Virginie Gastine Menou | Founder | Compliance Consultant | Risques et Vous
Virginie Gastine Menou has built her career on a deep commitment to fairness, ethics, and responsibility. She began her professional journey in a highly regulated environment where rules, controls, and vigilance were part of daily operations. She spent many years at Pari Mutuel Urbain, one of France’s leading betting operators, where she eventually became Head of the Fraud and Anti-Money Laundering division for both online and offline networks. In this role, she worked closely with national authorities, including financial intelligence and gaming regulators, strengthening her expertise in risk prevention and regulatory compliance. At EliteX, we are proud to have Virginie Gastine Menou as part of the edition: Prominent Women in Compliance, 2026.
Her years in the gaming sector exposed her to the complex realities of fraud, corruption risks, and financial crime. She observed that while laws and regulations were becoming more demanding, many organizations struggled to translate legal obligations into practical, operational processes. She attended conferences, webinars, and professional meetings, always seeking answers to practical questions. Yet she often left with the same doubts. That recurring gap between regulation and real-world implementation became the foundation of her entrepreneurial vision.
A true compliance leader combines technical mastery with the courage to speak uncomfortable truths.
In 2019, a graduate of ESSEC Executive School, she founded Risques et Vous, a consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized, operational, and tailored compliance support to both private and public sector organizations. The firm supports companies whether or not they are directly subject to French anti-corruption regulations such as the Sapin 2 law. For Virginie, the creation of her company was not only a professional decision but also a personal one. It reflected her values, her belief in ethical conduct, and her desire to offer concrete solutions rather than theoretical advice.
Her work today is dynamic and multifaceted. She maintains close and responsive relationships with her clients, guiding them through corruption risk mapping, whistleblowing system implementation based on ISO 37002 & 37008, and anti-bribery frameworks. As an ISO 37001 certified auditor in anti-bribery management systems, she also conducts audits that assess the strength and credibility of compliance programs. At the same time, she teaches at Essec Executive Education. Also, she designs and delivers training sessions, ensuring that compliance is understood not as a constraint but as a strategic safeguard.
Beyond consulting, she plays an active role in thought leadership within the compliance community. She co-organizes events that explore the intersection of compliance and geopolitics, coordinates think tank initiatives, and regularly shares regulatory updates and insights with her professional network. Her expertise and visibility have earned her recognition among French-speaking compliance influencers, ranking among the Top 10 and later the Top 5 in her field.
Virginie believes that the primary responsibility of a compliance leader today is to clearly and convincingly present corruption risks to decision-makers. In her view, compliance is not about fear or bureaucracy but about protecting the organization and ensuring its long-term sustainability. A compliance officer must combine technical mastery with communication skills, strategic thinking, and strong soft skills. Knowledge of laws is essential, but the ability to build trust and influence leadership is equally critical.
Her career has not been without challenges. Launching her own firm required her to believe in herself as much as others believed in her. Entering a predominantly male and highly legal-oriented environment demanded resilience and confidence. She faced difficult conversations during corruption risk assessments, particularly when senior executives questioned findings or resisted change. Over time, she built a strong professional network and established her legitimacy through expertise, consistency, and results.
One of her proudest achievements remains the positive feedback she receives from clients, trainees, and mentees. Whether it is a successful corruption risk mapping, a well-received audit, or a training session that strengthens participants’ skills, she measures success by impact. She takes particular pride in mentoring compliance professionals who later achieve their own milestones.
Ethics must never be negotiable, even when innovation moves faster than regulation.
Ethics remain central to her practice. She sees compliance as inseparable from moral responsibility. While she acknowledges technological advances such as artificial intelligence as transformative forces in corporate strategy, she also warns against ignoring ethical implications. She has, on occasion, declined assignments that conflicted with her personal values. For her, professional success must align with integrity.
Looking ahead, she observes that compliance is expanding beyond anti-corruption to include anti-money laundering, data protection, fraud prevention, and due diligence obligations. Regulations continue to evolve, and compliance functions must adapt accordingly. She believes there is space for motivated professionals in this expanding field, provided they commit to expertise and continuous learning.
As a leader, she rejects labels that differentiate between male and female leadership. However, she acknowledges that women often feel pressure to prove themselves more rigorously. Her advice to aspiring professionals, especially women entering compliance, is to master their subject thoroughly, assert their legitimacy, and remain confident.
Virginie Gastine Menou’s journey reflects passion, perseverance, and high standards. By combining regulatory expertise with ethical conviction, she has positioned herself as a trusted advisor in a rapidly evolving compliance landscape, demonstrating that integrity and performance can move forward together.
Compliance is not about fear of sanctions – it is about protecting the future of the company.