High-level internship: how Ombeline joined the Élysée’s event management department

Hello Ombeline, could you introduce yourself?

My name is Ombeline Fauvette, I am 19 years old and a third-year student at EFAP Lyon. I am currently an assistant event coordination officer at the French Presidency, where I am completing my internship.

How did you get this internship?

After sending many applications in France and abroad without receiving any positive responses, I was starting to lose hope. Then I received a call from someone in the Corporate Relations Department of EFAP Paris. She told me she had seen this internship offer, that my CV could match the position, and that it was worth giving it a try!

What is your role at the French Presidency?

Within the Palace, several departments coexist, such as operations, communication and many others. As for me, I belong to the event management department, which is in charge of producing events. We are a team of four, and I hold the position of assistant event coordinator.

Within this team, I am involved in organizing all the internal events of the Élysée Palace, whether they are private events for the President or public events held inside the Palace.

My role consists in providing support with the preparation, coordination and logistics of these events, ensuring that everything runs perfectly in an environment where nothing is left to chance.

Which event made the strongest impression on you?

The event that left the strongest impression on me was the completion of the “Made in France” exhibition, which I helped organize over a two-month period. This exhibition, installed throughout the Palace (in the reception rooms, the gardens and the Cour d’Honneur), showcases 123 products of French origin.

What particularly moved me was seeing the event come to life in the reception rooms, watching the exhibitors happy to be there, and feeling the relief of the entire team after such intense work. It was a real source of pride to see that everything had gone smoothly and successfully.

Which skills developed at EFAP helped you during your internship?

During my internship, I was able to apply these skills in a particularly demanding environment, where every detail matters. I learned to:

• adapt quickly to unexpected situations,
• take into account complex logistical constraints,
• collaborate with highly qualified teams,
• and analyze the needs of the different stakeholders to ensure the success of an event.

I also developed a strong ability to prioritize, to anticipate problems, and to manage a wide variety of tasks, ranging from purely logistical duties to direct interactions with exhibitors or partners. This internship allowed me to consolidate all the skills I acquired at school, while also developing new ones suited to an institutional environment where precision, responsiveness and coordination are essential.

Did you face any particular challenges during this internship?

Yes, especially during the organization of “Made in France”. One of the biggest challenges was bringing certain products into the Palace, such as a six-ton metalworking piece intended for the garden, or a twelve-meter-long train that the exhibitor absolutely wanted to bring inside. We held several meetings to explain that twelve meters, physically, could not fit inside the Palace. In the end, the train was displayed in front of the Palace doors: it was the first product visitors saw, and the exhibitor was delighted because everyone stopped in front of it.

These challenges—logistical, organizational and human—taught me a great deal.

What did this experience bring you personally and professionally?

This experience taught me, both personally and professionally, that I am deeply attached to event management. It means evolving in an environment where deadlines seem impossible, where tasks also seem impossible, and where everything must be perfectly executed because there is no room for error—it is, after all, the French Presidency.

I learned to give all my energy and motivation, and to work with an extremely skilled team in order to deliver a perfect project.

How did this internship shape or strengthen your career plans?

This internship truly strengthened my career plan rather than revealing it, because I already knew that I wanted to work in event management. Above all, it confirmed that I want to evolve in high-level event management, with very tight deadlines, sometimes seemingly impossible tasks, and the satisfaction of delivering today what was supposed to be done yesterday—perfectly.

And it was also extremely rewarding to receive thanks from the President of the Republic.

What advice would you give to students who want to secure an exceptional internship like yours?

To land an exceptional internship like mine, I would say that it is first and foremost a matter of opportunity, and that a phone call can come at any time to tell you that such an internship is being offered to you. You must also remain enthusiastic and highly motivated, regardless of the task—whether it is carrying a fifteen-kilo sign, thanking an exhibitor, shaking hands with the President or attending a conference.

Above all, you must value the opportunity you have every single day and show your commitment.