Brieuc Izenic (EGEE, 2018), CEO of Le Petit Dormeur

Brieuc Izenic, 27, reveals his journey from the benches of UCO to the acquisition of Le Petit Dormeur, a French-made travel cushion company. In this interview, he shares his aspirations and university memories.

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your academic and professional career?
My name is Brieuc Izenic, I'm 27 years old, and after the baccalaureate I joined the UCO with a degree in economics, management and business ethics [EGEE]. My aim was to take the competitive entrance exams for business schools, which then led me to Audencia in Nantes. After graduating, I began my professional career as a financial controller at Wyz Group. Five months ago, I acquired Le Petit Dormeur in partnership with my brother-in-law, while initially maintaining my salaried job.

Tell us about Le Petit Dormeur. What is Le Petit Dormeur?
Le Petit Dormeur is a travel cushion entirely designed and manufactured in France. It adapts to the way you prefer to sleep on the move. Whether you want to position it around your neck when sitting, fix it against the window with its suction cup, or even slip it over your arms for a comfortable sleep.
You'll finally be able to sleep without waking up in pain! Through this cushion, we support the French textile industry and use eco-friendly products.

What prompted you to take over this company?
Well, my brother-in-law and I had already been thinking for several years about creating an entrepreneurial project or developing a joint challenge. When we came across the LinkedIn message from Aymeric, the founder of Le Petit Dormeur, we knew right away that this was the ideal opportunity for us. After carefully analyzing the market and the company, we decided to embark on this adventure.

What challenges do you face as an entrepreneur?
One of the main challenges is finding the right balance between my personal and professional life. Since I took over Le Petit Dormeur while continuing my work as a financial controller, it's essential that I manage to better harmonize the two aspects of my life. The decision to devote myself entirely to the project, starting this September, will enable me to find this balance more quickly.

Why did you choose to study economics and business ethics at UCO, and what is your best memory of UCO?
I chose to study Economics and Business Ethics at UCO because the program offered high quality teaching, internship opportunities, strong partnerships and a dynamic campus life. My most cherished memories of the Université catholique de l'Ouest are of my geopolitics courses, which had a profound impact on me, and of the lasting friendships I made there. These are friendships I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

How would you define your studies at UCO in three words?
Go out, meet people, grow!

Follow Le Petit Dormeur's adventure on their website, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.