Catherine: guidance as a compass for young expatriates

In the world of education, some career paths command respect through their sheer coherence and commitment. The journey of Catherine Menay, now at the helm of Axiom Orientation, is unquestionably one of them. After more than fifteen years as a school principal and head of school, she chose to devote all of her expertise to a field she cares deeply about: international academic and career guidance.

From school leadership to one-on-one guidance

It was precisely in her leadership roles that Catherine became aware of what was missing: time, and personalised support for each individual student. That frustration became a driving force. She decided to place every young person at the heart of her practice, helping them showcase their strengths, understand themselves better and build a fulfilling plan for the future.

“My mission and my passion: putting my know-how and my knowledge of education systems at the service of families, to offer young people future prospects that truly reflect who they are and motivate them.”

Catherine Menay, Director of Axiom Orientation

Her greatest source of pride?

Seeing the students she supports achieve their dreams for their studies and truly thrive in them. Some stories leave a deeper mark than others: she particularly remembers following a family of four siblings with very different profiles, guiding them step by step all the way to their post-secondary studies.

“Behind every student, there is a family to support, especially when living abroad. That holistic vision of guidance is what fascinates me and drives my commitment.”

An international, human-centred vision of guidance

With Axiom Orientation, the branch of Axiom Academic dedicated to academic and career guidance, Catherine puts her expertise at the service of expatriate families navigating a complex, ever-shifting school environment.

Among high-school students, she sees one major challenge: finding their way in a world in constant flux. A lack of self-knowledge, academic and social pressure, fear of making mistakes and an overload of information create a climate of uncertainty that holds back their ability to picture their future.

“Young people struggle to find their bearings and build their path in a rapidly changing world,” she sums up.

To meet that challenge, Axiom Orientation offers a distinctive approach: personalised, holistic guidance designed for the specific realities of expatriate life. The worldwide network of counsellors she leads combines work on self-knowledge, support in choosing academic pathways and hands-on preparation for higher education, while equipping students with clear, practical methods to build a motivating, coherent plan suited to the challenges of tomorrow’s world.

Catherine is already imagining what academic guidance will look like tomorrow: more international and more hybrid, encouraging cross-border programmes, double degrees and bridges between continents. It will rely more heavily on data and artificial intelligence, always enriched by human listening, intuition and finesse of analysis, in order to offer guidance that is genuinely made to measure.

And above all, it will be resolutely focused on skills and employability: highlighting soft skills, creativity, critical thinking and adaptability, to prepare young people not only for their studies, but also for the careers of tomorrow.

A life between desert and ocean

Based in Qatar for sixteen years, Catherine has drawn on the cultural richness and diversity of the families she meets there. This fast-changing country has shaped her view of the world and of education. When she disconnects, it is often to roam the desert or the beach, take long walks or dive into a good book.

She recommends Les quatre saisons de l’orientation by Ingrid Bennécib to parents looking for guidance, and the workbook Mon Parcours Orientation by Nadine Lasserre Mouchet for students eager to understand themselves better and build their future with peace of mind.

📩 Would you like to talk with Catherine?

Based in Qatar, Catherine supports families with their educational plans and leads Axiom Orientation, the branch of Axiom Academic dedicated to academic and career guidance.

If you would like to discuss an academic guidance project for your child, you can reach her directly:

• By e-mail: catherine.m@axiom-academic.fr
• By WhatsApp: +974 6606 3679
• Through our website: contact page

She will be delighted to get back to you and point you towards the solution that best fits your needs.