Stéphanie Carrani

Regional Director for Clinea post-acute and rehabilitation facilities in France

“I started my professional career at the age of 20, always oriented towards the health sector as I worked as a Medical Secretary and Operating Assistant at various private facilities for 15 years.

In January 2005, I joined the ORPEA Group as a Medical Administrative Manager in a post-acute and rehabilitation facility, in Seine-Saint-Denis. During the 11 years I spent at this clinic, thanks to the confidence of the Group’s employees and the various training courses I took, I moved on to the position of Assistant Manager and subsequently quickly took over the management of the clinic.

In 2016, I was offered the opportunity to continue my duties as Head of Operations in an SSR clinic in Essonne to be closer to home. 

I have always been keen to support and train new directors, and my mentoring duties have enabled me to coordinate a number of facilities in the Paris region, which today allows me to hold the position of Regional Director for 11 facilities in the area.”

It is true that the condition of women in the professional and social environment for many years has been a cause for reflection

Is being a woman an asset or a handicap for your career?

I haven’t encountered any real difficulties from being a woman in my various roles, but it is true that the condition of women in the professional and social environment for many years has been a cause for reflection. In a society that unfortunately often remains governed by an oppressive patriarchy, it can seem difficult and even frightening to find one’s place.

Growing up and having an education that mainly normalised discrimination towards women, for a long time I was confronted with the question of the legitimacy of holding a position of responsibility. I have always been inhabited by this dual nature, because at a very young age I felt a very pronounced ambition.

I sometimes have some regrets about the extra time I could have given my children with a little less investment in my work. But I am fortunate to have children who have as much to teach me in terms of social deconstruction as I have been able to teach them in terms of education.

I believe that women’s emotional intelligence and their often calming and soothing skills and abilities can be major assets towards building their professional careers.

What are your dreams for tomorrow’s world for little girls?

I am all the more persuaded to preach the good word as I prefer to talk about identity rather than gender. It would be foolish to believe that there is only black and white, as there are many colours in the beautiful rainbow that is a human being.

What advice would you give to women who read about you to build their career path?

It is to always believe in who they are and to blindly trust their instincts, doubts and fears, and to always listen to what their heart is saying. That the feeling of oppression is legitimate and that it will only be all together, hand-in-hand, that we will stand strong and proud of the world that we are building for our children.