We share entrepreneurial stories to inspire great ideas...
Blandine Carsalade
Blandine Carsalade, a former finance agent, left the business world to inspire children to read, to think about and to question the world around them. Being from Congo, the world’s second poorest country, she believes that education and an open-mind have the power to create lasting change in the world.
Author, Blandine Carsalade
- Contributed By: Blandine Carsalade
Tell us a little something about your business...
I launched Book Prunelle, an online interactive children’s book publishing platform, because I saw a need to provide children with quality picture books that told powerful stories about cultural and social issues. I always loved reading as a child and I loved to get lost in the pages of the books, imagining myself in the places and the events in the story. I began reading children’s books and then later took an interest in adult books and French fiction. However, as time went on and life got busy I had less and less time to read. My time was divided between my career in finance and my busy family life. Eventually, I lost interest in my career and knew it was time for a change, that is when I rediscovered my passion for literature and reading.
When was your lightbulb moment?
I was reading Snow White to my children and as I was reading it I thought something didn’t feel right. The plot was too linear, the lead character simply falls in love, much too quickly, and lives happily ever after. I remember thinking to myself, they deserve a better story than this, children deserve stories with rich, well-developed plots as much as adults do. This is where I had the first spark of an idea. I wanted to write real fairy stories that tackled subjects that were challenging and interesting to kids. I want to help them learn, become more tolerant and expand their minds.
What are your three words of advice?
Pursue your passion – If you are lucky enough to find your passion, dive in headfirst, your passion will feed your drive and determination to keep going and you will enjoy your work, ensuring you don’t lose interest or motivation.
Three words of advice...
Pursue Your Passion
Blandine Carsalade, a former finance agent, left the business world to inspire children to read, to think about and to question the world around them. Being from Congo, the world’s second poorest country, she believes that education and an open-mind have the power to create lasting change in the world.
“May your legacy create a footprint of success for the next person who steps into your shoes”
