Receiving the grade of Knight of the Legion of Honor

Last Wednesday in Paris, our CEO Anne Baer was elevated to the grade of Knight in the French Order of the Legion of Honor.

In her own words:

"There are moments in life when one can reflect on what has been done and what's left ahead. There are moments in life where you just want to celebrate with friends. Last Wednesday in Paris, was such of moment for me.

As a woman, as a French and Israeli citizen, as a professional, a wife and a mother, I had my ups and downs like everyone.

But I always tried to remain faithful to my values, to be authentic with my words and impactful with my actions. 

I tried to give back to society what I received, and education, a framework, a safe yet uncomfortable place to grow from. To share with others my energy and inspiration.

It's probably why being distinguished by the French Republic's Legion d'honneur is so important in someone's personal path. It says you had an impact, you did well, even when it's not what you were expected to do. 

I am especially grateful to former Minister Laurent Saint-Martin to have accepted to be the one who formally makes me a "Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor". As a key player of French Foreign Trade, as a civil servant, a deputy and a Minister, we have so much in common, combining diplomacy with business. 

I am grateful to Caroline Yadan, deputy for the French citizens living abroad, to have hosted this ceremony in the Assemblée Nationale, as a symbol of our great friendship and long-lasting collaboration.

I am lucky to have many friends with me, representing different periods of this first part of my life, from my childhood to the scouts youth movement, to school and university in France and Israel, from my various associations as well as iKare Innovation's partners, French Foreign Trade Advisors, and fellows from EcoPeace Middle East and from the European Leadership Network (ELNET), sisters from WOMEN IN TECH ® Global, and more. All the above are joyfully mingling together."

Discours de Remise des insignes de Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur An.

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As it is the tradition to make two speeches, one from the giving party, and one from the receiving party, our speeches, we are happy to share them here, hoping they will inspire more people to take care of our disrupted societies, to protect our fragile democracies, to search dialogue and promote the potential of women everywhere in the world.