"To Be a Little Braver": Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone with Charlotte & Marisa.
An interview with Circonflexe participant Charlotte Cénac- Pütz and Marisa Grizenko
Recently, we had the chance to meet with Charlotte Cénac, Circonflexe mentor, and Marisa Grizenko, her mentee, who took some time to sit down with us and share their experiences in the program.
The pair meet every two weeks, not just to chat in French, but to map out Marisa’s goals and identify concrete steps to achieve them.
For Marisa (Content Strategist from Montréal), joining Circonflexe meant reconnecting with the francophone world after 14 years in Vancouver. Back in Montréal, she set herself a goal: to participate in a networking event entirely in French.
She reached her goal thanks to Charlotte (Executive Office Manager from France), who went above and beyond: Charlotte didn't just prepare Marisa during their sessions with specific tips and tricks for French networking conversations; she also went with Marisa to the event!
Mentors’ contributions to Circonflexe are the cornerstone of the program. Charlotte chose to volunteer with Circonflexe because, to her, “It’s important to practice in a safe environment, with a good entourage, to slowly gain confidence. It’s an opening for future opportunities, or simply to get to know new people in a more personal way.”
Mentorship and one-on-one support are important to Charlotte because, in her experience, learning a new language also requires the self-confidence to practice it. In their sessions, Charlotte encouraged Marisa to take her time and be intentional with her words, while also challenging her to explore different topics.
It’s been a very positive experience for Charlotte, and she notes that she’s gained a lot as a mentor, as well: “These are truly exchanges of perspectives and experiences. I love when we call each other and have our discussions, because I also learn a lot from Marisa.”
Charlotte explains that she admires how curious Marisa is, and how she always perseveres: “She asks a lot of questions! It shows that she really wants to progress and dare to step outside of her comfort zone. It’s amazing; she just goes for it!”
Marisa also had a natural connection with Charlotte since the first meeting, because they have a lot in common: “She loves cake. I also love cake. So that's a good common ground!” Marisa joked. Beyond cake, they also share the experience of being a newcomer to Montréal, entering a new workplace, and finding a way to make it home.
For Marisa, learning a new language goes beyond the professional: “It has broadened all the doors of my life. I want to make friends who are francophones. I want to discover the culture, especially the literature and cinema. Even to engage politically, you need to speak French. It's about professional networking, but it's also about being comfortable and fully embracing where I live. I feel it's a whole other world to discover!”
At Circonflexe Mentorship, we are so proud that our program is able to support these experiences and growth. Each connection opens a new door and, in Marisa’s words, helps mentees “be a little braver to try new things.”
