Testimonials

Thibault Mercier

Thibault Mercier, 39 years old, lawyer. 

I participated in the Tocqueville Fellowship in 2015, a few months after founding the Cercle Droit & Liberté, which I preside over and which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

What inspired you to apply for the Tocqueville Fellowship, and what did you hope to accomplish?

My experiences with the IFP training programs and the desire to gain expertise in the nonprofit sector.

Can you describe one of the most memorable experiences you had during your stay in Washington, D.C.?

Giving a speech at a coalition meeting in front of several American associations.

What were the main lessons from your fellowship that had an impact on your personal and professional life?

I made friendships and political connections that I still maintain today in Paris or Washington.

How did the fellowship facilitate networking opportunities, and could you share how these connections helped you in your career?

I made friendships and political connections that I still maintain today in Paris or Washington. For example, I was able to leverage this network to organize a conference in Paris in 2024 by bringing in foreign guests. I also go to Washington every year thanks to the relationships I built with the Cercle Droit & Liberté.

What specific skills did you develop during the fellowship that are useful in your current role?

I developed skills in fundraising, political communication, and maintaining networks.

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to someone considering applying for the Tocqueville Fellowship?

Gather as much information as possible from the directors of associations and think tanks on-site. Some of it may be useful years later.

Looking back, how has the Tocqueville Fellowship influenced your professional trajectory?

The fellowship opened up new possibilities for me by showing that if it was possible to have ambitions in the American nonprofit and political sectors, it was also possible to have similar ambitions in the French nonprofit sector and to apply (sometimes adapting) the methods learned across the Atlantic.

If you had to summarize your Tocqueville Fellowship experience in a few words, what would they be?

“The sky is the limit.”