MEET YOUR MEMBERS: SOPHIE ✎

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be introducing you to our council members! This time, we're speaking to our International Director, Sophie Delaporte.

Which chamber are you a member of? Southampton

How long have you been a JCI member? I’ve been a member since March 2015

What made you join? Friends, the opportunity to meet new people and take part in activities I don’t do at work

What is the most interesting JCI event you've been to and why? I attended in September 2015 the JCI Malta Small Talk which aimed to invest in intercultural dialogue. It was a life changing experience. We met JCI members from Malta, Italy, Estonia, Jordon and Morocco. We spent a week in Malta to discuss the opportunities and challenges of intercultural societies, how to deal with prejudice and discrimination. We met politicians and NGOs to discuss the migration crisis and we also met migrants. This experience really changed my vision of the world and our society. I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot from it. e

Had JCI presented any unusual/interesting opportunities? The JCI Malta Small Talk project has been my best experience so far but I have had a lot of fantastic opportunities since I joined JCI. We have twinned with JCI Kortrijk, I have attended National Convention in Barnsley and took part in English Debating, I was part of the JCI UK French Debating team at European Convention in Tampere this year, I have made friends with people from all over the world, I graduated from LEAP, Public Speaking and National Training Academies. So far JCI has provided with amazing professional and personal development opportunities.

What is your job/career/profession/business? I am the Marketing and Communications Manager at Union Southampton (the University of Southampton Students’ Union)

Has JCI had any impact on your job/career/profession/business? YES!

Which leader do you admire? My dad. He’s got a great career, he is very experienced and knowledgeable in management and in business at national and international level and I know I can count of him for advice and support. But if I had to pick someone more famous, I’d say Sheryl Sandberg from Facebook.

What is your proudest achievement? I don’t really know… Moving to the UK maybe?

If we came to your home and looked inside your refrigerator, what would we see? A bottle of Martini

What is a good weekend to you? Going for a run, spend time outside (in the rare occasions when it gets sunny and warm), going out with friends and going shopping. I like the JCI training weekends too, they are tiring but totally worth it. But because the last couple of months have been so hectic, I’d probably say a weekend when I can sleep at least 10 hours (each night!).

Tell us something crazy/dangerous/inspiring/unusual you have done! Punting at JCI South SummerFest in Cambridge last year. I thought we’d never make it back in one piece.