Questions to.. Mathilde Fortuné, director of the women’s service

Mathilde Fortuné, the new director of the women’s service, arrived a few weeks ago. She has a degree in law, psychology, criminology, mental health and management, and she intends to combine all of these skills for her new role. 
We asked her a few questions. 

Hello Mathilde, can you introduce yourself? 
My name is Mathilde Fortuné, and I have been working in the non-profit sector for 15 years now. 
During my career, I have worked with a vulnerable population in women’s and men’s shelters as an outreach worker as well as with an intellectually disabled clientele. I also held a position as Assistant Executive Director, representing organizations dedicated to the defense of the rights of immigrants and non-status people. 

I am the author of 2 fantasy novels: Le Prince Osfrid and Les Écrous du temps percé.  

Creativity helps me a lot in my personal life, but also in my professional life, because it allows me to have innovative solutions to facilitate the change process. During my studies and my professional experiences, I understood that it is very important to have a good reading of your environment. 

Why did you join the Old Brewery Mission? 

After working at Le Chaînon and the Salvation Army, I now have a lot of expertise in the housing field. In addition, I have always wanted to work for the cause of women. 
This interest comes from the fact that there is a lot of work to be done, and that there is a difference between the world of male and female housing. The needs are more critical for women. 

Is there a particular area that you want to focus on under your leadership? 

The most important thing is to ensure quality of service – to have more resources – and above all to create a warm environment so that women can feel good. 
The team I work with is aware of this, and has a real desire to make a difference. When one woman succeeds, everyone succeeds, it’s a collective success for the Old Brewery Mission. 

Finally, is there a mantra in your professional life that particularly helps you? 

It’s a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that I read when I was very young and that marked me:  

“ If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”  

This phrase resonates with me because it speaks to the capacity for imagination and leadership. When we push others to do more, that’s when the real magic happens. We can achieve what we never thought was possible.