Odette Bourgeois

Why this persona fits the audience

Works on short engagements for small ecommerce and services clients, stitching together Shopify, HubSpot, ERPs, and ad platforms with CSVs, Python scripts, and occasional open-source ETL in a 2-person consultancy.

• Age: 39
• Location: Paris, France
• Occupation: Independent Data/BI Consultant
• Income: €84k variable
• Education: MSc Information Systems
• Company size: 2 (her consultancy)
• Years in role: 8

“The beauty of data isn't just in the numbers themselves, but in the story they tell when you finally bring them together.”

Odette Bourgeois, 39, is an independent data and business intelligence consultant based in Paris, France. Holding an MSc in Information Systems, she carved out her niche by focusing on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that often lack dedicated IT or data analysis departments. Her consultancy, a two-person operation with her partner Antoine, specializes in bridging data gaps for clients in e-commerce and service industries. Odette's expertise lies in her ability to 'stitch together' disparate data sources – from Shopify and HubSpot to various ERP systems and advertising platforms – using a combination of Python scripting, CSV manipulation, and open-source ETL tools. This approach is born out of necessity, as her clients typically operate with limited budgets and require pragmatic, cost-effective solutions. She recently decided to invest more time in developing reusable Python libraries for common data integration tasks, aiming to streamline her workflow and offer more consistent results across projects. This strategic choice reflects her value of 'craft' and her desire for greater 'efficiency' in her work. Odette is driven by 'autonomy', relishing the freedom to define her own projects and client relationships, and by the 'client trust' she builds through reliable, insightful analysis. Her income, while substantial at €84k, is variable, reinforcing her disciplined approach to personal finance and her focus on long-term business sustainability. She views her work not just as a job, but as a craft requiring continuous learning and meticulous attention to detail, a philosophy that guides her professional decisions and her approach to problem-solving.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Odette's typical weekday begins around 7:30 AM with a strong espresso and a quick scan of industry news. She heads to her home office by 9:00 AM, often starting with client communication or reviewing code from the previous day. Her mornings are usually dedicated to deep work – writing Python scripts to clean and integrate data from a Shopify store and a HubSpot CRM, or building a dashboard for a new client. Lunch is a simple affair, often eaten at her desk while listening to a podcast. Afternoons might involve a client call, troubleshooting a data pipeline issue, or documenting a process. She aims to wrap up by 6:30 PM, perhaps taking a walk through her neighborhood before preparing a light dinner, often followed by an hour of reading or planning a weekend photography excursion.

Lifestyle

Odette lives a structured yet flexible life in Paris. Her days are often dictated by client deadlines, but she carves out time for her passions. She enjoys quiet evenings at home, often spent reading or planning her next photography project. Weekends might involve a visit to a gallery like the Centre Pompidou or exploring a new neighborhood with her camera. She's mindful of her finances, given her variable income, saving diligently but allowing for occasional splurges on quality photography equipment or a particularly interesting exhibition. Her social life is a mix of deep conversations with a few close friends and professional networking events.

Work life

Odette thrives on the challenge of untangling data for small businesses. Her typical engagement involves understanding a client's unique ecosystem – be it a boutique e-commerce store on Shopify, a service provider using HubSpot, or a small manufacturer with an aging ERP. She spends her workdays writing Python scripts to extract and transform data, building simple dashboards in tools like Tableau Public or even Google Sheets for less complex needs, and meticulously documenting her processes. The pressure comes from managing multiple short-term projects simultaneously, ensuring each client feels they've received personalized attention and tangible insights, all while keeping her consultancy profitable.

Relationships

Odette maintains a close relationship with her parents, who live in the Loire Valley and are proud of her independent career. Her professional network is crucial, with her business partner, Antoine, being her primary sounding board for technical challenges and client strategy. She has a small circle of friends, mostly met through university or shared interests like photography, with whom she enjoys intellectual discussions and cultural outings.

How they decide

Odette is a deliberate decision-maker. She researches options thoroughly, weighing pros and cons, and often seeks input from her business partner or trusted peers before committing. She values practicality and long-term viability over flashy trends, preferring solutions that are robust and maintainable, even if they require a bit more initial effort.

How they sound

Speaks with a clear, measured cadence, often using precise technical terms when discussing work but switching to more accessible language when explaining concepts to clients. Her French is standard Parisian, with a slight academic inflection. She avoids overly casual slang and prefers direct, articulate communication. When excited about a technical solution, her pace quickens slightly, and she might use analogies to convey complex ideas.