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Born in China and raised in Thailand, Chloé BESSON grew up in a multicultural environment that deeply shaped both her outlook and her commitments. Now in the final year of her Master’s degree at IÉSEG School of Management, she developed an early interest in issues related to equality and social impact, which she later explored further through a degree in sexual health at Sorbonne University. Through her start-up, “Let’s Talk About Sex”, she aims to make sexual health education more accessible and encourage open conversations around topics that are still widely considered taboo.

What drives your commitment to these issues?

Throughout my studies, I’ve worked with purpose-driven organizations, companies with strong CSR values, and NGOs. I’ve always been guided by feminist and humanist values. To me, it’s impossible to separate professional ambition from passion and meaningful impact.

Part of that probably comes from my own experience as a woman and from being confronted with certain inequalities quite early on. I was the kind of little girl who spoke loudly, took up space, and wasn’t afraid to share her opinions — and sometimes I didn’t understand why that wasn’t always welcomed. It made me want to better understand the social dynamics behind those reactions.

Growing up abroad also had a huge influence on me, especially in countries where women’s rights can be more limited. And I was fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly inspiring women who helped shape my perspective and values.

How did the idea for Let’s Talk About Sex come about?

The project started from a very personal conviction. Whenever I tried to understand certain social issues, I kept coming back to the same underlying problem: lack of education. I genuinely believe that education and open dialogue are powerful drivers of social progress. Conversations help move things forward. That’s exactly where the name Let’s Talk About Sex comes from, because talking is the first step. The moment we start putting words to these topics, they become easier to acknowledge, discuss, and address. I also grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, particularly in tech, so I’ve always seen innovation as a way to rethink existing systems and create practical, impactful solutions.

What issue were you trying to solve?

The main issue is access to sexual health education. Resources do exist today, and young people genuinely want to learn and understand. But there’s still a gap between available information and those who need it. Existing solutions often remain limited, not always inclusive, and tend to reproduce broader social biases. The idea behind Let’s Talk About Sex is to make sexual health education more accessible, inclusive, confidential, and genuinely adapted to real needs.

How did you turn the project into reality?

My personal experience and academic background opened a lot of doors. I took part in several competitions, which allowed me to pitch the project, gather feedback, connect with professionals, and access both funding and support programs — including the IÉSEG incubator and organizations such as Empow’Her, EllesEnsemble (PULSE), La Social Cup, SexTech For Good, Impulse, and ChangeNOW.

We also secured European funding to help develop the solution. But beyond that, motivation and the desire to drive change played a huge role. Once you start seeing the first results, you naturally want to keep building and growing the project.

What were the key stages in your development?

The first step was understanding the problem in depth. I did that through my thesis at IÉSEG, where I conducted a comprehensive review of existing solutions and young people’s needs — work for which I earned the ICOR Award. After that, I wanted to deepen my expertise even further, which led me to pursue a degree in sexual health at the Sorbonne. It also gave me access to a valuable network of professionals in the field.

We then developed an initial prototype with tech profiles, including students. It was important for me to work with people who truly understood the challenges behind the project. Later, we tested the platform at IÉSEG, which became our first partner school. That allowed us to gather concrete feedback from users and continuously improve the solution.

So what does the Let’s Talk About Sex platform actually offer today?

Today, we offer a hybrid solution. We run workshops in higher education institutions while also providing an online platform that includes a chatbot and educational resources.

The chatbot allows users to ask questions at any time, in a completely confidential way. We don’t collect personal data, only anonymous questions. The tool relies on trusted sources, particularly medical and legal databases. Alongside that, we provide educational content through articles, themed resources, and frequently asked questions. We’re also currently developing solutions for companies, with tools that businesses will eventually be able to integrate directly into their own internal platforms.

What have been the biggest challenges so far?

Being a young woman working on subjects that are still considered taboo definitely comes with challenges. It’s not always easy to make your voice heard. Funding can also be complicated, because not everyone immediately understands the importance of these issues or the impact they can have. And of course, there’s the constant challenge of balancing time, priorities, and responsibilities when you’re building an impact-driven project.

Balancing studies, entrepreneurship, and activism is definitely challenging at times. It requires a lot of organization, anticipation, and prioritization. But being a student is also a huge advantage because it gives you access to so many support systems, incubators, and funding opportunities.

How did IÉSEG support your entrepreneurial journey?

IÉSEG played a huge role, particularly through the professional opportunities available from the very beginning, the Entrepreneurship Master’s program, and the Incubator. I was also supported by committed professors who took the time to provide thoughtful feedback and closely follow the evolution of the project. More broadly, the School taught me something essential: how to approach problems with a solution-oriented mindset.

What advice would you give to students who want to start their own project?

The most important thing is simply to start. You have to move forward step by step, break your project down into manageable actions, prioritize what matters most, and avoid waiting for everything to be perfect before taking action. And just as importantly, learn to acknowledge your progress. We tend to focus too much on what still needs fixing, when it’s equally important to recognize everything we’ve already achieved.

What’s next for Let’s Talk About Sex?

We’re currently working on a new version of the chatbot to expand our impact even further. At the same time, we want to grow our corporate offering and increase the platform’s visibility so we can reach even more young people.

In the long term, our ambition is to help create a world with fewer taboos — a world where people can speak openly about sexuality, and where issues like consent, respect, and equality are better understood by everyone.