From Silicon Valley To French Patisserie: The Sweet Life Of A Former Tech Executive

Valerie Valcourt was once a tech industry executive with a salary exceeding $100,000.

But when she embarked on a life-altering journey from the U.S. to France, Valcourt traded her cushy career for the delicate art of pastry making.
This bold transition was sparked by a quest for joy that her tech job could no longer fulfill. As CNBC reports, Valcourt's story highlights the pursuit of passion over a paycheck, leading her to a fulfilling career as a pastry assistant at Maison Chabran in Pont-de-l'Isere, France.

She earns roughly 20,000 euros ($21,705) annually.

Despite the stark contrast in income, Valcourt finds her new life in France richly rewarding.

"I'm not making tons of money, but I can afford to live here," she says, citing how living expenses are significantly lower and her employer covers her housing and meals.

This arrangement has enabled her to save between 1,300 to 1,500 euros ($1,421 to $1,640) monthly.

Also Read: This Amazon Applicant's Interview Answer Earned Her A Seat 3 Feet Away From Jeff Bezos

Adapting to Cultural Shifts

Valcourt's transformative journey began in 2020. With a dream of living abroad and a passion for culinary arts, she saved $20,000 and took a leap of faith by enrolling in a culinary program in South France where she appreciates the emphasis on work-life balance.

"The French are very adamant about not working overtime," she said.

Whether her journey leads to opening a bakery in the U.S. or continuing her culinary exploration in France, remains to be seen.

"I can have this pastry job, build up my resume and build up myself to get to the level I want to and not have to worry about where I'm going to put my head at night," she said.

Valcourt's story inspires anyone considering a major career change and shows that finding a path that truly makes you happy is possible.

This story is part of a series of features on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire.

How can you invest in early-stage startups if you don’t know the founders? Easy. Click here for a list of startups you can invest in today.

Benzinga may receive monetary compensation from the issuer, or its agency, for publicizing the offering of the issuer’s securities in this article. Please see 17b disclosure linked in the offering circular for more information.

Now Read: 5 Secrets From The Blue Zones: Author Unveils Core Tenets To Living Longer, Healthier

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Image by Kris L from Pixabay