The story behind Absolutely French
"What drove me to create Absolutely French was the silence around expat partners—how easy it is to lose your voice, your confidence, and even the sense of who you might become."
I’m Armelle Perben, founder of Absolutely French.
Before returning to France, I lived in seven countries. Each departure, each new beginning, each return brought its share of challenges—for me, for my family, and for my career. I was what many call the expat partner—the one who follows, adapts, supports.
The one who often becomes invisible… feeling lonely, disconnected, and unsure of what comes next.
I put my career on hold, learned new languages, started over—again and again. And through it all, I learned a powerful truth:
Expat life is rich and beautiful, but it can feel brutal when you lose your identity, your network, and your confidence.
When I came back to Paris, I wanted to create the space I had always needed upon arrival:
➡️ A welcoming and human environment
➡️ A strong, supportive community
➡️ And a concrete path to rebuild confidence and reclaim your own story
That’s how Absolutely French was born.
What we believe in
“Without integration, there can be no employment.”
Our values guide every course, every conversation, and every decision. We don’t just teach language—we build bridges, spark confidence, and help people rediscover who they are.
Every expat partner is a talent waiting to shine
Too often, spouses are seen as “plus-ones.”
We see incredible potential, unique backgrounds, and skills waiting to be unleashed.
Our job? To help every partner turn that potential into action.
Expatriation is not a pause—it’s a chance to grow
Moving abroad isn’t about putting your life on hold. It’s a chance to rediscover what matters, build something new, and reinvent yourself with courage and creativity.
We help expat partners turn transitions into transformations.
The partner’s integration is the key to expat success
When the spouse feels welcome, supported, and empowered, the whole family thrives—and the expat can focus, perform, and grow.
Expatriation isn’t an individual journey—it’s a family affair.
What we’ve achieved so far
At Absolutely French, we’ve been leading the way in supporting expat partners since 2015 — and we’re proud of the impact we’ve made so far:
🎯 We created the first-ever job fair for expat partners in France: Absolutely Talented — a pioneering event dedicated to unlocking the potential of international talents often left out of global mobility strategies.
👉 The 3rd edition has taken place in October 2024 at MEDEF headquarters in Paris — a strong signal that expat partners matter to today’s employers.📚 In 2022, our founder Armelle Perben published “Managing Dual Career Expat Couples” — a strategic and actionable guide for HR professionals and companies to better support international families and ensure long-term relocation success.
- 💬 In 2024, we launched Absolutely Talks — a platform where international HR leaders, researchers, and expat partners share bold ideas and real-life experiences on dual careers and inclusive mobility.
🤖 Absolutely Ahead – AI Mobility Academy — our latest innovation — is the first AI-powered program to prepare expat partners before and after relocation, helping them build clarity, confidence, and a real sense of belonging.
🧑🤝🧑 We’ve supported over 1,250 expat partners from more than 70 countries, through language immersion, cultural integration, and career coaching — with a 100% completion rate in our training programs.
🤝 Our trusted clients include Air Liquide (since 2017), L’Oréal (since 2018), and TotalEnergies (since 2019) — companies who recognize that supporting expat partners is key to successful assignments.
At Absolutely French, we don’t just ease transitions —
we turn mobility into a true opportunity for both the company and the family.
🌍 70+ nationalities welcomed
🏢 10+ loyal corporate partners
🇫🇷 All levels of French taught
(A0 to C1)
💯 100% program completion rate
(a rare feat in language learning!)
🤝 A human-based method combining language, culture, networking and confidence-building
What’s next? Our vision for the future
We believe in a world where every expat partner feels seen, valued, and empowered.
Where companies understand that the success of an international assignment depends on more than logistics.
Where relocation becomes a springboard, not a struggle.
At Absolutely French, we’ll keep building that world—one story, one partner, one transformation at a time.
Curious to learn more?
Explore our programs, meet our Absolus, or reach out to see how we can help your company support global talent through real, human-centered integration.
Let’s make every expatriation a success—together.