Meet Mong-Trang Sarrazin, Unmind's new CFO!

Kate Searight

Brand and Social Manager

Unmind Product Spotlight: Calendar Reminders

TABLE OF CONTENTS

It happens; one day a Parisian consultancy assigns you to work with tech companies by chance – 12 years later you're CFO of one, commuting to London and working in an industry you love, on a mission to improve the culture of other businesses worldwide.

So we grabbed five minutes with our new CFO, Mong-Trang Sarrazin to hear how it happened. (Spoiler: it’s not just down to luck)

Mong-Trang Sarrazin Unmind blog

👋 Hello Mong-Trang! Welcome to Unmind. Why us?

For me, choosing companies is always a question of people. So when I met with Nick, I realised that he had a vision, and his vision was really clear: that the future of the workplace is changing, and people need to be at the centre of that change.

"the vision and mission start with the people – because it’s our ideas that create the tech after all. 

 

So what will a CFO actually do at Unmind?

I think we have two missions: The first is to make businesses realise that the wellbeing of their employees needs to be at the heart of their company. 

And the second is internal: to give our people, Unminders, what they need to thrive, and from that create the most valuable company.

Again, the vision and mission start with the people – because it’s our ideas that create the tech after all. 

You’ve worked in tech for 15 years. What keeps you here?

I love the tech environment; especially the spirit of the people working in the space. 

And I think that technology can facilitate our missions. But it’s an enabler – it’s not the tech itself that will change the world. It can help fast forward change, but we need the ideas first. 

What’s your vision for Unmind?

 To continue to grow and nurture the Unmind culture – that spirit is so important. And this needs to be the heart of our business, with wellbeing in our DNA. How can we design the perfect platform for other businesses if we, ourselves, aren't leading by example?

And I can feel that in Nick’s vision. He wants his company – our company – to be a safe place to work, where wellbeing is taken seriously. 

Right now I think, “Wow! It's amazing. Our workplace, the environment here – all the dogs!  It's just great. 

And the result of that feeling is that you’re able to be fully transparent; to express yourself authentically.

 

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You live in Paris and work in London, that’s some impressive hybrid working.  How are you finding it?

I used to live in London for two years on secondment with Deloitte and loved the environment and management style there. I believe the working culture in London very much promotes autonomy and proactiveness, which are values I highly regard.

Additionally, the tech ecosystem in London is very dynamic with so many start-ups, investors, financial players all in the same place and eager to work together.

And with all the connectivity and messaging tools, we now have, Paris has never been so close!

"I believe cultures of kindness start with leading by example."

 

What values do you want to bring out in your role? 

I love to empower people. We’re united behind a true passion to grow the company.  And kindness, which is the key to creating a safe environment. 

People shouldn’t be scared of losing their job or feel threatened by things like that. Companies often overlook this because they're too focused on their targets – reaching their aims no matter what – often at the expense of their people.

And I believe cultures of kindness start with leading by example. I come from a very safe environment in the EU, with a familial style of leadership. That instils the value of kindness, and it’s something I’d like all CFOs to understand. 

As a CFO, how do you create a balance between culture and global targets? 

It’s a hard balance to find. But, for me, you can find that balance by uniting behind your ambition and the ‘why’.

At Unmind, that ‘why’ is transforming cultures and mental health at work. And if everyone shares that vision, we’ll work towards our targets in a positive and effective way – even as we grow globally. 

On the other hand, if you lose happiness, you lose your vision. 

I can’t say that it’s easy, because I’ve done it before and worked damn hard. But with a shared vision, united behind the ‘why’, culture and performance go hand in hand. 

 

– Mong Trang, we’re happy to have you!

P.s. We're hiring.