Interview with Bénédicte BONNET, Seed Treatment Market Manager and APAC Business Developer at Agrauxine by Lesaffre, who joined the company in 2020.
Can you tell us more about your role and day-to-day tasks at Agrauxine by Lesaffre?
My work at Agrauxine is divided into two missions.
- As Market Manager for the seed treatment sector, I'm in charge of defining and implementing the marketing and sales strategy to position our biosolutions effectively in this market. This involves close collaboration with our R&D teams to develop innovative projects that meet market needs, as well as regular exchanges with our external partners to identify and exploit growth opportunities.
- At the same time, I oversee the development of our biosolutions in the Asian market, where I work closely with the central teams, including supply chain, operations and regulatory affairs, to ensure customer satisfaction and optimize our distribution network in the region. In this way, my role is to bridge the gap between our strategic objectives and the specific expectations of local customers.
You took a year's personal leave between July 2023 and 2024 to travel around the world. What did this experience bring you personally and professionally for the rest of your career?
On a personal level, this year has been an extraordinary experience. I've had the chance to experience authentic moments, such as ploughing the land with a mule to sow barley on the shores of Lake Titicaca, discovering vanilla cultivation in Polynesia, harvesting wild berries in Alaska, talking to rice growers in Vietnam, crossing New Zealand's South Island on foot, or trekking in the Himalayas... Thanks to these experiences, I've been able to take a step back, reflect on my priorities and recharge my batteries before resuming my professional career. This project satisfied my need to learn, to surpass myself and my curiosity.
This trip strengthened my ability to adapt and deepened my understanding of cultural dynamics. Observing the daily life of diverse communities sharpened my ability to interact effectively in a variety of contexts. This trip was built like a project, with a budget, a timetable and administrative contingencies that left room for the unexpected.
This year of life has given me a better understanding of global issues, particularly in the agricultural and environmental sectors.
I returned enthusiastically, ready to take on new professional challenges. Thanks to this openness and these experiences, I'm delighted to be able to further develop my skills in business strategy and contribute to the development of Agrauxine's products in a new segment.
Is there anything you've been particularly proud of since you started working at Agrauxine by Lesaffre?
Following the acquisition of a company, an R&D colleague and I were asked to analyze the product portfolio from a technical and strategic marketing point of view. This work was of great interest to me and enabled me to take a step back and rethink the strategy of the range for which I was responsible.