Layers: meet Iman Deschâtres - a story of belonging and bold ideas

Welcome to the very first post in my new series, Layers: short interviews with creative humans and business owners exploring identity, quirks and the stories we carry.

From everyday rituals to big turning points, this series is about gently peeling back the layers and sharing what makes us us. I’m starting close to home - with people in my local community and friends - and I’m so happy to kick things off with Iman Deschâtres.

We met in London years ago at a raclette dinner (of course!), became fast friends, navigated motherhood side by side, and have been cheering each other on ever since as we launched our respective businesses.

Iman’s latest venture is DepTax, a cutting-edge tax platform she built to solve the complex challenges of e-commerce taxation. Her mission is to help businesses expand globally without being held back by systems and tax obligations. It’s smart, customisable, and tailored to the real needs of modern online businesses.

From the very beginning, Iman made user experience a top priority. She put a huge amount of thought and care into the platform’s design, ensuring it not only functions well, but looks and feels intuitive for users. In fact, after bringing on her first developer, the second person she hired was a user interface specialist - a decision that reflects just how much she values clarity and usability.

Iman is a determined, curious, and deeply innovative person who doesn’t take no for an answer. As a passionate tax adviser, she’s on a mission to simplify the complicated - and I’m delighted to share some of her layers here.

WARM-UP LAYERS

Rhythm: Early bird

Fuel of choice: Coffee

Go-to treat: Salty crunch

Dream day off: City streets

Workspace vibe: Background music

Notes or ideas: Pen & paper

ROOT LAYERS

Thread Layer: Is there a part of your culture or upbringing that still shows up in your work or day-to-day life?

ID: Be thoughtful and respectful.

Home Layer: What food, phrase, or tradition instantly reminds you of home?

ID: Tunisian food.

Belonging Layer: Where do you feel most ‘at home’ - and what makes it feel that way?

ID: Being with the people I love. I’ve moved a lot over the years, so for me, home is wherever my friends and family are.

IDENTITY LAYERS

Surface Layer: What’s the first impression people usually get of you or your business?

ID: Puzzled - how could what I do possibly be fun? After all, tax has a reputation for being boring.

Hidden Layer: What’s something that drives you, but people wouldn’t see straight away?

ID: Making complex things simpler and doing it efficiently.

Growing Layer: What’s a skill, habit, or dream you’re still building into your business or life?

ID: I’m constantly learning, especially around tax and e-commerce. It’s evolving fast, and there’s always something new to keep up with.

Glow Layer: What’s something you’re really proud of — big or small?

ID: Daring to launch a product from scratch. I’ve been lucky to have amazing people around me who support me.

Colour Layer: If your business were a colour, what would it be - and why?

ID: The Red Pink of my logo, not to represent my business, but as a personal touch that reflects me: a woman passionate about what I do.

Anchor Layer: If your business had a motto or mantra, what would it be?

ID: Transforming tax from a cost centre into a growth driver.

Thank you, Iman, for sharing these sides of you with us.

👉 Connect with Iman on LinkedIn here.

👉 Check out DepTax website

👉 Listen to her latest interview (in French) - Le Café des Femmes de l’e-commerce, episode #29: simplifier les taxes pour transformer la fiscalité en levier de croissance

Have a look at the Visual Branding I did for DepTax here.

eCommerce, Tax, Compliance, Women in Tech,  Women in Business

Want to be featured? I’m always on the lookout for new voices. Just send me a message!