Their names are Julien-Karl, Arno, Stefano and Benjamin. Their children are 7 months, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 17 years old. Like thousands of other men, these fathers of ten children work. But with an added subtlety: they are at the head of one or more companies. These papapreneurs share with us their challenges, their good moves, their bad ones too, their rants and their assumed raves.

Julien-Karl, serial entrepreneur

I have several projects in my sights; I have four companies that are running and that I like to see evolve: a real estate project, a mobile application, clothing with a philanthropic vocation and a digital innovation agency, Codems . But today, my new priority, the one that I want to see evolve and support for at least the next 30 years, is my baby. I wear several hats, but this one is definitely my favorite!

It's a whole life change, it changes you, a man! My girlfriend, I don't know how she does it, she's a great mom ! We have help at home three days a week, because she and I are entrepreneurs. I have a great team too, very autonomous and proactive to carry out actions when I'm not available. It must be said that for about eight years, we've been running smoothly . I work from home on Mondays and Fridays, I arrange to book internal meetings and with our close partners rather than clients. Fortunately, the pandemic has accustomed people to seeing kids go behind Zoom and babies cry! We manage, we find the means. We have no choice, we have to do them, the hours. But it's quite a challenge to focus and organize. We choose our battles. I select them, my networking events!

I have barely taken time off since the birth of my son who is now eight months old. I admit that I would have liked to but I can't. In the evening, I go to bed knocked out , but despite my crazy schedule, being a papapreneur has strangely brought me back to a good life balance. It put me back on track and I love it !

Stefano, immigrant entrepreneur

I arrived in Quebec in 2009 with the dream of starting my own business. I was a sales manager in the hotel industry for Italy, then for Europe. I am comfortable with sales; but what really excites me is transmitting the soul of the product, rewriting its history and knowing how to put it forward. I set up Simeoni to promote the gastronomic products of my native land.

My daughters grew up at the same time as my project. Today, they have even become Little Entrepreneurs ! Inspired by their mother, who launched Tic Tac Gym , and by me, they created Ciao . I am proud to have shown them that the school of life is the most important of all: seeing with our own eyes, living the experience, it is the best way to apply your knowledge and open up to a world of possibilities! Entrepreneurship taught them to do things for pleasure, and we were able to pass on beautiful values to them, beyond work.

I owe a lot to my wife. She is also an entrepreneur and fully understands my challenges, which are also hers. She is ready to invest herself entirely for our success.

We are like a soccer team! As a good Italian, I often say that a man without a woman is an incomplete work. I owe her a lot. My life partner is the pillar that holds it all together. She takes care of the children on a daily basis, and I take over on the weekends so she can recharge her batteries. We are a beautiful , tight-knit family of entrepreneurs!

Benjamin, entrepreneur and intrapreneur

Husband and father of three children, I have always been an entrepreneur and intrapreneur (notably co-founder of Toucan Solutions )

Although the responsibilities of family life can seem overwhelming and distract from personal satisfaction and social outreach, I have gradually come to realize that family and work do not necessarily have to be at odds.

I actually see them as a stimulating complementarity: each moment of the present reinforces the next moment.

Entrepreneurship and family life share many common points: responsibility, teamwork, continuous education, process optimization and creativity. It is important to intertwine them to limit boring moments and other imponderables over which we have no control. The goal is to always develop, while living in the present moment.

Serving as an example to your children, inspiring them and showing them that you can live a full life, as a man of principle free in his choices and ambitions, are fundamental gifts. They will develop their autonomy and their personality even better to build the life that suits them in the future.

Arno, investor and entrepreneur

Molded in France, I went through a serious course in management and finance. I set up high-performance businesses , with all that this implies. I experienced pressure, competition, the individualistic and focused side, to the point of forgetting those who gravitated around me.

By coming to Quebec, I made the choice to realign myself. I consciously decided to evolve personally. But the balance was not easy to find, and I quickly launched into another project, head down!

It's been eight years. Today, I can say that I have readjusted the shot. Knowing myself better has allowed me to make wiser choices: working in line with my values and what I am passionate about (I am co-founder of PhoneKite ), which is much lighter to carry, and being more available for my family. We communicate, we organize ourselves differently, and we dare to seek support outside. I am present. I realize that we are connected. It is important to preserve the family and marital spheres.

The involvement is also different with children who have become teenagers. My son, who I have chosen to let be simply, even wants to become an entrepreneur!

The Benefits of Being a Papapreneur

• You can be an integral part of your children's lives

• You realize the importance of teamwork, both at work and at home.

• You can manage your schedule, and go to the soccer game on Tuesday night!

• You have a great work-life balance without having to sacrifice or choose one or the other.

• You can achieve your dreams and develop your full potential

• You leave a living legacy, you share your values and your way of life, in an active and concrete way, every day.

Being a parent and an entrepreneur is a challenge. “Things have to be done!”, as Julien-Karl says. But when we achieve balance, and conscious presence, in each of our actions, then we find a model of personal and professional fulfillment. It is a way to feel aligned and authentic, to not compromise one’s vision of family or education, and to be fully involved in one’s project.