Accessibility Champion's Journey at Sanofi

What happens when a curious quality assurance tester encounters an odd request about color contrast? For Iulia Brehuescu, it sparked a journey that would transform not only her career but also impact accessibility practices across a global pharmaceutical giant. Iulia"s story is both inspiring and cautionary. From her early days testing web platforms at a digital agency to her current role shaping global accessibility strategy at Sanofi, she shares the exhilaration of turning a passion project into meaningful work—and the personal cost when that passion outpaced self-care. "For no surprise to everyone, that came at my physical and mental health expense," she explains of her eventual burnout. Her subsequent recovery and career transition demonstrate how professionals can maintain their impact while establishing healthier boundaries. At Sanofi, Iulia tackles accessibility challenges across physical environments, digital spaces, and organizational culture in 70 countries. She offers fascinating insights into the unique demands of manufacturing sites, where complex layouts require balancing safety with accessibility for approximately 20% of their workforce. The conversation explores how leadership commitment—with half of their executive committee holding inclusion-related roles—creates a culture where accessibility professionals can focus on implementation rather than justification. Yulia"s practical approach to balancing strategic vision with day-to-day realities provides valuable lessons for organizations at any stage of their accessibility journey. Ready to transform accessibility from a passion project to a strategic priority in your organization? Listen now and discover how to translate global accessibility frameworks into meaningful local impact while sustaining your own well-being along the way. Support the show Follow axschat on social media. Bluesky: Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/ Vimeo https://vimeo.com/akwyz https://twitter.com/axschat https://twitter.com/AkwyZ https://twitter.com/neilmilliken https://twitter.com/debraruh