In the beautiful setting of one of Rabat’s inner courtyards, surrounded by luscious vegetation and blue-toned mosaics, the multimedia team had the occasion to organize an intimate interview with Michèle Piccard and Yasemin Borschberg.

Although different in many ways, the two women radiate independence and strength while enthusiastically speaking about Solar Impulse. I was struck by their determination to nourish their own identity alongside their marriage demonstrating skill in balancing a career alongside family life and support for their husbands’ vision.  

Michèle is officially part of the Solar Impulse team, managing corporate communications and bringing an added value thanks to her experience in marketing and strategic communications in the watchmaking business.

Although Yasemin is not an official employee, she is fully involved in the project as both her husband and daughter, André and Elâ, are part of the team; he as Pilot, CEO and Co-Founder of Solar Impulse and she as Social Media and Web Manager.

As a young woman myself, I believe the key message of the interviews is linked to Michèle and Yasemin’s double-role. On the one hand, they have known how to challenge their husbands by making them question their message and strategies. On the other, they never stopped pushing them in their pursuit of excellence and determination to achieve.

To transform a vision into reality it is indispensable to have someone daring to ask the right questions and not only offering support. In the context of Solar Impulse, many people criticized the development of a solar-powered airplane, considering it an impossible challenge. But from the interviews it is apparent, despite public criticism, that André and Bertrand’s drive to pursue this innovative project was fully encouraged by these two women faithful in their husbands’ competences.

But what strongly came through the interviews was that this stimulus is not a one-way street. Aware that they’ve equally benefitted from the frequent debates and self-assessments they carry-out with their husbands, this recurrent exercise has also helped them evolve as women and mothers. The project has assisted both Michèle and Yasemin to apply a larger view and scope to their actions and activities, effectively transforming the Solar Impulse project into a life and family adventure.