5 Questions for Nicolas De la Conté, Communications Director at the Ministry of Ecological Transition
1. What is your background?
I hold a bachelor's degree in private law and a bachelor's degree in political science, with a focus on communication and power. I also have a master's degree in political and social communication from the School of Political Science at the Sorbonne (UFR11), which I obtained in 2017.
During my studies, I completed several internships. The first was at a law firm during my law degree, and the second was at a communications agency after my first year of my Political Science master's. Alongside this, I held several student jobs, one of which lasted a little longer than the others, where I worked as a data entry assistant at a mutual insurance fund for local elected officials.
I also got involved in university student life. I was part of the ambassador network of the DPEIP. I took part in several events, including careers fairs, and was active in the student association network of Paris 1. I was elected to various university councils and also served as student vice-president of the university.
These experiences brought me a great deal. University is an opportunity to learn, to discover, to gain knowledge in academic disciplines, but it is also about encounters and enrichment through contact with others. My university experiences were very formative in my professional career, but also in my life more broadly.
2. What memories do you have of Paris 1?
It won't surprise you to hear that I have very fond memories of my years at Paris 1. Two anecdotal memories come to mind: the goat cheese and bacon paninis from the Crous cafeteria, which were delicious and perfect for a quick lunch. And the "big naked one" — another memorable moment! The exhibition on Rue Soufflot of that monumental statue (ed. note: Mongolian, a work by alumni Hong-Biao Shen), which later moved to the gardens of the Institute of Geography on Rue Saint-Jacques. At the time, it caught everyone's attention because its presence was rather unexpected, but it was actually quite beautiful and above all imposing. Its nickname made us laugh a lot and reflects the affection we had for that work.
3. What position do you currently hold?
I have been working for the past year at the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. I am the sectoral communications manager within the Ministry's Communications Directorate. I handle topics related to biodiversity, water, and environmental health.
Previously, I was at the communications agency Publicis, where I stayed for over four years following my master's internship.
I then joined a smaller firm, the agency Proches, known as "the agency of the cultural battle." I spent two years there. It was actually this company where I had completed my summer internship in the first year of my master's. I returned five years later as a senior consultant. After these two experiences at communications agencies, I wanted to join the public sector.
4. How did you find your jobs?
My internships allowed me to start my professional life, as I was hired as a consultant at Publicis right after my end-of-studies internship. Also, five years after my internship at Proches, I rejoined the agency because I had maintained contacts there.
These experiences helped me gain a clearer picture of the professional landscape and understand what these organisations could offer me.
As for finding internships, it was thanks to a professor that I learned about the opportunity at Proches. I then applied and was interviewed by an account director who was herself a Paris 1 alumna — and a former student of the same master's programme!
For the second internship, an alumnus of the master's had given a guest lecture; he passed the offer on to students, and I was able to apply that way.
As for my current position, I found it via LinkedIn. I came across a post shared by someone in my network who had shared a listing from the website choisirleservicepublic.gouv.fr.
5. Finally, to wrap up the interview, a more personal question: what is your bedside book?
I don’t think I have a bedside book per se, but I do have some favorite books. The first one that comes to mind is *Memoirs of Hadrian* by Marguerite Yourcenar. It’s a novel that’s both a work of fiction and a historical account. The book focuses on the final years of Emperor Hadrian. In fact, I took a trip to Italy a few years ago, where I was able to visit the Villa Adriana in Tivoli, near Rome. It’s a magical, magnificent, timeless place where Hadrian’s palace once stood. I have a special connection to this book, and I was also deeply moved by that extraordinary place. In fact, if you visit Villa Adriana, you’ll find a plaque there with an excerpt from the book. It’s a fascinating literary work that I love to revisit from time to time.
Thank you to Nicolas for answering our questions!
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