Once we left the room, conversations resumed naturally, in small groups, in the lounges of the Club de la Chasse et de la Nature. It’s a unique place, with trophies on the walls, 17th and 18th century animal paintings, display cases filled with antique weapons, and dark wood paneling. It’s a far cry from the usual meeting rooms, and that’s precisely what creates an atmosphere conducive to exchanges that are a little less formal and a little more candid.

The conversations quickly branched out. First, they centered on the conference topics, debt, reforms, and what these mean in practical terms for businesses, then shifted to subjects closer to everyone’s daily lives: ongoing projects, decisions to be made, and shifting markets. Some participants already knew each other, while others were meeting for the first time. In both cases, the setting encouraged people to linger, grab another drink, and pick up where they’d left off.

Each participant left with a signed copy of *Face au mur*.