> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Choosing the Right Co-Founder: Barbara Mahe on Building Consultancy32 - URL: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/women-who-lead/choosing-the-right-co-founder-barbara-mahe-on-building-consultancy32/ - Published: 2026-10-05T02:24:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-05T02:24:19.000Z - Author: Editorial team - Tags: Women Who Lead With 20 years in communications across HSBC, Societe Generale, S&P Dow Jones Indices and Solactive, Barbara Mahe built her career in a male-dominated industry, where she learned to let her work speak for itself. Along the way, she also learned how to show CEOs and senior executives that communications, done right, is a powerful business partner. After moving to Geneva in 2016, Barbara took on a first mission passed to her by former S&P colleague Diane Gaillard. Word spread, more requests followed, and the two soon created [Consultancy32](https://www.consultancy32.com/?ref=foundedbywomen.org), a network of senior, international communications consultants serving clients in Finance, Tech, Crypto and Impact. Instead of a traditional agency model, they bring together independent experts around missions with a clear goal, matching the right expertise to each client's needs. In this Q&A, Barbara shares how Consultancy32 came to life, how her years across banks and index providers shape her approach to communications strategy, and her advice for women building a business with a co-founder for the long term. > Know a founder (or are one) doing incredible work? **Founded by Women Awards** are open for entries. If you're building something bold, leading with purpose, or driving change in your industry, we'd love for you to enter. 👉 [foundedbywomen.org/awards](https://www.foundedbywomen.org/awards/) --- ### Q: What led you and Diane to found Consultancy32, and why build a network of senior freelance experts instead of a traditional agency model? Diane and I had worked together at S&P in London years before launching C32 - we were in charge of press relations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia for the index division back then. We loved working together and always stayed in touch when she left for Paris. When I moved to Geneva in 2016, and as I was looking for a job as Head of Comms for a Private Bank or an Asset Manager (I had a great profile for this), Diane gave me my first mission - one she couldn’t take herself. Before I knew it, people in my network reached out to ask for help - with a website, a press campaign or a comms crisis situation. And I ended up calling back old colleagues to partner with Diane and me on missions. After a couple of months, we realized it would make sense to create a structure around what we were *de facto* doing. We strongly believed that, to be really good, a Communications consultant needs to have experience and know the market, the players, and the products extremely well. So we ended up creating a network of senior communications consultants. Having very international profiles was important for us as well - because coming from different backgrounds makes people more innovative and that matters a lot in communications, especially for organisations that operate in different markets and/or go international. Our structure was slightly atypical before Covid. We gathered independent talent around missions with a clear goal, matching expertise to answer clients’ needs. Since then, clients don’t care anymore that we don’t have offices or assistants. They are looking for skills. And in the sectors that we cover - Finance, Tech, Crypto and Impact, we have very skilled communications experts. ### Q: With 20 years across HSBC, Societe Generale, S&P Dow Jones Indices, and Solactive, how has that experience across banks and index providers shaped the way you approach communications strategy for clients today? It may seem obvious, but growing up as a female communications professional in a very male dominated industry made me work twice as hard as I would have if I had been a man. Because I wanted them to remember me for what I had said or achieved and not for my gender. Working with CEOs and top executives who don’t always understand communications, I also learned how to explain my job. Communications can be a very powerful business partner when done right. In order to do so though, the Head of Communications needs to have access to all key information. I still start a mission by asking in detail about the vision and the business strategy, to ensure that the communications strategy and its implementation are supporting the business as much as possible. Reporting also matters a lot. Communications professionals tend to underestimate the importance of quantitative reporting. Having analytics and regularly checking them enables one to shift a campaign that is not working or even find new ideas. ### Q: What's one piece of advice you'd give other women looking to build a business as co-founders over the long term? Surrounding yourself with experts is crucial, but most importantly... Choosing your co-founder is an important decision. I sometimes joke with Diane that my life wouldn’t be the same without her and, to be honest, it’s true. Your co-founder needs to be someone you can trust like you trust yourself but also someone who will lift you up while challenging you. > Are you a woman leader with an inspiring story? Founded by Women elevates the voices of women making an impact. > Breaking barriers or paving the way for others? We'd love to feature you. Get in touch! 👉 [hi@foundedbywomen.org](mailto:hi@foundedbywomen.org)