Originally trained as an educator, Mélanie has spent her entire career supporting people facing challenges and continuously reflecting on what constitutes the “right” professional posture for someone in a helping role.

Drawing on more than ten years of field experience in work integration and the social care sector, she decided in 2017 to focus her career on professional training and development.

At the same time, she continued exploring new tools and approaches, including Process Communication.

It was during a PCM Trainer Training programme in 2019 that she met Géraldine. They quickly became close and discovered many shared beliefs regarding coaching, facilitation and learning.

Intrigued by MMAPPER and convinced it could further strengthen the bond they had built, Mélanie gladly accepted Géraldine’s invitation to join the MMAPPER Facilitator programme and become part of our learning community.

Today, while Mélanie is developing LATTITUDE43-3 with the ambition of strengthening her presence in the corporate world, ImpaQt is exploring new opportunities in education and the social care sector. This natural complementarity, built on genuine friendship and shared values, opens the door to exciting future collaborations.

Following a wonderful moment spent connecting and sharing ideas at La Ferme des Hautes Roches earlier this year, we are delighted to invite you to another MMAPP’heure event.

Thursday 19th November 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
32 rue des Hautes Roches, 86190 Quinçay

Join us for an evening of connection, conversation and conviviality over a drink, in keeping with the French tradition of the third Thursday of November

Whether you are discovering MMAPPER for the first time or would like to dig a little deeper, we would be delighted to welcome you in this inspiring venue.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Since September, the ImpaQt team has been meeting business leaders, companies and partners at several key professional events.

Hana and Mathilde attended the REF 2026, the MEDEF’s flagship economic event, which this year focused on the theme of courage.

Mathilde also took part in BIG 2026, Europe’s largest business gathering organised by Bpifrance, a day filled with discussions on innovation, entrepreneurship and the challenges of tomorrow.

As members of Poitou Business Club, MEDEF Vienne and Union Patronale de la Charente, Géraldine, Jane and Hana also participated in a wide range of inspiring and sometimes surprising events.

Each experience helped to fuel reflection and reinforce our determination to support our clients as closely as possible to their real-world challenges.

Every year brings the same challenge: gathering training needs, fixing priorities, balancing employee expectations with business objectives… and making the right decisions.

Behind every training request lies a series of important questions.

Is it a genuine need? Is it a priority? What will be the impact? Is the employee truly motivated? Does the manager support the project?

This is where our audit and evaluation process can help you step back and make informed decisions.

We can help you:

Ensure requests correspond to genuine needs
Identify priorities aligned with operational and strategic objectives
Assess the investment required for each project
Understand learners’ motivations, as well as any concerns or reservations
Identify opportunities for shared learning initiatives to optimise training budgets and maximise impact
Build a clear, coherent and meaningful skills development plan

Our objective is simple: help you enhance visibility to make serene decisions.

Géraldine Berruto

We are increasingly approached by non-native professionals with a solid level of English and who use the language daily. Yet when faced with high-stakes situations, they sometimes feel their communication lacks impact.

They tell us they have missed the mark, overlooked valuable opportunities, lost credibility, gone unnoticed or failed to inspire their audience. They wonder what is holding them back.

Often, it is not what they say that creates the issue.

It is what they do not say.

Speaking flawless English is not enough to make an impact internationally. Influence goes beyond words.

Our coaching programmes begin with a reflection about the image each person wants to project in an international environment, without compromising their identity. We then focus on paralinguistic communication: everything a person communicates without speaking.

Having confidence in our ability to communicate the intended message is the first step.

Once confidence is established, attention can shift from the language itself to the message. With a chest that is no longer tight, breathing becomes steady, the voice stabilises and becomes more natural. The voice finds its natural volume and pitch. The next step is to energise it, project it and support it with a grounded posture that strengthens the message and conveys the image of someone who is legitimate, credible and fully comfortable in their role.

Movements synchronised with speech add rhythm. Gestures help structure information and make it easier to understand. Pauses and moments of silence capture attention. Finally, variations in tone, intonation and emphasis on key words help to capture the audience.

These are just a few of the ingredients in our recipe for enhancing communication and overall posture in an international environment. Like any good chef, you are free to adapt the proportions, experiment with new flavours and, above all, add your own secret ingredient.

Jane Le Goff

In the course of our professional history, we have worked with many multicultural teams where the common language used in the workplace is English.

Each time, we find ourselves asking the same question: do these people truly understand one another?

When we listen to their conversations, we often struggle to follow them. It’s true that we are not experts in their specific fields, but we have observed that we never experience the same level of ambiguity when working with a teams of people who all speak the same native language.

