World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

The backstage pass: Noémie Renard-Andres

Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Interview

Photo © World of Showjumping
Noémie Renard-Andres. Photo © World of Showjumping.

 

Text © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen

 


 

You often hear riders say how it ’takes a village’ to succeed, referring to their teams that make sure their equine super stars stay safe and sound. But what about the other side of the backstage crew – the event organizers? In our new series ’The backstage pass’, World of Showjumping goes behind the scenes at some of the biggest events in our sport, with the people who work around the clock to put together a great show.

In the second part of our new series, World of Showjumping meets Noémie Renard-Andres. Noémie, 30-years-old, runs Nohe Agency – a communication and event agency specialized towards the equestrian world. Originally from Tours, France, Noémie worked for CWD Sellier and the Stephex Group before starting on her own. “With the Stephex Group I learned everything about the shows, and I really liked it. Thanks to them, that believed in me, I was given the opportunity to join this professional team. But I felt like it was time to go back to France, and start living the life I imagined…And start my own company,” she says.

Now happily settled back in her native Tours, Noémie spends her days either in her home office – surrounded with horses – or on the road to meet with her clients, most of them based in Europe. “I am just an amateur rider,” Noémie explains about her stable at home. “I remember how my coach told me when I was 12-years-old, that I would be better off finding a job that could pay me a horse, rather than find a job in riding. So, I did just that, found a job that combines both,” Noémie smiles.

Passionate about graphics, social media and communication, Noémie studied accountancy before finding her dream job in the equestrian world. “Yes, I was supposed to be an accountant,” Noémie sighs with a smile when explaining how her career took another turn. “However, in my last year of school I did an internship with CWD Sellier. I was supposed to attend another business school afterwards, but CWD Sellier gave me a job offer which I accepted and never went back to my studies! With CWD Sellier I was in charge of all the communication. I learned a lot on this aspect, but also about the equestrian world in the USA. I started to organise small events like “Equestrian Fan Trophy”, some animation on all their stands and activated the partnership they had with the World Equestrian Games in Caen. Those events created a need in me to go more into that part of the sport, and I met Stephan Conter – the founder and CEO of the Stephex Group – at a show and it went from there.”

Even though Noémie has a lot of education to look back at, she believes that the feeling needed in the communication and social media world is something that can’t be taught – you either have it in you or you don’t. “I think you have to be curious and keep an open mind to what is happening in the world around you,” she explains. Keeping active is Noémie’s key to staying inspired. “I try to go to museums and to see art, and I also like to travel. I think it is really important to see new things and to see other cultures. I’m really open minded and curious. I’m a lot on social media. To let go of the pressure or to avoid thinking of everything I can also ride sometimes, since we have horses at home.”

Noémie is particularly interested in graphic design. “About graphic design, I learned by myself,” she explains. “In the future, I would like to do some courses with artists to learn more, but so far I have not had the time. When I need something more complicated done, I work with someone who knows everything about it.”

This year Noémie has covered nine events: Knokke Hippique, Brussels Stephex Masters, FEI/WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken, Jumping Mechelen, International Jumping of Bordeaux and the Longines Masters series. “To be different for each show, to not repeat yourself,” she tells about the challenges of her work. “But each of the events has their own identity and strategy, so it is easy to follow on that. For the rest, being in two places at the same time is the biggest challenge for me – I have all my clients in Belgium, so I need to drive there from Tours every week,” she laughs. ”I have to say I really enjoy what I do. Every day I wake up happy to go to work!”

With her work varying from managing social media, writing newsletters and press releases, communication strategy to organizing prize giving ceremonies, to create logos… there is no such thing as a ’normal day’ in Noémie’s job. “Every show is different, depending on what I have to do,” she says about her actual tasks at the events she does. “At home I go to my office – nohe paradise – at eight in the morning, sometimes before, and work all day long. I try to stop at eight in the evening, because I have a husband!”

However busy, it is obvious that Noémie has found her calling. “I feel really lucky to work with some amazing people and to create some of the most amazing events in the equestrian world,” she says. “I owe them a lot, and I really like to work for them. “I think from now on I just want to keep going the same way I have done so far – this year has been great. I hope in five years I will be in the same place with the same people!”

Long-term, there is definitely room for dreaming though. “My dream would be to work at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – because it will be in my home country, and it will truly be the best of our sport,”

“You only fail when you stop trying… Let the game continue,” Noémie closes off.

 

No reproduction without permission, copyright © World of Showjumping 



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.