Authentic 365 is an Edelman-powered podcast that dives into the stories and experiences of people who make their mission to live their truths all day, every day. This month’s podcast focuses on individuals who identify as GenZ and how they remain authentic in their daily lives—both at home, at work, and while interacting with brands and finding truth in a sea of opinions. Inside Edelman will be profiling this month’s Authentic 365 guest speakers. 

What is your role and how long have you worked at Edelman? 

I am a Senior Account Executive and I have worked at Edelman France for the past five years, starting as an Apprentice. We can say that I am a veteran. I have had the opportunity to work for a variety of clients ranging from food to tech and institutions, which have made me a multifaceted consultant. 

What’s something you’ve worked on that you are proud of?  

From a work perspective, I truly enjoy working for purposeful campaigns that have a positive impact on communities. For instance, last year I worked for an NGO whose objective was to facilitate access to quality food to minority French families. Thanks to the campaign, the association experienced a strong acceleration in the enrollment of their programme: from an average of 5,000 registrations per year, they have increased to 5,000 per month. 

On a more personal note, my ‘Edelproudest’ moment was my participation in the Cannes Lions for the Young PR section in France in 2018 where I finished second with my teammate. It was such an amazing experience to compete with other talents from so many different agencies and to get feedback from the most inspiring communication professionals in Paris. 

How do you stay authentic? 

To me, authenticity resides in the choices that I make, which ought to be aligned with my core values and beliefs. I want to become a person that I am proud of. That’s why I always try to speak my truth in a healthy way in order to stay authentic in every situation. 

In the latest Authentic 365 podcast, you mention that at work, you try to stay as authentic as possible, but sometimes will need to change your persona to “play the part.” Can you explain this further and/or provide an example of when you’ve had to do this?  

As stated above, I always try to speak my truth in a healthy way. For example, I try to be mindful of my environment as much as possible.  

When you are at work that means that you ought to manage when you should speak up and when you shouldn’t. For instance, I deeply believe that not all feedback should be given. You have to appreciate when a statement would do more harm than good. 

What advice do you have for others who are struggling to bring forth their most authentic selves in work/life? 

Try to find a safe space where to flourish and with people that will support you in bringing the best out of you. 

What passions/hobbies do you have outside of work? 

I enjoy everything culturally related: movies, tv and fashions shows, concerts, art exhibitions and a bit of nightlife—obvi!  

What advice do you have for your younger self? 

It may sound a bit cheesy but the more I grow, the more I value patience. So, I’d say to a younger me “be patient, you’ll get there.” 

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Sebastien-Nicolas Chiffrin is a Senior Account Executive in the Paris Brand Marketing team.