Champions journey - The aspiring entrepreneur

This article was originally published on edhec.edu - 31/07/2024 

Although she has not yet founded a startup, Yasmine Machwate laid the groundwork for an entrepreneurial career from the beginning of her studies by engaging in numerous projects. Yasmine quickly joined the EDHEC Entrepreneurs team, where she advanced to her recent position as Head of EDHEC Incubators. She paints a portrait of a champion working behind the scenes with deep impact-driven commitment. 

Diving into the unknown, riding solo or in a pack, and giving everything for the final sprint is not just the daily life of a triathlete but also that of anyone in the entrepreneurial sphere. In our special series “Champions Journey,” we celebrate those who dare to dream big and create with passion, resilience, and determination. Discover these champions who shape the future and form our EDHEC Entrepreneurs community!

Heritage as a driving force

Born in the United States to a Moroccan father and a French mother, Yasmine Machwate grew up in an environment that constantly pushed her out of her comfort zone. Her father, who changed careers and locations multiple times, instilled in her the entrepreneurial spirit of finding one’s path and changing direction as essential values. This atypical journey taught her a great capacity for adaptation: “Each time, I had to create my place, and to do that, I engaged deeply in a community to make it my own and feel good where I was.”

After her preparatory class, Yasmine joined HEC Paris, where she began to explore entrepreneurship more seriously, seeing endless possibilities: “I loved the immense creativity, not being boxed into a specific path.” This interest gradually led her to take initial initiatives, such as creating her own YouTube channel and freelancing to support other entrepreneurs, thereby strengthening her network and skills in mentorship.

However, Yasmine is not currently an entrepreneur leading a startup. “Entrepreneurship is a way to emancipate oneself, to find one’s path. I’m not closing the door to it, but my thoughts weren’t developed enough to start an impactful project.” Deeply interested in equal opportunity issues, she aims to make the educational path more accessible and less stressful, convinced that everyone can find their place by stepping off the beaten path. Today, Yasmine uses her role at EDHEC Entrepreneurs to support young entrepreneurs and nurture her thoughts for her future project.

RED, the future of responsible entrepreneurship

For Yasmine, entrepreneurship goes far beyond merely creating economic value. “It’s a source of creativity and freedom, but it’s also a profound commitment to society.” The issue of corporate social responsibility holds a significant place in her thinking, convinced that “companies have enormous power to influence society, employees, their relationships…” This realization led her to explore how entrepreneurs can be better equipped to understand and assume this responsibility from the start of their venture.

One of Yasmine’s flagship projects within our incubators is to develop the Responsible by Design (RED) methodology, an initiative aimed at integrating responsibility and overall performance issues at the core and from the outset of entrepreneurial projects. “RED is a response to entrepreneurs’ desire to do well but feeling incompetent or overwhelmed by the task.” From this reflection, the Guide to Startup Responsibility emerged, providing concrete actions to facilitate the adoption of responsible practices at the core of a project and from the start. Recruitment, product design, stakeholder relations… all reflections are covered and adapted to different stages of a startup’s development.

With more than 1,000 users of the Guide and the writing of a white paper dedicated to this methodology, Yasmine and the entire EDHEC Entrepreneurs team now aim for an international reach by developing a new model of responsible entrepreneurship on a European scale. By highlighting these crucial issues, Yasmine embodies a new generation of entrepreneurs and leaders seeking to combine economic success with a positive societal impact. Her initiatives show that entrepreneurship can be both creative, free, and deeply committed to the common good.

“Do Your Thing”

In the entrepreneurial world, as in sports, the quest for excellence is often accompanied by a search for personal balance. A balance that Yasmine considers a driver of performance and satisfaction. But this balance is only accessible through meticulous organization of her schedule and a deep commitment to herself: “I’ve always believed that actions are much more important than words.” This mantra prompts her to move from theory to practice by integrating her convictions into her professional and personal daily life, notably by doing things her own way!

“Do Your Thing, do it your way, and it will be great,” is what Yasmine tells herself every day, sounding like an invitation to embrace her authenticity without hiding in the crowd. Being a champion then is not just about excelling in a discipline; it’s also about being true to oneself to hope to perform at the height of one’s ambitions.

I had long wanted to do sports for all the benefits but couldn’t crack the code. So, according to my little personal methodology where “if it doesn’t work, it’s not the right way,” I decided to do it in a fun way, and for six months, I only took dance classes, focusing more on regularity than performance. And a year ago, with my little brother, we started triathlon. Next goal: a half Ironman in the summer of 2025!

In a world where expectations and pressures can be overwhelming, the young woman shows that a successful life is based on the ability to follow one’s convictions, dedicate oneself to one’s passions, and maintain harmonious balance. Her journey proves that perseverance, authenticity, and personal commitment can lead to inspiring and fulfilling success. For her, being a champion means above all being true to oneself and upholding the values one believes in.

Succeeding gracefully despite everything

Yet, despite following a personalized path, Yasmine also faces failures and obstacles, which she learns to overcome through resilience and motivation. Whether in sports, at school, or at work, “there are always moments when you want to give up.” Although she sports an unwavering smile, she readily admits that failures are tough because she is “very emotionally invested.” Nevertheless, behind this apparent “trauma,” Yasmine demonstrates a steel mentality that allows her to consistently bounce back after every fall: “I am devastated after a failure, but then I bounce back.”

She also draws motivation from a strong belief in her good fortune. “I don’t think I’m luckier than anyone else. But every time there’s been a failure, I’ve identified something positive that came out of it.” Her positive thinking coupled with a deep desire to give her best enables her to overcome all obstacles.

“The best advice I was given is not to be impressed by anyone. I have my place and my legitimacy to talk to whoever I want, about whatever I want!”

Although Yasmine Machwate is not (yet) at the head of a startup, she matures her thinking by drawing lessons from all her personal and professional experiences. Deeply committed to the fight for equal opportunities and recognizing the societal role of companies, Yasmine strives to navigate her course by staying true to herself, resilient, and positive in all circumstances. A prelude to finding her soon in the spotlight.