“What Skills Will We Need Tomorrow?”
Digital transformation, the climate and social crises, artificial intelligence… profound changes in the world of work are underway and continue to unfold amid the COVID-19 crisis.
What are these emerging skills of the future? What lessons can you learn from them for your employability and career? How are skill requirements changing?
It was with great pleasure that we brought together ASAGE alumni on October 8 for a dinner and discussion at La Mère Royaume, featuring three expert and passionate speakers.
Isabelle Chappuis, executive director of the Futures Lab at HEC Lausanne. In her latest work, she uses foresight to study the impact of technology on the world of work in the short and medium term.
Guy Zehnder, Director of Human Resources at Firmenich Operations and a member of the HR Vaud Executive Committee. He is at the forefront of current and upcoming changes in recruitment.
Sabrina Cohen Dumani, director and founder of the Nomads Foundation. In particular, she leads the Future of Jobs Hub, which implements concrete solutions to anticipate and develop the skills of the future.
Their obvious complementarity has allowed them to paint a rich picture, tinged with a healthy dose of optimism and practical advice that can be put into practice right away.
Here are some key takeaways from their remarks:
Isabelle Chappuis invites us to imagine THE futures that might unfold, so that we can influence them to converge toward a desirable future. She emphasizes that no single actor can foresee all possible interactions. We must bring together the various public and private actors around shared projects.
Guy Zehnder emphasizes a key issue for the company’s future: understanding the value chain. He shares the insights gained through discussions with the fragrance division teams. What will future needs be? What will tomorrow’s ecosystem look like? What training should be provided? By supporting employees in this way, he is committed to ensuring their employability and career growth within Firmenich.
Sabrina Cohen Dumani, for her part, highlighted the use of collective intelligence. She gave the concrete example of the hydrogen-powered truck project. It is a practical way to foster collaboration among various public and private stakeholders and to prepare for changes in the workforce by developing the new training programs needed to establish this industry.
Their advice on the key skills needed to remain employable and succeed in the future:
- VERSATILITY, so you can adapt as quickly as possible
- CREATIVITY and CURIOSITY—to step outside your comfort zone and discover
- Managing UNCERTAINTY within our teams, ANTICIPATING challenges, and engaging in continuous learning
- Be a PROACTIVE PARTICIPANT, create projects, build teams that evolve, and collaborate.
- Remain aware of your own responsibilities. Cultivate KINDNESS
- Knowing how to address the question of MEANING and the need for AGILITY in managing uncertainty.
- And always, let’s cultivate the optimism, enthusiasm, and humanity that bind us together.
For the participants, this event—beyond being a tremendous professional enrichment—will have held special significance after several months of mandatory webinars.
The event was well-organized and welcoming, while adhering to safety protocols, and the Mère Royaume team provided impeccable hospitality.
Alumni were able to engage in meaningful discussions through debates organized at each table and question-and-answer sessions. These in-person gatherings are rare and foster a sense of purpose and open-mindedness.
We would like to thank the organizing committee, as well as our partners, who helped make this event a success:
The 2020 organizing committee, composed of alumni from various ASAGE member associations: Isabelle Laugier, Hélène Rau, Aude Clémenti, Clara Millard Dereudre, Christophe Margaine, Isabella de Magny, Isabelle Neveu, Philippe Commarmond, Rebecca Hababou, Servanne Wojciechowski.
