A drink with… Steeve Calligaro, president of the Nîmes rugby club but also an entrepreneur
|À écouter le président du RCN, du rugby à l’entrepreneuriat il n’y a qu’un pas. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot
Midi Libre invite une personnalité nîmoise à boire un verre. Elle choisit son lieu, sa boisson… et le sujet de conversation.
Location: La Grande Bourse
Time: 10am 30
Drink : Expresso
"Rugby taught me the importance of the mind d’équipe"
On this July morning, Steeve Calligaro arrives at La Grande Bourse with his usual smile and infectious energy . “Rugby is more than a sport, it's a school of life”, he says straight away, sipping his espresso. “On the field as in business, the values are the same: solidarity, respect, and surpassing oneself.” The scene is set.
From rugby to entrepreneurship, one would be tempted to think that it is only a step listening to the 48-year-old man.”“Rugby taught me the importance of team spirit. In a business, as on the field, each member has a crucial role. “Cohesion and communication are essential,” he explains. For Steeve, each member of his team is as valuable as a player on the field. “Everyone must feel valued and heard.”
A question of balance…
In the world of entrepreneurship, what seems to fascinate the CEO the most is the mentality of the younger generations. “Today, young people no longer work if they don't find meaning in it. We talk about vacations, teleworking before even talking about salary or hoping to advance in the hierarchy”, jokes Steeve. However, the forty-year-old enthusiastically encourages this breath of fresh air. “The model that was ours is no longer valid and I realize that there is nothing more beautiful than transmission and allowing others to evolve as I was able to do, in a healthy environment.”
Between two sips, the former rugby player confides. “It is only today that I am finding meaning in my life". This personal reflection led him to rethink his priorities as an entrepreneur and club president. For him, customer and employee satisfaction took precedence over simple salary increases. "The work environment and freedom to organize are even more important factors." According to the former RCN player, everything is governed by human relationships. "And it is important to remain human beings, even at work."