Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, was keen for its shadows to experience life in one of its global hubs and learn about the company’s major domains and functions, says chief human resources officer Olivier Blum. The three-day itinerary included a brainstorming session with the in-house creative studio, an innovation hub tour to learn about the company’s latest solutions and a networking session at the French Chamber of Commerce.
The shadows were digitally savvy, and full of fresh ideas, energy and curiosity, says Blum. “They were asked to create a digital piece to wrap up their experience – no format or content was prescribed other than a non-conventional presentation – and they produced a music video that recapped their experience of the programme by leveraging on the product and solutions information they were exposed to during their time with us,” he says.
Chinenye Egbuna, an accounting and finance student at Baptist University, is keen to pursue a career with a company like Schneider in the future as it is tackling climate change by promoting the use of reliable, sustainable and clean energy.
She appreciated the opportunity to meet several senior leaders at Schneider during the programme. “From them, I learned that a good leadership style should be open enough to encourage the free flow of ideas and creativity from team members to ensure that everybody’s opinion is valued to enhance synergy and trust, and promote openness and equal opportunities for everyone.”
They also advised the shadows to choose a company they have an emotional connection with in terms of their business, values and objectives, as well as a boss that’s able to motivate, teach and shape them, she says.
Grayson Ho, a business management, IT engineering and computer studies student at the University of Hong Kong, says he’s now more confident about pursuing his dream of becoming a technology entrepreneur after attending the programme, as it helped provide realistic suggestions on how to develop the mindset and technical skill sets needed.
Being invited to the product launch of a new switch, the Avatar On, was another stand-out moment for Ho, as it gave him an insight into how Schneider operates as a business, from channel marketing to retail store distribution.
Key takeaways for Ho were that corporate entrepreneurship is key, and large firms must keep innovating to secure a leading position. A diverse talent base is additionally important. “One has to accommodate opinions from different people to avoid group think and to make better business decisions,” he says.
As the shadows embark on their respective careers, Blum advises them to become learners for life in order to adapt to the future of work. “Rather than job-hopping, we also encourage them to [fully] experience a job to achieve professional fulfilment.”
