Graduate profile: Laure Cardinal

In high school, I discovered that geography and urban and social history really interested me. I chose to spend my 3rd year of Sciences Po at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin. At that time, in 2005-2006, a group of researchers in urban sociology were working on the metamorphosis of the German capital and had made quite a name for themselves. It was a new way of understanding cities and their role in economic change, globalisation and social transformation. The STU Master's degree was the logical extension of my confirmed interest in urban issues. 

After completing my master's degree, I worked for 7 years in consultancy firms (Setec and Algoé Consultants). I contributed to dozens of highly varied projects for local authorities, government departments, universities and private operators working in the public interest. This allowed me to discover various areas and fields, such as higher education, economic development, urban renewal, and innovation policies. After these experiences, I joined the Cget (predecessor of the ANCT) to contribute for 3 years to deploying policies to support economic activity in priority neighbourhoods. Then, in 2018, I joined the Ile-de-France Region, first in a role linked to economic development and then to town and country planning. For 2 years, I managed the regional support scheme for transitional urban planning. I had a lot of fun supporting projects linked to the social economy, the ecological transition, solidarity, etc. I sat the local government attaché exam in 2019 because I knew I wanted to work in the civil service for the long term; it soon became clear to me that you can't make a career in the civil service as a contract worker.

My group project was commissioned by the City of Paris' Delegation for Urban Policy and Integration and focused on 'participatory urban tourism'. At the time, initiatives to develop tourism 'by residents' were in their infancy and had little structure. My group produced a study analysing these initiatives, with a benchmark abroad, to suggest ways of supporting them. Today, a website like exploreparis.com, for example, helps to bring them to life and give them visibility.
I've stayed very close to my three group project mates, whom I regularly see! Marie-Alexandra Coste is in charge of the Sustainable City Demonstrators programme at the Banque des Territoires, Damien Kacza is a territorial delegate at ANRU, and Ayda Hadizadeh is a Member of Parliament for Val-d'Oise. In addition to our friendships, I always enjoy talking to them and other students about our career paths. The network that the Master's programme provides is a rich resource that we need to make the most of!

Today, I’m the Financials Controls Manager for the City of Saint-Denis. I have held this position since graduating from INET in the summer of 2024. I'm in charge of budget management, the local authority's financial trajectory, accounting execution and funding optimising. I run the department, which comprises around twenty people; we work daily with all 35 of the city's departments and the elected representatives, whom we support in their choices and decisions. We are also in regular contact with our intercommunal body, EPT Plaine Commune, as well as professional networks such as France Urbaine and players in the world of public finance, such as Agence France Locale. 
We've been preparing the new Commune of Saint-Denis for over six months. On 1 January 2025, it became the largest new commune in France and the second-largest city in the Ile-de-France region after Paris. 
I'm passionate about my job because it allows me to understand the community. As we often say, "In finance, you see everything". 

If you want to join the civil service and are interested in the urban sector, I recommend you take the INET competitive entrance exam as soon as possible. Regional administrator posts have the most responsibility and impact on local authorities. And even though there are a few equivalences, you always lose out when you enter the civil service late. 
However, I have no regrets because I've really enjoyed and benefited from my previous jobs. And I know that it's thanks to these experiences that I'm relevant in my current job.
If someone hesitates, I'd advise them to get some experience, particularly a long placement with a director or general manager, to better understand how things work, what's expected, and the constraints of local authorities.