This observation raises a fundamental question: How effective is the communication?

Even when a consensus appears to have been reached or a decision seems to have emerged after lengthy discussions, how can we be sure everyone has understood it in the same way? How can we check that key messages will be communicated accurately?

We are certainly not questioning the value of multiculturalism. Diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are often a tremendous source of mutual enrichment. However, this richness can only fully flourish when the individuals within a team are able to build a shared understanding.

And perhaps that is where the challenge lies.

How is it, that people who work in English every day, sometimes for years, still struggle to fully understand one another? And above all, why is this topic addressed so rarely?

The first question concerns the level of English required to work in an international environment. We have always maintained that an operational level of English is essential. Yet in most teams we support, the average level is closer to B2 or B2+.

It is as if being able to “get by” in English were sufficient to qualify for an international role.

This inevitably creates differences within teams. Some members operate at around C1 level, while others are only just comfortable with level B2. These gaps have very real consequences, particularly in terms of visibility and influence. Those who feel less confident tend to speak up less often, contribute less spontaneously and therefore participate less in the collective conversation, even though they may have valuable expertise and ideas to share.

Native English speakers can also be concerned by these challenges. Their linguistic ease may sometimes lead them to speak quickly or use idioms and cultural references that are difficult for non-native colleagues to follow. In an international context, simplicity and adaptation to the audience are often more effective than sophisticated language.

Another factor is that some individuals, while highly proficient in English, speak with strong influences from their native language, both in terms of syntax and pronunciation. As a result, they may be difficult to understand for colleagues who do not have the same linguistic background.

But language proficiency does not explain everything.

We also observe that conversations are often highly technical. Acronyms multiply. Specialist terminology accumulates. At times, discussions among experts become so specialised that some participants end up as spectators rather than contributors.

In addition, we often notice fewer informal conversations and personal exchanges within international teams. Yet these are key moments to help build trust, foster mutual understanding and strengthen team cohesion. Research by Rossella Canestrino and her colleagues shows that informal interactions are among the first aspects of communication to be affected when people work in a language other than their native one.

Another dimension is frequently underestimated: the emotional impact.

Speaking in a non-native language requires more energy. Some individuals worry about not finding the right words, being misunderstood or losing credibility. This apprehension can lead to a form of silent self-censorship: speaking less, asking fewer questions and checking understanding less frequently.

Research by Maria-Luisa Weinzierl on multinational teams highlights these mechanisms. Even when individuals possess a strong command of the language, they may still experience frustration, ambiguity, information loss or feelings of exclusion, all of which complicate collaboration.

As if that were not enough, Taibi Kahler demonstrated that under even mild stress, people unconsciously adopt behavioural patterns that influence their language and communication style, creating additional opportunities for misunderstandings.

Finally, these difficulties are often amplified by poor communication habits. We frequently share information without checking whether it has been understood. We express opinions without asking what the other person has heard. We give instructions without ensuring they have been understood and accepted. In other words, we rarely verify that we share the same level of understanding.

This is likely where one of the greatest illusions of international communication is created: because everyone nods, we assume everyone has understood the same thing.

But that is not always the case.

Does this mean it is impossible to work effectively in an international team?

Of course not.

It simply means that a certain level of language proficiency is necessary, but not sufficient. The most effective teams are not necessarily those whose members speak the best English. More often, they are the teams that have learned to build shared understanding despite their linguistic and cultural differences by listening actively, rephrasing and checking comprehension.

The golden rules of communication become even more important when people do not share the same native language.

The good news?

These skills can be learned.

And what if the real challenge was not improving our English, but becoming better at checking whether we have truly understood one another?

Géraldine Berruto

Managing a company is rarely a smooth ride…

After four years that have been among the most rewarding of both my career and our company’s history, 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter, bringing its share of challenges, questions and opportunities. As my father, a watercolour artist, used to say: “There are no straight lines.”

I am currently reaching the final stage of transferring my business. As throughout life, certain moments invite us to realign ourselves and reflect on our role and place, as part of an ongoing quest for balance and a desire to be in the “right” place – contributing without taking up too much space, while continuing to learn, grow and make a difference.

I believe in the value of intergenerational collaboration. A society moves forward when everyone contributes, regardless of age or background.

With that in mind, I am taking on a new challenge: dedicating more of my experience and energy to supporting younger generations. Together with Géraldine, we aim not only to broaden our client base and continue supporting international teams, but also to expand our work into environments where our contribution can have greater social impact.

If you know of any initiatives, organisations or projects where MMAPPER and ImpaQt’s approach could have added value, we would be delighted to hear from you. As always, your ideas and suggestions are most welcome.

