18 Sep Inside: Havas Village Paris
Bonjour!
In celebration of Bastille Day, we took a tour of the very first Havas Village, in Paris. Below, discover how the Village model has transformed their way of working and what keeps the team inspired every day.
The Mag: What does being a Village mean to you?
Paris: Living in a Village means not living alone. Social sciences and biology both tell us that isolation inevitably results in an impoverishment of ideas and the extinction of species. Living in a Village means no longer living in a silo. It’s a state of mind. It’s a way of working that meshes perfectly with an open society, a society that operates as a network—today’s society.
The Mag: How has the collaborative nature of your Village influenced your culture?
Paris: Being part of a Village allows us to build connections with people that we normally wouldn’t. You may be surprised to find the hidden skills people have—all of these areas of expertise makes us stronger together.
Exposure to so many different people, skills, and companies within Havas has fostered a more open-minded culture, helping us to keep a global mindset.
The Mag: What makes your Village a great place to work?
Paris: The people: their deep sense of mutual support, their creativity, and their passion, This is what allows us to come up with in-house initiatives such as the Hood Festival (a music festival in our office) and to produce a greeting card in the form of a vinyl (recorded in-house with our people).
Also, some of our people were encouraged to display their work at our Havas Gallery, a photography exhibition showcased in the Arles Photography Festival and then in our office.
The Mag: What mottos or philosophies drive your team?
Paris: As a tight-knit group of individuals who inspire each other (and above all, never lose their sense of humor), the motto is: Be inspired to inspire others!
The Mag: Tell us a bit about the office space.
Paris: Our Village is an open space where everything is designed for ease of moving around. It’s like a hive. It’s colorful and full of life.
And of course, we have gorgeous views of our city, which inspire us every day.
The Mag: How has the culture of your city influenced your team?
Paris: While elegant, Parisian culture is very demanding, especially when it comes to the details. Although it may at first appear arrogant and irritating, it is (most of the time) exemplary.
