Stéphane’s been in the WordPress space since the early 2000s, alternating between being an employee and running his own business. But the freedom to create, make mistakes, and grow is what has him hooked on being an entrepreneur.
In our conversation, he shares why he loves the discovery and scoping phase, how he approaches striking a healthy work/life balance, and the importance of having people you trust around you to give honest feedback.
What got you into WordPress and how long have you been using it?
Wow, it’s been so long I can barely remember! I don’t want to sound like a dinosaur, but I think my first WordPress site dates back to 2005 or 2006.
At the time, we were a small web studio passionate about open source. We were using tools like osCommerce, Dotclear, and SPIP when we came across WordPress… it felt like a revolution. Since then, WordPress has always been part of my professional journey — even though I’ve explored other technologies too.
What part of the website creation process is your favorite to work on and why?
I really enjoy the very beginning of a project — the discovery and scoping phase. Listening to the client, asking the right questions, and already bringing some clarity and value during the first meeting is something I love.
I’m also passionate about the design and mockup stage. That’s when ideas take shape, and we start structuring content, defining user flows, and crafting a customer journey. It’s a creative and strategic phase that really excites me.
What motivated you to start your own business, and what keeps you going when things get tough?
I’ve always felt a strong need for independence and creation — sometimes too strong, to be honest, and I tend to spread myself thin. But I love building things.
Over the years, I’ve alternated between working as an employee and running my own business. Now, at 47, I know I’ll never go back to being an employee.
What keeps me going is the freedom: the freedom to create, to make mistakes, to grow, and to choose the people and clients I work with. I also enjoy the variety — as a founder, you wear many hats, and that suits me. I’m a curious person by nature.
What do you do to keep a healthy work/life balance as a business owner?
It’s definitely a challenge, especially when you’re passionate. The line between personal and professional life can blur easily when you’re an entrepreneur.
That said, I prefer choosing when I work, rather than having it imposed on me. These days, I tend to respect regular working hours more than before, but I also love the flexibility — I can work by a pool or do a bit of work during holidays, and I’m fine with that.Still, it’s essential to disconnect from time to time. You need real moments to switch off.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten and how has it affected your business?
I’ve received a lot of great advice over the years, but one of the most important was about staying focused. As someone who tends to jump between ideas, learning to finish one thing before starting another has been key.
I also believe strongly in intuition — learning to trust yourself, even when it takes time to build that confidence.
Finally, listening to others and taking a step back is crucial. Sometimes you’re so deep into things that you don’t see when you’re losing direction — that’s when trusted people around you, even in your professional circle, can really help.
What’s your favorite podcast to listen to?
The No Code France podcast
What’s a WordPress plugin everyone should know about?
Simple History — it’s lightweight, but very useful for tracking what’s happening on your WordPress site.
What’s your favorite non-WordPress tool or software?
Airtable and TimeTonic — both are fantastic for structuring and automating workflows.
What’s your favorite tool, accessory, or gadget on your desk?
An antistress ball — I use it more than I’d like to admit!
