[Interview] Marganne Paulet, Winner of the 2025 Les Négociales Competition

Every year, Les Négociales challenge gathers thousands of students around a common goal: to showcase their sales skills through real-life negotiation simulations. This nationally recognized competition assesses the candidates’ ability to argue, persuade, listen, adapt, and close deals in realistic business scenarios.

In 2025, more than 6,000 students competed in qualification centers across France. After a demanding selection process, Marganne Paulet, student at Clermont School of Business, rose to the top and became the overall winner of the 36th edition!

But her victory was no stroke of luck. Having already competed twice in previous years, she narrowly missed the final stage in 2023, falling short by just a detail. A disappointment that became her driving force. In 2025, with renewed determination, weeks of rigorous preparation, and a final round performance marked by both confidence and humor, she won the title. Let’s look back at a demanding, formative, and deeply human experience.

You had two intense participations before this win, including one where you nearly made it to the final on stage. How did those near-misses feel, and what did they teach you to help you come back and win this year?

During my first participation in 2023, everything was new. I was only in my second year of the Bachelor’s program and had never done commercial negotiation before, so just qualifying for the finals was already a big deal. I went in without expecting much—more out of curiosity than anything. But then I placed 10th after the Round of 16, made it to the quarterfinals, and then to the semifinals… and I started to believe it was possible. Missing the final by so little was frustrating, but I think it was ultimately a good thing.

In 2024, I won the Clermont-Ferrand regional round, but my journey ended in the quarterfinals again due to a case that didn’t go as well. That’s when I realized that if I really wanted to reach my goal, I had to fully commit. So this year, I headed to Nancy with hours of preparation and about 15 practice cases under my belt.

This year, you came back with even more determination. What did your preparation actually look like? Did you have a training routine or support?

This year I worked as a team with Marjolaine Maunoury. We tossed a bottle into the sea on LinkedIn, looking for sales professionals willing to help us train and share advice. At the same time, we had two training sessions with Anthony Morère.

These sessions helped us:

• Prepare a case quickly by highlighting key info,
• Manage our timing and adapt to different situations,
• Conduct a solid discovery phase that clearly revealed the client’s issues,
• And build strong, impactful arguments.

Every piece of feedback we received helped us improve and avoid repeating past mistakes.

Les Négociales is also a team adventure. What role did the Clermont School of Business team play in your journey this year?

For the final rounds, the Clermont SB team was incredibly tight-knit. During prep time, we often did mock presentations to test whether our discovery questions made sense, whether our arguments held up, and to prepare for objections. That teamwork really helped me feel more confident and ready for my pitches.

I was also lucky to be surrounded by people who believed in me from the start and supported me throughout. Knowing I had 23 people in the audience ready to laugh at my jokes and cheer me on was comforting and energizing.

What does this win mean to you, both personally and professionally?

This win is the culmination of all the work I put in beforehand. It proves to me that when I give 100%, I can achieve my goals, and that hard work is the key to success. I’m incredibly proud and so grateful to everyone who helped me along the way.

Also, it had been several years since a woman had won, so I’m very proud to be the one to change that!

Professionally, it’s a huge boost—it gives me credibility, visibility, and opens the door to new opportunities and future projects.

Beyond the trophy, what will you take away from this experience?

What I’ll remember most from Les Négociales is the incredible atmosphere! The two competition days are super intense, but I always look forward to them with excitement. It’s a chance to make so many professional and personal connections. In fact, it’s thanks to Les Négociales that my friendship with Marjolaine Maunoury began.

Everyone’s singing, dancing—it’s a wild, electric vibe. When a wave of candidates goes to present, all the others applaud and cheer them on. I especially felt that sense of support and kindness during my final pitch. I engaged the audience to support a point I was making, and they instantly followed along—it was magic.

Bonus question: Since your win, has negotiation become second nature—even for a baguette?

It’s pretty funny, but I actually get uncomfortable negotiating outside a professional setting! No problem negotiating a contract worth thousands of euros at Les Négociales—but haggling over a €10 table at a flea market? Much harder!