Enjoy the read,

Richard Bowcott
Co-gérant

On the 25^th of June, despite the heatwave sweeping across Paris, José Schoumaker was among the happy few who braved the high temperatures to attend our Paris MMAPP’heure event.

It is hardly surprising that our paths have crossed several times over the years. José has always been passionate about human development in all its dimensions. Trained as a psychologist, a researcher in education at the University of Liège, and later a clinical psychologist working with vulnerable young people, he placed the understanding of human behavior at the core of his career from the very beginning.

This passion eventually led him into the field of Human Resources, where he held leadership positions for thirty years at Schlumberger and later at Valeo.

While serving as HR Director at Schlumberger’s electrical meter manufacturing plant in Poitiers, José entrusted us with the implementation of a multimedia learning center and the management of several international transfers—including his own. This gave him the opportunity to experience our learning approach firsthand and witness its impact. In just a few weeks, he learned to communicate in Italian in preparation for a three-year expatriation assignment in Italy.

During the evening, which allowed him to discover and explore the MMAPPER model in an engaging and interactive way, we were not surprised to learn that he is now a trainer of trainers in compassionate communication. With great enthusiasm, he shares the lessons he has drawn from psychology, business, and his rich life experience, helping others build more harmonious and constructive relationships.

His interest in MMAPPER comes as no surprise. It is a natural extension of his ongoing commitment to better understanding the mechanisms of human development and helping people unlock their full potential.

Something tells me that our paths are destined to cross again…

Here are our Language and Management inter-company calendars for the second half of 2026.

You’ll find our flagship Language programmes, Fast Track and Effective Communication, as well as our two new Language programmes, Booster and Learning to Learn, not to mention our new management programme, MMAPPER & Co Discovery.

Everything you need to make the most of the summer and/or enjoy an inspiring start to the new season!

Contact us today to schedule your audit and assessment or to discuss your project.

After the summer break, join us on September 10 for a new edition of MMAPP’heure, right in the heart of Lyon :

D’un Siège à l’Autre, in the center of Lyon’s 6th arrondissement.

Whether you’re already a #MMAPPER enthusiast or simply curious to discover this approach, come and enjoy an inspiring and friendly moment with Richard Bowcott, Géraldine Berruto, and Jane Le Goff.

On the agenda : discussions, discoveries, networking, and good vibes over a drink.

Registration is now open! Reserve your place today.

Give your English a boost with Booster :

An intensive program of 3 consecutive days designed to:

reactivate your passive knowledge,

strengthen your speaking reflexes,

regain fluency and confidence in professional and social-professional situations.

Approach English learning differently and rediscover enjoyment with Learning to Learn :

An original programme of 2 + 1 days designed to:

discover a new way of learning that is more intuitive and long-lasting,

identify your own drivers for progress,

find the motivation and autonomy to build on your skills independently over time.

                                                                      

Mathilde Lefeuvre

In our previous newsletter, we introduced the foundations of MMAPPER & Co, our 100% MMAPPER co-development program designed to build trust within a group so that everyone can grow—individually and collectively.

With MMAPPER & Co Discovery, we offer a first two-day experience designed to help you to:

Take time for yourself
Position yourself on your life as a whole or on one specific area of it.

Discover MMAPPER, a simple yet powerful tool to support and track your personal development throughout your life

Richard Bowcott

How did an interpersonal communication trainer and an English teaching assistant become two passionate facilitators?

We joined the team in May 2025, curious and motivated to discover this new profession. After all, being a facilitator could not be that different from managing a classroom of students or leading a group of adult learners…

Little did we know just how much this first year with our new team would be a journey of adaptation, learning, and personal growth.

We had to adjust to a new pace of life, a wide variety of group dynamics, individual learners’ needs as well as collective challenges, and even the different reactions to certain activities and challenges. While facilitation shared many similarities with our previous experiences in terms of structure, its underlying approach was a true discovery for us.

The magic truly happened on the field, through our interactions with the sixty learners we had the privilege of supporting, with the guidance and encouragement of our colleagues. And what a rewarding experience it has been! What a pleasure to meet so many different, committed, and motivated people, and to support them throughout their journey, their experiments, and their personal breakthroughs.

Today, we strive less for perfection and place greater trust in our intuition, allowing ourselves to be guided by the needs expressed by our learners. It is a path that we build together with them, step by step. And that is undoubtedly what makes this profession so rich, stimulating, and deeply human.

We are incredibly proud to embody ImpaQt’s values every day and excited to discover what the future holds for us. One thing is certain: we are ready to take on the next challenges with enthusiasm and conviction!

Mathilde Lefeuvre & Jasmine Fitzpatrick