Graduate insight with Badakan
Faire défiler la pageWe sat down with Victor Penhoat, a 2017 graduate of our Bachelor in International Hospitality Management, and Lara Dreyfus, a 2019 graduate of our MSc in International Hospitality Management in partnership with emlyon business school: after graduating from Institut Paul Bocuse, they have both grown professionally with Badakan, an entrepreneurial project in the HR tech sector, launched by Victor.
Our two graduates share with us their experiences, their career paths and their adventure within the Badakan start-up.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER SINCE GRADUATING FROM INSTITUT PAUL BOCUSE?
Victor P. “Following my fourth year of specialisation in entrepreneurship at Institut Paul Bocuse, I had the opportunity to create my own company in the field of hospitality and food service. The objective was to find a solution to a problem I encountered during my training: the recruitment of casual workers and the lagging digitalisation of the sector. Badakan was born from these two observations and has been growing ever since!”
Lara D. “Following my studies at Institut Paul Bocuse, I joined a Parisian startup in the wine tourism sector. A year later, I had the opportunity to go to the United States to develop marketing and events for a restaurant in Chicago. Following this experience, I decided to return to France to specialise in digital marketing and content creation. I then gained experience in the field within startups in Food Tech and HR Tech … which is where Badakan sits!”
Tell us about your company and your responsibilities today?
Victor P. “When we created the company, we wanted to propose a solution for managing short contracts only (digitalisation and automation of administrative procedures). Today, this has become a complete HR software solution, intended to manage all the employees of a company (permanent, seasonal, occasional, etc.). We are very proud to count among our customers groups such as Barrier, Hyatt and Les Airelles, which are points of reference in the world of hospitality. Finally, my daily responsibilities now mainly concern the commercial and administrative part of the structure.”
Lara D. “I work alongside Victor as Brand Content Manager. My main responsibilities are the following :
Implementing the marketing and communications strategy
Creating and targeting content to respond to the needs of our audience
Making Badakan known to professionals in the sector
Communicating and strengthening our brand image”
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED?
Victor P. “The most recent challenge was that while our customers were using the Badakan tool perfectly, they communicated a new need to us. They wanted it to become a tool to manage not only their occasional staff, but also their permanent ones. So we decided, in 2022, to upgrade our software to the next level: Badakan became a complete tool for teams in the field … A fantastic evolution!”
Lara D. “From a marketing point of view, the production and distribution of content has expanded enormously, which means that everyone has a lot of demands from the internet and social networks, so retaining attention and engaging your audience are permanent challenges. To achieve this, it is essential to create quality content and publish it on the right channel. Other than that, there is no miracle recipe: work, curiosity to understand your target clients, and above all not being afraid to try out new things!”
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF TODAY?
Victor P. “I am very proud of collaborating every day with a team composed of about 30 talented people from all walks of life: tech, hotel catering, human resources, etc. We are all united around a common project and share values of humanity and ambition.”
HOW DID INSTITUT PAUL BOCUSE ALLOW YOU TO ACHIEVE THIS RESULT?
Lara D. “The roles that are taught at Institut Paul Bocuse are, without a doubt, professions oriented towards other people. We learn to communicate, to be open-minded. These are key elements in my daily life. Finally, discipline and attention to detail are values that I was able to consolidate during my years of study at the institute.”
Victor P. “I would also add that the quality of the teaching, as well as the faith that CEO Dominique Giraudier has shown in me, have brought a lot to this entrepreneurial project.”
WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR THE FUTURE?
Victor P. “For Badakan to be fully recognised within the hotel and restaurant sector. And who knows, maybe one day I will have my own establishment using Badakan solutions!”
Lara D. “My dream is to one day open my own restaurant business! Perhaps we can talk about it in a future interview ”
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GET STARTED IN THIS INDUSTRY AND THESE PROFESSIONS?
Victor P. “These are passionate professions, oriented towards people, with the transmission of strong values such as discipline and respect. These values will serve you in any type of project.”
Lara D. “That with passion and tenacity, nothing is impossible!”
Following your dreams and being the master of your own destiny is what our courses prepare you for. Our Bachelors in International Hospitality Management and Food Service offer you 6 specialisations in the 4th year that will make you accomplished professionals, ready to face any and all challenges.
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