Some careers are built through deliberate shifts in perspective, and Aurélie Saadoun’s is a good example of that. From product development to industrial strategy, she has steadily expanded her expertise while keeping the same clear focus: making complex decisions both practical and meaningful. Today, as Cost & Demand leader at Axens, she works at the crossroads of technical precision, long-term thinking, and industrial performance. Just as importantly, she is committed to helping young women see that there is absolutely a place for them in these fields.

Interview by Amra Zvizdic

Your career has evolved across three distinct stages, from product development to technical sales support, and now to an industrial and economic leadership role. What did each of these steps bring you, and how did they shape the way you approach your work today?

My career has evolved through three complementary stages, each of which has progressively shaped the way I work and think today, and added a new layer of how I approach my work today.

I began in product development, where I built a strong technical foundation and learned how to manage the full product development process, from initial concept to validation. It was during this time that I developed a real appreciation for rigour, problem-solving, and the importance of working closely across different functions. I then moved into technical sales support, which gave me a much broader perspective. Working on an international scale exposed me to diverse customer needs, market expectations, and the commercial realities that influence technical decisions.

Today, in my industrial and economic leadership role, I bring these experiences together. I work at the intersection of technical expertise, industrial strategy, cost management, and strategic demand planning. Looking back, each stage has taught me how to approach challenges pragmatically, finding “whole package” solutions that are not only technically robust, but also economically sound and realistically achievable at an industrial scale.

From defining the cost of a product to ensuring it can be produced at scale, your role as Costs & Demand Leader sits at the heart of key industrial decisions. What does that responsibility look like in practice at Axens?

As Costs and Demand Leader at Axens, my role sits at the intersection of engineering, industrial strategy, and business decision-making. In practical terms, this means defining reliable product costs from the earliest stages of development, while ensuring those projections remain consistent and realistic as we move towards industrial scale. A strong understanding of industrial tools, production schemes, and the realities of our manufacturing plants is not only complementary but essential to carrying out meaningful cost assessments and feasibility studies. This technical grounding allows me to translate complexity into clear, actionable insights.

I work closely with development teams and manufacturing sites worldwide, including production, technical assistance, HSE and supply chain, as well as procurement and commercial functions. Together, we anticipate constraints, secure economic viability, and support strategic decision-making. Alongside this, I am also responsible for shaping our five-year industrial strategic plan, helping to define the long-term direction of our industrial capabilities.

At its core, my role is about enabling sound decisions. The work directly influences investment choices, sourcing strategies, and industrial roadmaps. My responsibility is to make complexity easier to navigate, bring visibility to risks and trade-offs, and help the organisation identify solutions that are technically robust, economically viable, and sustainable at an industrial scale.

At its core, my role is about enabling sound decisions. The work directly influences investment choices, sourcing strategies, and industrial roadmaps.

Today, you navigate technical, industrial, and economic challenges simultaneously. How do you make decisions when these priorities don’t naturally align?

At Axens, decision-making is deeply collaborative and always guided by a clear strategic vision. We seek excellence at every level by combining innovation with economic performance, all rooted in a culture of cooperation and a shared commitment to delivering the best possible solutions for our customers. The key here is collaboration. When priorities do not naturally align, which can happen sometimes, the focus is on working together as a team rather than within silos.

Teams approach challenges as part of an interconnected system, bringing cross-functional perspectives to the table to openly address key decision points. With clear direction from leadership, discussions are grounded in facts, analysis, and transparency. This creates an environment where balanced collective decisions can be made, not only to address immediate challenges, but also to support our broader long-term ambitions.

When priorities do not naturally align, the focus is on working together rather than within silos.

You’ve progressively expanded your expertise beyond engineering into areas like finance, circular economy, and operational excellence. What triggered that shift?

This shift happened gradually, shaped by both curiosity and progressive experience. Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to operational excellence and finance from working with cost calculations in my current role, as well as circular economy. As Axens has become more involved in circular economy projects, and as I have been directly engaged in these initiatives, it felt important to strengthen my expertise in these areas as well. It gave me the momentum to deepen my knowledge and broaden my perspective.

My goal was also very practical: to bring fresh ideas into my work and ultimately deliver stronger performance in my role. It has allowed me to better connect economic, operational, and sustainability objectives, which are all central to building a strong and forward-looking industrial strategy.

This curiosity has also opened more opportunities for me to get involved in more diverse projects and helped me to gain visibility within the organisations with different teams. I think there is no fixed career trajectory for everyone, evolutions happen when we step up and take the initiative.

There is no fixed career trajectory for everyone, evolutions happen when we step up and take the initiative.

Alongside your role, you’re actively involved in initiatives that advances gender diversity in engineering, including Elles bougent, a French association that promotes engineering and technician training for young girls. Why is this commitment important to you?

This is something very personal to me, and I would really like to dedicate more of my time to this mission. Too many young girls still rule out technical careers due to stereotypes rather than any lack of talent or potential. Through initiatives such as Elles bougent I try to share my own experience and help make engineering feel more visible, accessible, and inspiring. The message I always try to pass on is simple: everything is possible if you try. If you truly want something, you have to put in the effort for it with conviction and trust that you will achieve it in the end. Without that confidence, it remains only an attempt, rather than a real commitment to yourself.

I remember that when I was in high school, most of the girls around me were drawn towards literature, commerce, or pharmaceutical studies. I was the only female student in my class who decided to pursue a path related to mathematics and natural science, which has taken me to where I am today. We have undoubtedly made progress since then, but some fields are still too often perceived as “male spaces” in the minds of young girls. There is nothing linked to gender that should deter them from flourishing in technical careers.

That is exactly why I want to be there as an example, to show that there should be no limits to what they allow themselves to aspire to. I want young girls to see that with curiosity, determination, and self-belief, they can choose any path they want and succeed in it.

The message I always try to pass on is simple: everything is possible if you try. If you truly want something, you have to put in the effort for it with conviction and trust that you will achieve it in the end.

You’ve received early recognition in your career, including awards from the French Ministry of Women’s Rights and L’Usine Nouvelle. How do you relate to recognition at this stage of your journey?

These awards have been an important source of recognition and encouragement at different stages of my journey. I was incredibly proud to receive them, not only on a personal level, but also for my family, and in the case of the most recent award, for my company as well.

They represented meaningful milestones and a reminder that the work and commitment invested along the way had been recognised, from my studies to my current role at Axens. They also gave me greater visibility and helped strengthen my confidence. Even today, they continue to motivate me to keep learning, growing, and pushing myself further.

As a Talent of WIL’s 11th Women Talent Pool (WTP) programme, how do you hope to grow within this community, and what kind of impact would you expect the programme to have for your professional development?

First of all, I would like to thank Axens for giving me the opportunity to be part of this programme this year. Being part of the WTP programme represents a valuable opportunity for both personal and collective growth. I see it as a chance to further develop my leadership approach and broaden my perspective by learning from different experiences, industries, and cultures.

This is such a unique programme thanks to its female focus. I believe that being part of this community of accomplished women creates the space to reflect, exchange ideas, and challenge one another in meaningful ways. It is also an opportunity to strengthen my professional ambitions and continue growing alongside inspiring women who are navigating similar leadership journeys.

Being part of this community of accomplished women creates the space to reflect, exchange ideas, and challenge one another in meaningful ways.