Ludivine and Chloé - Two paths, one shared ambition: Empowering women to take action

A dual female portrait for International Women’s Day

Ludivine Labarre (left), Chloé Pelle (right)

At first glance, their worlds seem worlds apart. Ludivine Labarre, Deputy Head of Risk Management and former Co President of Financi’Elles, operates within the confines of financial models and risk control. Chloé Pelle moves effortlessly between the rugby sevens fields, where she competed at the highest international level, and her role as a cybersecurity engineer at Societe Generale.. 

Yet a common thread connects them: a deep conviction that women’s autonomy — whether financial, professional, or personal — is first and foremost rooted in the confidence and legitimacy that society and they themselves grant them.

Challenging assumptions to unlock possibilities

Ludivine challenges the stubborn stereotype that "men invest and women save". This oversimplification confines women to a cautious role and distances them from the tools that foster independence. She has made it her long-term commitment to make finance more accessible and approachable, driven by the belief that inherited rules can, and must, be reexamined.

Chloé faces a different set of biases, namely, that women are “less suited” for rugby, refereeing, and computer science. Her mission is clear: to prove by example that passion, effort, and talent have no gender. "If I manage to convince even one young girl that she can choose her career or her sport based on her own reasons, then I’ll have achieved my goal."

Careers forged through effort and a willingness to challenge the status quo

Three guiding principles have shaped Ludivine’s journey: having demanding yet supportive managers, acquiring financial skills early to gain autonomy, and paying early attention to her leadership skills. As she emphasizes, "Leadership is embodied long before it becomes a title."

Chloé proudly claims her "superpower": perseverance. An elite athlete, she has competed in the Olympic Games and four World Cups. She learned how to manage pressure, mistakes, high stakes, and rapid decision making, skills she now applies in cybersecurity. Yet her most personal challenge remains the same: being recognized for her work, professionalism, and expertise, rather than a box to check.

Leadership and equity: Two complementary visions

For Ludivine, gender equality is more than just a matter of fairness. It is also a powerful driver of performance. Greater diversity means broader perspectives, fewer blind spots, and more resilient organizations. Her commitment to Financi’Elles, France’s leading federation of gender diversity networks in the financial sector, has reinforced her belief that inclusive leadership means listening, challenging assumptions, and creating conditions that allow for everyone to find their place.

Chloé shares this ambition, expressing it in her own way and echoing the words of Christiane Taubira: "Equality elevates." She hopes that rugby will be recognized as the demanding, all-around sport that it truly is, rather than being seen as a "men’s sport".

Finance or sport: Two paths to empowerment

For Ludivine, financial autonomy is foundational. Understanding money, knowing how to manage it, and breaking the taboos surrounding it are essential steps that enable women to make choices and envision their future.

For Chloé, empowerment comes through sports. Rugby offers a role for every body type and encourages individual initiative while demanding teamwork. Refereeing builds self confidence and communication skills. This culture of trust and solidarity fosters an inner strength that carries over into professional life.

Two legacies, one shared ambition

Although Ludivine and Chloé have followed different paths, their stories tell the same truth. They are women who refuse to be boxed in. They forge new paths and make the improbable possible.

One creates the conditions for informed financial autonomy. The other proves that one can be an engineer, an elite athlete, and an international referee. Together, they remind us that a truly inclusive society allows every woman to take, or create, the place she deserves.

To learn more: consult the 2026 Report from the Observatory on Corporate Feminisation (SKEMA Business School)