Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Audencia’s Engagement track, Mathilde Richard is President of the AxéSud student association and Audencia’s new Communtity Life Coordinator. Student engagement has been a defining part of her journey at Audencia. From supporting student associations and strengthening student life across the School’s campuses to building stronger connections between students and Audencia’s teams, she shares her vision for this new role. Meet a committed student determined to help everyone find their place within Audencia’s vibrant student community.
Student engagement has played a key role in your journey at Audencia. How did it all begin?
I joined Audencia after two years of preparatory classes in Toulouse. I initially enrolled in the Grande Ecole Program’s pre-master year through a dual-degree program with Centrale Nantes. It was a very enriching experience, but I quickly realized that it was not the path that suited me best.
At the beginning of the academic year, I joined the AxéSud association, and a few weeks later, I became its President. This commitment was a turning point for me. I discovered just how passionate I was about student life and how closely it aligned with what I wanted to build for the next stage of my journey.
Today, I am studying in the first year of the Master’s Engagement track. This program allows me to dedicate time to my responsibilities within the student association and to my role as Community Coordinator, while continuing my academic studies.
You went from being the President of a student association to becoming Community Life Coordinator. What made you want to take this next step?
As President of AxéSud, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Student Life teams from an early stage and to discover the many resources and initiatives available to support student associations.
I also took part in a wide range of events organized by social, cultural, sports and professional associations. This diversity really stood out to me. I believe that the richness of Audencia’s student associations is an integral part of the School’s identity and contributes enormously to the student experience.
This role was therefore an opportunity to get involved in a different way, by supporting all student associations and contributing to their development.
What does your role involve on a day-to-day basis?
My role is first and foremost about building connections.
I act as a link between student associations and the School’s departments. Many students are not aware of all the resources available to them, while some departments may not always know how to connect with student associations. I help facilitate these exchanges and support students as they develop their projects.
In practical terms, this can involve organizing events, booking rooms, communications, funding-related questions or association recruitment. I also advise association presidents and executive teams throughout their terms of office, helping them turn their ideas and initiatives into reality.
The goal is simple: to enable students to develop their association projects in the best possible conditions.
A significant part of your role involves developing student life on the Paris Saint-Ouen Campus. Why is this such an important priority?
Audencia now welcomes students across several campuses and in different cities. We want every student to be able to make the most of their student experience, regardless of where they study.
That is why, this year, a significant focus is being placed on the Paris Saint-Ouen Campus, where the student population continues to grow. The ambition is to strengthen the student association ecosystem and give more students the opportunity to get involved.
To achieve this, we are supporting the creation of Paris-based branches of associations that are already active on the Atlantic Campus. We are also connecting students who are interested in developing these initiatives locally.
The idea is to ensure that everyone can find an association that reflects their interests, develop new skills and build connections with other students.
How will this collaboration between Nantes and Paris take shape?
We want to build genuine connections between the different campuses.
Some associations are already considering establishing a presence in Paris and are launching recruitment campaigns to identify students who are willing to get involved locally. At the same time, students on the Paris campus are becoming increasingly involved in major student-life events.
This is, for example, the case with the Integration Weekend and other major events organized by the associations, such as the Audencia-La Baule Triathlon. This dynamic enables all students to take part in Audencia’s wider community life and share a common experience, regardless of their campus.
Student associations are currently recruiting new members. What would you say to a student who is hesitant about getting involved?
I would tell them to go for it.
Being part of a student association is an incredibly valuable learning experience. It allows you to develop very practical skills in project management, organization, communication, teamwork and taking on responsibility.
It is also an opportunity to meet people from very different backgrounds, discover new areas of interest and contribute to meaningful projects.
For students who would like to get involved this year, the first recruitment period on the Atlantic Campus is open from 21 September to 19 October. A second recruitment period will then take place in March.
On the Paris Saint-Ouen Campus, recruitment for association branches will take place from 18 September to 1 October. This is a great opportunity for students to join an existing association or contribute to developing its presence in Paris. Finally, on the other campuses, association recruitment will take place during the first week of November, with new terms of office beginning in January.
Personally, some of the most memorable experiences of my time at Audencia have been connected to student life.
What has your involvement brought you, both personally and professionally?
An enormous amount.
Through my responsibilities within student associations, I have taken part in training programs that I probably would not have discovered otherwise, particularly in areas such as mental health first aid, association management and more technical subjects such as accounting.
These experiences have allowed me to develop skills that complement what I learn in the classroom and have helped me become more confident.
Today, my role as Community Life Coordinator also gives me the opportunity to gain an insight into how a large organization operates from the inside. It is very enriching to see how Audencia’s departments work together to support students.
What are your plans for the next stage of your career?
I am particularly interested in human resources. I have already had the opportunity to complete an internship in this field, and I would like to explore it further.
What appeals to me is the human dimension, but also the need to understand the different professions and challenges within an organization in order to better support the people who make it work.
Ultimately, this is quite close to what motivates me in student life today: building connections, supporting others and contributing to meaningful projects.
One final message for students?
I would like to remind them that student life is open to everyone.
Whether you want to get involved in a social-impact, cultural, sports, professional or entrepreneurial project, there are countless opportunities to find your place within the Audencia community.
Our role is precisely to enable every student to enjoy a rich, engaging and fulfilling experience.