Le pas de côté

What Le pas de côté does

Le Pas de Côté is a privately-held French professional training company founded in 2021 and headquartered in France. It is operated by two co-founders, Barbara Ludin and Elsa Michel, both serving as coach-facilitators. The firm designs and delivers bespoke soft-skills training programs built on a proprietary methodology that pairs applied theatrical improvisation ("improvisation théâtrale appliquée") with professional coaching, structured around four pillars of self-esteem and a proprietary COID feedback method (Consent, Observation, Impact, Demand) augmented by the §4colors communication profiling tool.

The company's product portfolio comprises five core training lines: Formation Feedback, Prise de parole en public (public speaking), Entretien d'embauche (job interview preparation), self-esteem seminars/workshops, and Empowerment féminin (female empowerment, co-developed with certified coach Rébecca Sfedj). Delivery formats range from single-day seminars to multi-session cycles of 20–30 hours, typically to groups of 8–14 participants, conducted either at client premises or designated locations. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; all programs are bespoke and tailored to client context.

Le Pas de Côté targets four customer segments: enterprises (e.g., Homeserve, Korian, ENEA, Columbus Consulting), employment-insertion structures and non-profits (e.g., Y Croire et Agir/POWA, Enouma, Croix Rouge Insertion), higher education institutions (e.g., 3A, ESITECH, Sup de Com, Paris Sud, HEP, GreenTropism), and women seeking empowerment (direct-to-consumer and via insertion partners). Go-to-market relies on the company website (lepas-decote.fr), direct enterprise outreach, and warm referrals, including a strategic co-development partnership with Collectif POWA. Geographic scope is domestic (France), with concentration in the Paris region and Normandy (ESITECH-Rouen). The company has served more than 700 participants cumulatively since founding.

Name

Le pas de côté

Legal name

Le Pas de Côté

Website

https://lepas-decote.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Pas de Côté is a French soft-skills training firm founded in 2021 that delivers bespoke programs combining theatrical improvisation with coaching for enterprises, higher education institutions, employment-insertion structures, and women, serving over 700 participants cumulatively.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Soft-Skills Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sales, Customer Service & Soft Skills Training (BPACANAD), DEI, Culture & Employee Engagement Training (BPACANAE), Job Readiness Training & Soft Skills Development (EDAKANAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Soft skills training
• Professional coaching services
• Theatrical improvisation training
• Communication skills development
• Executive education workshops

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bespoke professional training services: Le Pas de Côté generates revenue through bespoke training programs sold directly to enterprises, higher education institutions, and employment insertion structures. Programs are customized to client needs and delivered as seminars, workshops, or multi-session cycles. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Le Pas de Côté designs and delivers bespoke soft-skills training programs that combine theatrical improvisation techniques with professional coaching to help individuals develop self-confidence, public speaking ability, feedback skills, and stress management. Programs are sold as customized engagements to enterprises, higher education institutions, and employment insertion structures, and as open-enrollment workshops for feminine empowerment. Delivery is in-person, in small cohorts of 8–14 participants, with formats ranging from one-day workshops to 4–5 day seminars or 20–30 hour multi-session cycles.

Product overview

Le Pas de Côté offers a suite of professional development training programs centered on theatrical improvisation and coaching methodologies. The core offerings include Formation Feedback (constructive feedback skills), Prise de parole en public (public speaking), Entretien d'embauche (job interview preparation), Séminaire/Ateliers Estime de soi (self-esteem development), and Empowerment féminin (female empowerment workshops). These programs target enterprises, higher education institutions, and professional insertion organizations. The methodology is built around four pillars of self-esteem: rapport à soi (relationship with self), rapport aux autres (relationship with others), rapport à l'action (relationship with action), and rapport à la joie (relationship with joy). Training formats range from seminars (4-5 days) to extended cycles (20-30 hours over several weeks), all emphasizing experiential learning through theatrical improvisation applied to professional contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation Feedback (Constructive and Recognition Feedback) A training program teaching the COID method (Consent, Observation, Impact, Demand) for giving and receiving feedback, using theatrical improvisation and coaching techniques to develop communication and listening skills. Targeted at enterprise employees and managers.
• Prise de parole en public (Public Speaking) A one-day minimum training program focused on overcoming glossophobia, teaching public speaking techniques, stress management, and pitch delivery skills using theatrical improvisation and coaching methods. Targeted at enterprise employees and managers.
• Entretien d'embauche (Job Interview Training) A two-day training program for higher education students to prepare for job interviews, covering self-knowledge, stress management, storytelling, and public speaking techniques.
• Séminaire/Ateliers Estime de soi (Self-Esteem Seminar/Workshops) Training focused on the four pillars of self-esteem (relationship with self, others, action, and joy) using theatrical improvisation, coaching tools, and collective facilitation. Available as a 4-5 day seminar or 20-30 hour cycle. Targeted at higher education students and insertion structure beneficiaries.
• Empowerment féminin (Female Empowerment) A one-day workshop for women to overcome confidence barriers and develop self-advocacy skills, combining coaching, theatrical improvisation, and sisterhood dynamics. Co-created with coach Rébecca Sfedj. Targeted at individual women in professional transition, entrepreneurs, and women supported by insertion structures.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 700 people have taken awareness of their talents and moved toward an fulfilling professional project through the company's programs

