General Manager

As the General Manager at Pennylane, your primary responsibility will be to lead the charge in implementing strategies that align with our vision of becoming the number one financial Operating System for SMEs. This includes managing the company’s approach to the E-Invoicing reform, defining strategic initiatives across channels and pricing, and ensuring such strategies are cascaded effectively in departmental OKRs. You will also monitor performance and market penetration for timely adjustments.

To become a General Manager at Pennylane, you should possess a strong leadership background coupled with experience in business strategy and product marketing. Familiarity with customer acquisition tactics is essential, as you will need to influence various departments to align with company goals. While having a generalist background is a must, previous product management experience would be an added advantage.

At Pennylane, you will find a vibrant work culture that encourages trust, proactivity, and autonomy. We pride ourselves on being one of the best places to work in France, fostering a collaborative environment amidst a diverse team of over 25 nationalities. You'll also appreciate our focus on remote work, allowing flexibility while making a significant impact on the finance industry.

Pennylane is committed to supporting the growth of its employees through hands-on mentorship, a robust learning environment, and opportunities for professional advancement. With leadership roles like the General Manager, you will have access to extensive resources and a supportive team dedicated to helping you succeed while growing our business.

The General Manager at Pennylane will play a crucial role in fostering relationships with our customers, including over 200,000 SMEs and 3,500 accounting firms. You will oversee strategies that directly enhance customer satisfaction, ensuring that our offerings meet their needs effectively while representing Pennylane in external engagements. Your leadership will be vital in aligning our operations with customer expectations.

In answering this question, focus on your relevant leadership experiences and specific scenarios where you successfully managed cross-functional teams or strategy implementation. Highlight instances where your business acumen led to measurable successes, as this shows you understand key aspects of the role.

When asked this, outline a structured approach: assessing current market trends, aligning with company goals, and engaging stakeholders for insights. Describe how you would develop actionable OKRs and monitor them for success, showing your ability to translate vision into a practical strategy.

Share a detailed example where you were under tight deadlines and explain the steps you took to prioritize tasks, manage team dynamics, and ensure successful project execution. This will demonstrate your capability to handle pressure in a leadership role.

Discuss innovative marketing and product strategies, showcasing your knowledge of customer acquisition trends. You might include using data analytics to target specific customer segments, leveraging partnerships, or enhancing user experience through feedback, thus reflecting your strategic thinking.

This is a great chance to emphasize your collaborative approach. Explain your methods for facilitating regular check-ins, using collaboration tools, and creating an open communication culture that fosters transparency, thus ensuring that all team members understand the overarching strategy.

Highlight your passion for developing others and achieving collective goals. Share personal anecdotes to illustrate how you celebrate team successes and support individual growth, reinforcing your leadership philosophy and approach.

Showcase your knowledge of how the E-Invoicing reform impacts SMEs and financing. Discuss the operational implications for Pennylane and how you would capitalize on them, emphasizing your readiness to lead effectively through this transformation.

Use this question to illustrate your ability to learn from mistakes. Share a specific situation, focusing on the actions you took post-failure—what you learned and how you applied those lessons moving forward, emphasizing resilience and growth.

Here, you'll want to convey your public speaking experience and comfort in facing diverse audiences. Share your approach to presenting complex information simply and engagingly, showcasing Pennylane’s values and innovations effectively.

Articulate a long-term vision that aligns with Pennylane’s goals and values. Discuss your aspirations to shape the company’s future, drive strategic initiatives, and improve employee engagement while positioning Pennylane as a market leader.