We are pleased to welcome Stéphan Le Cam to the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris Board of Directors. Stéphan is an entrepreneur and a France-US dual citizen, who lives with his family in Los Angeles, California. He has experience in financial investing, international advising, refinancing strategy, and real estate development.
We sat down with Stéphan to find out what sparked his involvement in the cathedral’s rebuilding.
Q: What inspired you to get involved with Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris?
SLC: Like many others, I was simply heartbroken when I watched Notre Dame’s unbelievable fire destroying its roof and lighting up the Paris sky on TV. Afterwards, my parish in Los Angeles raised some funds to support the reconstruction. I met Michael Picaud in Los Angeles a few months ago with a good friend of mine who also happens to be a Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris donor. I was happy to answer Michel’s call when he asked me to join the board. Last but not least, in the 1990s my wife was heading Paris Disney Animation studios, at the time it was producing the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I remember great conversations with Disney’s creative and production teams about their vision for Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. They were always passionate and sometimes funny!
Q: What drives you as a Board member?
SLC: I’m a Board member of a few organizations. I believe an external eye, some experience, and a few creative ideas (on my good days!) can be of some support to managing teams. Here, with Notre-Dame de Paris’ reconstruction being the focus, I felt a lot of good faith and passion to do well amongst the other Board Members I met at the Friends of Notre-Dame last Board meeting. I’m happy and honored to join this group.
Q: What’s your favorite memory of Notre-Dame de Paris?
SLC: I’ve always loved Notre-Dame de Paris. It started with a Breton Jesuit Middle school trip to Paris. We had the opportunity to climb the towers. I was mystified by the beauty and majesty of the site. Then in my student years I would attend mass at Notre-Dame from time to time and fell further in love with the beauty of the Cathedral. I’m also an early morning jogger and one of my treats when I’m in Paris is to run along the Seine River and stop in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral and take in her splendor.