After 15 years in banking, Cécile Vienne decided to build a more flexible career around her family and personal values.
A mother of two based in the Paris region, Cécile wanted to explore entrepreneurship without immediately giving up the financial security of her existing career.
LearnyKids offered her the opportunity to start gradually, develop new skills and build a business focused on creativity, personalised products and learning through play.
Today, she reflects on her career transition, the challenges of getting started, her business growth and how she has found a better balance between work and family life.
My name is Cécile, I’m a mother of two, and I spent 15 years working in the banking sector.
It was a stable career, but over time, I began to feel that my work no longer reflected my personal values or the sense of purpose I wanted in my everyday life.
What attracted me to LearnyKids was the whole concept: children, learning through play, creativity and personalisation.
I also appreciated the opportunity to start gradually, dedicating just a few hours a week to the business without having to leave my job.
Today, I’ve reduced my hours in banking and now work part-time. This gives me more time to develop my LearnyKids business while also enjoying more quality time with my children.
I wanted to become self-employed, but I didn’t want to start from scratch.
Building a business completely independently requires a great deal of time, money and energy.
With LearnyKids, I found an established business concept, a clear brand identity and the support I needed to get started with confidence.
I explored other opportunities in the children’s sector, but some involved substantial initial fees, complex business structures or administrative requirements associated with providing childcare services.
At that stage, those commitments felt too significant for me.
I chose the Pro Plus package, which suited my budget at the time.
One of the biggest advantages was having access to a ready-to-use e-commerce website, together with training on how to manage it effectively.
When you’re starting without any digital marketing experience, that’s a real benefit.
The investment and what was included were clearly explained from the beginning, with no unpleasant surprises.
No, none at all.
I came from banking, which is obviously a very different environment.
Being a mother was really what first inspired me to explore this new direction.
I wanted to build something more personal, positive and meaningful, while still having the reassurance of an established business framework.
From the beginning, I received step-by-step guidance.
This included understanding the business concept, learning how to use the tools, developing my digital communication skills and approaching potential partners such as employee benefits organisations, retailers and schools.
The support doesn’t end after the initial training.
I can ask questions whenever I need help and access resources that are regularly updated.
I’ve also developed skills I never imagined I would have.
When I started, I had absolutely no digital marketing experience.
More recently, I’ve been learning how to use artificial intelligence to automate certain tasks.
At first, I found the technology quite intimidating. But thanks to the training, I’ve become much more comfortable using it – and I actually enjoy it now!
Yes, definitely.
At the beginning, I had so many ideas that I sometimes tried to do everything at once.
The training helped me establish solid foundations, prioritise my activities and take a more structured approach.
I also learned an important lesson: having support doesn’t replace taking action yourself.
The network provides guidance, but it’s still up to us to test ideas, follow up with customers and keep going.
Yes, completely.
I particularly appreciated the transparency of the business model and knowing exactly what was included from the outset.
That clarity gave me confidence when I was making the decision to join.
There’s a genuine sense of community, even though everyone develops their business at their own pace.
I rarely attend live meetings, but I watch the recordings afterwards.
That’s one of the things I appreciate most: I can stay connected to the network and benefit from the discussions without having to be available for every live session.
Sharing experiences with other partners helps you feel less isolated and can be a real source of motivation when you need it.
My business developed gradually.
The first two months were probably the most challenging because I had to learn to put myself out there and accept that everything wouldn’t be perfect from day one.
That was very different from the structured environment I was used to in banking.
But after eight months, I had already exceeded my initial financial projections.
In 2025, my turnover increased by 60%, and the business has continued to grow, even though I now spend less time on it than I did at the beginning.
Of course, those results are directly linked to the effort, consistency and personal commitment I’ve put into developing my business.
Initially, I focused on people I knew, social media and parents looking for personalised and educational gifts.
Word of mouth has worked particularly well.
I also developed partnerships with employee benefits organisations, retailers and educational establishments.
More recently, I’ve been concentrating on my website and targeted digital marketing campaigns.
This approach helps me generate sales more efficiently, with less preparation time.
Digital campaigns now account for approximately 60% of my turnover, with an average of just two hours of preparation per week.
It’s a good example of how my approach has evolved as I’ve gained experience.
Yes, because I believe it responds to a genuine change in what families and children’s professionals are looking for.
Parents and educators increasingly want products and experiences that are meaningful, educational and genuinely beneficial for children.
LearnyKids stands out by combining learning through play, personalisation, creativity and French-made products.
In a market where many products are standardised or heavily focused on screens, LearnyKids offers something more personal, creative and distinctive.
It’s an approach that appeals not only to parents but also to schools, retailers, employee benefits organisations and other professionals working with children.
Yes.
I was looking for a flexible business that would be relatively straightforward to set up, with enough structure and support that I wouldn’t feel completely on my own.
That’s exactly what I’ve experienced.
I’ve been able to start gradually, adapt my activities around my schedule and develop my strategy as I’ve learned more.
I’ve also seen genuine interest in personalised, creative and educational products from both families and professional customers.
Honestly, it would have been much more difficult.
It would have required considerably more time, financial investment and probably a lot more stress.
LearnyKids helped me save time by providing the business concept, tools and training.
That doesn’t eliminate the need for personal effort, but it gives you a much stronger foundation from which to build.
Yes, without hesitation.
What I appreciate most is the flexibility.
I’ve been able to develop my business at my own pace and create something that reflects my values.
My children are also incredibly proud to see their mum building such a positive business.
They love telling people about it, and I think they’ve become my best ambassadors!
First, be honest with yourself about your motivation.
The network provides the tools, structure and support, but nobody can take action on your behalf.
You have to be willing to start, make yourself visible, test different approaches and remain consistent.
My first two months weren’t the easiest, but they taught me a great deal.
Your initial attempts won’t always produce the results you hope for, but they help you refine your message, understand your customers and gradually build confidence.
The important thing is to take that first step and keep learning along the way.
This partner story has been translated and adapted into English from an interview originally published on 9 July 2026 by Toute la Franchise, an independent French business publication.
