sa·voir faire \, sav-, wär-‘fer \ n.m. 1: Know-how. French, savoir-faire, literally, knowing (savoir) how to do (faire).
There’s been a French buzz in the air in Brisbane over the past two weeks, but as the Alliance Française French Film Festival draws to a close some Franco-Brisbanites may find it difficult to say “Au Revoir” to all things Gallic. Fear not, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat has written a new book. Her new venture steps away from the food/diet focused genre and into self-help. Shock! However this self-help book is well worth the trek into that frightful section of the bookstore. Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire is a working woman’s guide to the business world – the way French women do it. Guiliano, one-time CEO for Veuve Clicquot champagne, teaches female readers how to; get to the top of their career, ask for that raise and achieve that elusive “work-life balance”. Chapters include; “Choosing a Path: Passion, Talent, and More”, “Fire Your Boss: Leaders and Managers” and “Making It”. Foodie Guiliano also can’t help but devote a chapter to, “Eating for Business and Pleasure”. Her working title for the book was French Women Don’t Get Fired, however she soon explains they’re like all other women on that front. If you’re interested in equipping yourself with different techniques before entering the workforce, take your cues from this French/American business woman.
