Reflets Mag #156 puts the spotlight on Cécile Moroni Engevik (E08) who has become one of Norway's most prominent comedians. And yet she was born in France and was still working in the corporate world two years ago... Read her portrait in this freely accessible article...  

“At the age of 8, I was already writing sketches and shows for my puppets. They must have been pretty awful!” But that did not prevent Cécile Moroni Engevik from pursuing her passion. “While at ESSEC, I joined the drama association, Comedia, and launched ‘Les Impro'visibles’ with Guillaume Villon de Benveniste (E07). When she left ESSEC, Cécile joined the Cours Florent drama school in Paris. “I did the boomerang thing and went back to live with my parents. I was still wavering between a corporate career and an artistic career.” She loved the experience. “I met people whom I would never have met anywhere else.” And, of course, I learnt about acting, the stage, the relationship with the audience... I also learnt how to study text – contemporary literature, in particular. 

Change of Scenery

However, after a year, Cécile Moroni Engevik bowed out and ventured into the world of strategy consulting, first with Bain and then with Roland Berger. “I've never regretted it. I gained credibility and skills in managing complex problems that have served me well ever since.” Especially when she decided to move to Norway with her future husband. “I found my first job there before I had even left France.” 

It was still a major upheaval, however. “It was a real culture shock – more of a culture collision. First of all, I’m not a big fan of snow. Secondly, Scandinavians have warm hearts but cold hands: they are slow to open their doors to you. You have to realise that they spend half the year at home because of the weather... That's why they have such beautiful furniture!” 

However, she is no stranger to changes of scenery. “During my studies, I participated in an exchange scheme with the University of Mannheim, and the differences between Germany and France were so great – when you're job hunting, recruiters can refuse you an interview if you've had bad marks in class, for example, – that I made this the subject of my dissertation.” 

She therefore adapted to life in Oslo, becoming president of Chapter Norway of ESSEC Alumni, and worked her way up the marketing ladder at Carlsberg and then Nespresso. “I went from the world of beer for aperitifs to the world of coffee with George Clooney.”

Back on Stage

At the same time, Cécile Moroni Engevik returned to the world of stand-up comedy. “Making jokes in a foreign language to an audience with whom you don't share common references is quite a challenge. I had plenty of flops to start with.” She teamed up with a co-writer and also decided to test her ideas with French and Norwegian friends and family. “I noticed that they didn't react to the same passages. But at least they were laughing.”

What began as a hobby soon became a full-fledged activity. “The real turning point came after an appearance on national television. I started selling out large venues, performing outside the capital and winning awards: Stå opp Prisen, Trophée des Français de l'étranger ...” Enough to embark on the adventure on a full-time basis. “I gave myself a trial period of six months. Two years later, I’m making a living from it.”

She alternates between her own show, “Allo Norge!” and a duo show with fellow performer Pernille Haaland called “Norway for Beginners”, as well as occasional collaborations with other figures in the industry. “I’m just as likely to cover politics, making fun of the people in power, as everyday life, making jokes about parenthood and the sometimes strange behaviour of children. But I always try to keep it good-natured.”

And, of course, she pokes fun at the disparities between Norway and France. “I've even published a book on the subject, Where Babies Sleep Outside: Raising Children in Norway. The title refers to a local peculiarity: people let their babies sleep outside in pushchairs even at –10°C!” In the same vein, she also hosts the podcast Hvorfor Norge? where her guests are people who have successfully adapted to life in Norway. “I play the expat card to the hilt: when I share a video with a good old-fashioned beret on my head, the post is a big hit.”  

Cécile also maintains a presence on Instagram, TikTok and even LinkedIn. “You need followers to reassure venues about your ability to attract spectators.” But the exercise itself has nothing to do with that. “To set the right tone, I revived the consultant in me by analysing the average attention span on each platform and adjusting my jokes accordingly.” 

This “professional quirk” is also reflected in her writing style. “I write everything in Excel format, simply because it allows me to count the words between each punchline! The art of stand-up is to keep the statement that leads up to the punchline as short as possible. A principle illustrated by this highly effective quote from Wanda Sykes: ‘If you voted Trump and you came to my show, you fucked up twice’. Two jokes in one sentence!”

From Open Mic to Open Space

Cécile Moroni Engevik has not made a completely clean break from her managerial past. “I'm regularly asked to speak at corporate events.” She is often asked to make humorous comments on corporate life. “I spend some time at head office to understand the business and soak up the atmosphere. And at the canteen: the menus are always good for a laugh.”  

Published in Reflets Magazine #156. Read the issue exceptionally in free access. Subscribe to read our upcoming issues! 

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni

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