Black History Month: Portrait of Louis Francois

Black Leadership 

As part of Black History Month 2025, we highlight exemplary journeys that reflect leadership, resilience, and excellence within the Black community. Today, we celebrate the inspiring story of Louis Francois, whose professional and personal journey embodies the values of perseverance and success. 

Origins and Education 

Originally from Cameroon, Louis Francois first studied business administration in Tunisia before returning to his home country. He then continued his academic journey with a master's degree in project management, specializing in sustainable development. His academic path, marked by challenges, shaped in him an unshakable determination. 

A Journey That Builds Resilience 

Beyond degrees, it is real-life experience that shapes a person. His love for jazz music and reading, which have always accompanied him, taught him patience, discipline, and the art of practice. His career began in an environment filled with challenges, particularly in marketing and public relations, where he learned to navigate complex situations. 

Difficulties have never been an obstacle for this passionate guitarist. On the contrary, they have been stepping stones for his growth. Working in companies where commitment was sometimes unpaid, he had to be pragmatic, moving beyond academic theories to focus on concrete action. Every obstacle pushed him to learn and reinvent himself. 

A Career Forged Through Experience 

His first job at Pullman Hotel as a sales intern allowed him to acquire essential skills in customer service but also to understand the importance of seizing every opportunity, even if it was unpaid.

"It’s better to do an unpaid internship than to do nothing at all. It allowed me to learn how to sell myself and show what I was capable of," he says, emphasizing the importance of practical experience in building a career. 

From Moving Jobs to a Leadership Position 

Upon arriving in Canada in 2023, Louis-François embarked on a new chapter: he started with a physically demanding job at a moving company—a drastic change after a career in administration. This role allowed him to see his new environment from a different perspective, develop valuable interpersonal skills, and discover Canadian reality in a new light. 

A year later, Collège Nordique offered him the opportunity to join the team as a senior admissions and partnerships coordinator—a decisive turning point in his career. The challenge here was different: selling and interacting in an environment where 90% of the target clientele were English-speaking, while his English was not yet fluent. But Louis Francois saw this as a chance to grow and push himself further. He is committed to continuous learning, adapting, and approaching his work with an inclusive perspective.

"You have to understand the environment, respect diversity, and learn to adapt to cultural particularities while staying true to yourself," he says. 

The Future of Black People in Canada: A Dream Without Limits 

Louis Francois firmly believes that Canada offers endless opportunities to those who dare to dream big. "The sky isn’t even the limit," he says. Coming from a family that never forced him to follow a predetermined path, he understood from a young age that he was free to choose his own way. Today, that freedom still drives him. His journey—from a mover to a senior admissions and partnerships coordinator—is proof that with hard work, perseverance, and an open mind, anything is possible. 

"Many people doubted that I could go from moving jobs to a high-responsibility position in such a short time. But I never limited my ambitions. You just have to be ready and work hard to seize the opportunities that come your way," he concludes with conviction. 

An Inspiring Leadership 

For Louis Francois, leadership has no color or gender. It is a mindset, a capacity to understand others, to show empathy, and to support a team with emotional intelligence and adaptability.

"Leadership is about supporting others, helping them grow, while being an example of resilience yourself. It’s also about understanding mistakes and guiding without judgment." 

The Dream of an Equal Future 

When thinking about the future of Black people in Canada, Louis Francois envisions a horizon where barriers are broken, and opportunities are accessible to all.

"More and more Black people are holding leadership positions, and that sends a strong message to young people. It shows them that no matter where you come from, it’s determination and commitment that shape the future." 

He reminds us that true excellence is built through challenges and that it is always possible to reinvent oneself to make a difference. 

Here are some pictures of Louis Francois's journey: at Université Centrale in Tunisia, during a team-building event in Cameroon where he was a trade marketing representative, another from when he was a Key Account Manager at NIVEA, and of course, at Collège Nordique in his role as Principal Coordinator for Admissions and Partnerships.