Perra. A member of our executive team, Alexandre has been working for EDF since 2014.
With a rich professional background at only the age of 34, Alexandre's story will be of particular interest to participants in the Spark! Contest because he himself took part in a similar competition 10 years ago, which in part, brought him to where he is today. Enjoy! |
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Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Alexandre Perra, I am 34 years old and I work as an Advisor to Jean-Bernard Lévy, the Chairman & CEO of EDF, the main France-based producer, marketer and distributor of electricity.
Q. How to did you come to be where you are today?
It’s been quite an adventure. With an initial background in literature and philosophy, I graduated in 2005 from Sciences-Po Paris. At that time, I had a keen interest in International Affairs and more particularly in Defence aspects.
After graduating, I joined Thales as a PhD student at the Strategy Department with a focus on NATO-related topics. In 2008, I switched to their Communications Department, where I managed their Press Office.
In 2012, I was appointed Deputy to the Communications Director and two years later, I joined EDF where Jean-Bernard Lévy had just been appointed CEO.
After graduating, I joined Thales as a PhD student at the Strategy Department with a focus on NATO-related topics. In 2008, I switched to their Communications Department, where I managed their Press Office.
In 2012, I was appointed Deputy to the Communications Director and two years later, I joined EDF where Jean-Bernard Lévy had just been appointed CEO.
Q. As the first winner of the USAIRE* Student Award:
*USAIRE is the Association of United States and European Aerospace Industry Representatives (www.usaire.org)
a) What was the best aspect of taking part, for you?
*USAIRE is the Association of United States and European Aerospace Industry Representatives (www.usaire.org)
a) What was the best aspect of taking part, for you?
I thought it would be a great fun to try and imagine what the landscape of the aerospace industry could be in the next 20 years. To be frank, when I applied, I had no idea where all this would get me. And even less so that I would be granted the award before a host of Industry stakeholders!
So you can imagine how astonished I was, when two days later, I found out the news in the headlines of the Thales corporate intranet portal!
So you can imagine how astonished I was, when two days later, I found out the news in the headlines of the Thales corporate intranet portal!
b) What, in your opinion, caught the judges attention with regard to your paper?
It’s hard to say… Some judges told me they liked the choice I had made to build an anticipation on alternative scenarios. Others pointed out the creative way I presented the scenarios, which began systematically with a fictive press agency dispatch.
c) Have you been involved in the USAIRE Student Award since?
Yes, I kept in touch with the USAIRE community and one month ago, I had the honour of disclosing the topic the next candidates will have to grapple with for the 10th edition of the USAIRE Student Award, for 2016.
Q. What would your number one piece of advice be to Spark! Contest participants?
Try and build bold cases, pay attention to the clarity of your language and ideas, be creative ... but most importantly, have fun!
