FINANCE: Career journeys of NEOMA graduates #2

Julie Lemoine, a NEOMA graduate, is Head of Investments at Vigifinance. In 2024, she was once again named in the Choiseul Finance de demain ranking, for the second consecutive year. Her career reflects both the wide range of opportunities in finance and the growing role of responsible investment in today's strategies.

A strong foundation, built step by step

“I did not come from a finance background, but I was always comfortable with numbers,” Julie explains. After completing a double degree in finance at EM Léonard de Vinci and London South Bank University, she chose to deepen her expertise throughMastère Spécialisé in International Financial Analysis.

She began her career as a credit analyst at Rothschild, where she spent two years. “Assessing companies’ financial health is demanding, but it is an excellent way to learn the fundamentals.” In 2014, she joined Vigifinance, where her responsibilities quickly expanded. She started as a fund analyst, became a shareholder in 2017, then moved into portfolio management before being appointed Head of Investments in 2021.

Developing a high-performing investment team

Taking on her new role, Julie’s priority was to build a strong and well-balanced team. “You cannot build an effective investment team overnight. It takes several years for people to develop strong working relationships and complementary skills. The manager’s role is to make the most of these differences, depending on market conditions.”

She now works alongside three portfolio manager analysts. “We operate in a very collective way, within a strict regulatory framework. All our decisions go through our monthly investment committees.”

The team is also supported by Gérard de Bartillat, President and Founder of Vigifinance. “His market experience brings valuable perspective and healthy challenge.” Julie insists that experience is crucial in finance: “You learn more from what goes wrong than from what goes right. The real danger is becoming overconfident.”

She recalls, for instance, periods of sharp market volatility following announcements of increases in US tariffs: “When markets were reacting emotionally, we stayed focused on our long-term strategy and took the opportunity to strengthen certain positions.”

Investing with tomorrow in mind

Reflecting on her presence in the Choiseul Finance de demain ranking, Julie believes two factors played a role: “Holding a senior position before forty, and being directly involved in investments that aim to support future generations through the HOSITO fund.”  The fund posted growth of 8.1% in 2023 and 7.7% in 2024, illustrating this long-term approach.

Investing in both equities and bonds, HOSITO, which stands for “How Soon Is Tomorrow”, targets companies committed to addressing major societal challenges, including environmental protection, technological innovation and human wellbeing, particularly in healthcare and education.

Launched in April 2022, the fund reflects the broader investment strategy Julie has overseen at Vigifinance for the past four years, covering both listed and private assets. Founded in 2010 by two families, the family office supports a limited number of clients with a holistic approach to wealth management, spanning legal, tax, estate planning and financial matters.

The investment team therefore works across wealth structuring, portfolio construction and ongoing management, offering advisory services, discretionary management or collective investment solutions, depending on each client’s needs.

A long-term commitment to responsible finance

To remain aligned with market expectations and continue attracting new talent, Vigifinance has launched a B Corp certification process, with completion expected in 2025.

As for Julie Lemoine, she intends to continue developing the family office’s values, particularly its focus on long-term impact and knowledge sharing. She is also active within the Institut Choiseul network, “where professionals exchange meaningful insights and experience with peers”.