An Ivorian-Belgian entrepreneur born in Abidjan, Gabrielle Lemaire is an expert in strategic communications and crisis management. Founder and Managing Director of Barons advisory firm, Vice-President of the Didier Drogba Foundation, and co-founder of Le Petit Potager, she has advised prominent Ivorian government ministers.
Gabrielle Lemaire was born on 10 July 1986 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. An Ivorian-Belgian entrepreneur and mother of two, she grew up immersed in a vibrant, cosmopolitan culture.
Having settled in Belgium, she achieved her Economic and Social Baccalaureate with distinction before gaining admission to the prestigious Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).
Driven by a passion for influence strategy and brand positioning, she specialised at the European Communication School (ECS) in Brussels, subsequently relocating to London to earn a Master of Arts (MA) in Communications, Marketing and Political Crisis Management from the University of Westminster.
« This dual academic grounding — legal rigour on one hand, influence strategy and crisis management on the other — forms the core matrix of her approach: deciphering institutional power dynamics to translate them into compelling public narratives. »
Her academic rigour swiftly opened doors to major international corporations. She commenced her career within the marketing division of the energy giant GDF Suez in Brussels, prior to joining D8 News.
In 2012, she was appointed Director of Communications for the Ivorian subsidiary of the banking group BNP Paribas.
Driven by a pursuit of direct impact and strategic sovereignty, Gabrielle Lemaire founded the communications advisory firm Barons, serving as its Managing Director. Under her leadership, the agency became the trusted strategic partner to several prominent Ivorian ministries.
A prominent figure within the Euro-African political and economic ecosystem and an active member of the European Chamber of Commerce, Gabrielle Lemaire orchestrates public affairs initiatives and private diplomacy between both continents. Her bi-cultural acumen affords her singular fluency in fostering dialogue among public policymakers, corporate leaders, and international institutions.
Her steadfast advocacy for women's economic empowerment has established her as a defining voice in contemporary female leadership.
Deeply committed to ecological transition and sustainable development across Africa.
Concurrently, she serves as Vice-President of the Didier Drogba Foundation, where she instils an ambitious momentum centred on education, healthcare, and sustainable development for vulnerable communities.
Advancing her vision of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, Gabrielle Lemaire is co-founder and partner of Le Petit Potager, a pioneering brand dedicated to wholesome, balanced infant nutrition. Formulated from rigorously selected natural ingredients, its products fulfil the nutritional requirements of young children whilst supporting parents in daily life.
This venture embodies her commitment to public health, social innovation, and the emergence of high-impact enterprises across the continent.