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Do you know what a slasher is? It’s a reference to the slash sign and refers to people who do two or three jobs at the same time. Sara Danès Gauthier (who graduated the Grande École Program in 2014) chose this route out of enthusiasm rather than necessity. She’s a web consultant for a start-up based in Zurich and also uses her design skills running Jacotte Tricote, the baby knitwear company she founded in 2016. She unravels the thread of the last ten years for us and picks apart some received ideas!

Why did you choose IÉSEG after your baccalaureate?
I fell in love with the School at a student fair: I loved the international approach, the variety of associations, the real business projects, etc. I’ve never regretted my choice since I learned so much there, made wonderful friends and spent several months abroad. The general training that it gave me allowed me to acquire skills which complement one another, to discover numerous different working environments, people and trades, but also to get to know myself better.

What do you mean?
Being at IÉSEG helps you learn about yourself through the classes, the people you meet and the internships. The School doesn’t force you to do anything and lets its students construct their own path. I did my end-of-studies internship in Asia with a travel agency. I designed their website and their visual communications and something just clicked. I found a job straight afterwards and moved to Geneva. I am web consultant for a start-up: I meet with SME bosses and freelancers to find out what they want from their websites, then I design them.

The School was also the jumping off point for your second business: Jacotte Tricote…
Yes, at the end of the fifth year, I did a Business Creation Project rather than a dissertation. This was a thrilling experience since I was able to put into practice everything I had learned at IÉSEG, with support from my teachers. The Jacotte Tricote business (see box) came about at that time, but I waited until 2016 to launch it, alongside my other job. I recruited some grannies, launched the website and I have been juggling these two businesses ever since.

How do these two parallel lives knit together?
Most of my time is spent on my web design job. I manage to combine business appointments and meetings with the knitters to collect what they have made or to have a chat with them. The most difficult thing is finding time to do the accounts, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The birth of my little boy last year meant I needed to find a new work/life balance (no more packing parcels at 11pm) but I have a very understanding boss who trusts me and I am delighted with my life choices.

This article was written by Luna Créations for IÉSEG Network’s magazine, IÉS #12.