Axel Rebaudières
Associate, Member of the Executive Board, Chief Executive Officer
KPMG in France
Axel Rebaudières has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Executive Board at KPMG since May 2021. He oversees the development of the mid-cap market sector and the expansion of our activities in Africa. A graduate of EDHEC, with qualifications as a chartered accountant and statutory auditor, Rebaudières previously led the Deal Advisory services and was a member of the Executive Committee. A specialist in due diligence, for over 20 years he has advised family businesses, international groups, and investment funds on acquisition, divestiture, and operational transformation initiatives. Rebaudières has played a key role in upholding the firm’s reputation for excellence among business leaders and major players in M&A.
- Can you tell us more about your desire to engage with WIA to highlight female leadership and more broadly support the continent’s economy?
For the second year, KPMG supports the Young Leaders program by Women In Africa (WIA) to assist, alongside the entire WIA community, about thirty young African women in strengthening their leadership and developing their entrepreneurial projects.To contribute, the firm co-developed a training program focusing on governance, digital challenges, ESG, and leadership by leveraging our experts in these areas, both in France and internationally.
Over several days, young entrepreneurial leaders benefit from the mentorship of KPMG’s Executives and Business Leaders in France from all our services, markets, and sectors. The awardees thus have the opportunity to interact with the firm’s leadership before attending the first training session on Governance issues.
For us, it’s a fantastic opportunity to open up to other entrepreneurial projects and professional sharing moments outside the usual framework.
- What role does diversity and inclusion play in KPMG’s strategy, and how does this manifest in your partnerships?
Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our purpose. This commitment is reflected in our daily actions, through the values that guide us, and our decisions. Diversity and gender balance both invigorate our activities, enrich our culture, and strengthen the relationships we maintain with our ecosystem. That’s why we ensure our team reflects this diversity, which mirrors that of our clients. We aim to create a workplace where difference is not only accepted but celebrated, to value a plurality of perspectives.
Committed to fighting all forms of discrimination, our diversity and inclusion efforts are structured around 5 pillars: Gender Equality, Disability, Equal Opportunities, Parenthood, and Quality of Work Life. Accordingly, we have gradually implemented impactful initiatives to promote inclusion and diversity. This is evidenced by our engagement with different ecosystem actors including active networks like Eve, Rev’elles, Empowher, Women’s Forum, and the creation of our internal communities “Women for Business” and “Women in Tech”.
- Can you share an experience or a key lesson you’ve learned in your career that could benefit young leaders?
Leadership is a learning journey, and the sooner you put yourself in situations to make bold decisions or steer your enterprises, the better.
The second important thing is not to try to mimic a preconceived model of a leader. Leadership is a personal spring that needs to be identified and then nurtured through action.
- What strategies can young leaders adopt to prepare to thrive in an ever-changing professional environment technologically, socially, and culturally?
Surrounding oneself with the right expertise, cultivating one’s network, and being customer-centric are, in my view, the three fundamental conditions for the success of any project. To go further and make a difference in their market, continuous attention to socio-economic changes and innovation are, in my opinion, two essential levers for creating useful and sustainable value.
- Could you share your thoughts on the meetings with the 10 young African women leaders during the WIA Young Leaders business trip to Paris in October 2023?
The 10 “Young Leaders” laureates from the third edition of the program created by Women In Africa impressed me! Daring, brilliant, and innovative, they represent the future of the African continent through a female lens. I am very pleased with our firm’s support for the second consecutive year for this initiative to assist, along with the entire #WIA community, a group of young African women and contribute to their access to governance positions or to develop their entrepreneurial projects. I look forward to following their transformation and seeing them emerge in the spotlight in the coming years!
- Africa has the highest rate of female entrepreneurs in the world. Nearly a quarter of active women in Sub-Saharan Africa are entrepreneurs (Roland Berger, 2020). What do you think is the future of female entrepreneurship on the continent?
These young women grow up in a context of “permacrisis” from birth. Unlike Europe, they have innately learned to navigate obstacles by transforming them into opportunities. Particularly open to the world and aware of the ongoing transitions they experience or endure daily, they are resolutely optimistic, and I believe in their strong capacity to innovate for a positive impact on the planet.