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rébecca SfedjcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRébecca Sfedj is a certified coach specializing in self-esteem and active listening who co-created the feminine empowerment training program with Le Pas de Côté. She brings expertise in confidence-building and creates supportive spaces of sorority while engaging participants in effective action-oriented exercises.
• POWA (Collectif POWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOWA is a collective that co-constructs insertion-to-employment programs with Le Pas de Côté. Their expertise lies in creating collective spaces that free speech and help participants gain perspective on their professional projects. POWA's participatory pedagogy and playful tools work on personal values, skills, talents, and future projections, complementing Le Pas de Côté's focus on public speaking and behavioral skills.
• Agence L'ÎlotminorOthersDigital agency responsible for website creation and development for Le Pas de Côté.
• Oz'IdéaminorOthersCreative agency responsible for the visual identity (brand design) of Le Pas de Côté.
• Carole MarietminorOthersIllustrator responsible for creating the custom illustrations used across Le Pas de Côté's website and marketing materials.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Acting International: International firm using theater techniques (including improvisation) for professional training and organizational development. Highly comparable to Le Pas de Côté in applying theatrical methods to soft-skills development, with similar methodology foundation and target buyer (HR/L&D leaders).
• MHD Formation: French training provider focused on soft skills, communication, and personal development for enterprises. Comparable as a France-based competitor offering corporate soft-skills training programs, particularly in interpersonal communication and behavioral competencies.
• Talentis Coaching: French coaching and training firm offering individual and organizational development programs including soft skills, leadership, and personal effectiveness. Comparable in combining coaching with experiential training methodologies targeting HR buyers and individual professionals.
• Théâtre & Entreprise: France-based firm offering theater-based training for businesses, including improvisation, public speaking, and managerial skills. Directly comparable methodology (theater/improvisation applied to professional contexts) and similar SME and corporate client base.
• Impro Cie: French company specializing in theatrical improvisation applied to professional development, communication, and team building. Highly comparable to Le Pas de Côté in methodology foundation (improvisation théâtrale), target audience, and product category.

Broad incumbents

• Cegos: France's largest corporate training provider offering a broad catalog including soft-skills and management development. Comparable as an enterprise soft-skills training provider, but operates at vastly greater scale with a standardized portfolio versus Le Pas de Côté's bespoke improvisation-based niche.
• Orsys: Major French professional training firm offering a broad catalog including management, communication, and personal development courses. Comparable as a French enterprise training competitor with overlapping subject matter (communication, soft skills, personal effectiveness).
• Dale Carnegie France: Global training incumbent with strong brand recognition in public speaking, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Comparable as an enterprise soft-skills provider with similar core topics (public speaking, confidence, communication), though using more traditional training methods versus improvisation.
• IFRS (Institut Français des Relations Sociales): Established French training institute offering communication, personal development, and management programs. Comparable as a French incumbent in the soft-skills training category serving enterprise HR and L&D buyers.

Emerging players

• Formation & Sens: Smaller French training firm offering soft-skills and behavioral competency development for organizations. Comparable in providing bespoke soft-skills training to enterprise clients in France, though likely using more conventional methodologies than improvisation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-pas-de-c-t-eb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Le pas de côté