Reverse mentors to support our digital transformation

04/10/2019 - Innovation and R＆D

Eighteen months after its launch, Vallourec's digital reverse mentoring has nearly thirty mentor/mentoree pairs.

Reverse mentoring is part of the digital component of Vallourec's transformation plan. It is now necessary for the Group to identify and even anticipate the latest trends in order to maintain its position in the digital world. This requires a significant transformation of not just the Group but also the habits of its employees, starting at the highest level of the company.

A cultural transformation in a digital world

Today almost everyone has a smartphone or tablet but do we really know how to get the most out of it, how to use apps and social media?

Generation Y has grown up in a digital environment and can understand the new codes and uses of technology 2.0 as well as the new methods of exchanging and maintaining relationships where everyone can express themselves. Here, young people are the ones who possess the knowledge and skills, and share them with their elders. It's also another way to work in a more agile manner.

This initiative also encourages interactions between employees of different generations and eliminates separation. It's a great way to learn from each other.

How does it work?

During the sessions, the main topics covered are digital and collaborative tools that facilitate everyday professional and personal efficiency, such as the Office 365 suite or note-taking optimization, and more general topics such as Big Data, industry 4.0 or the connected factory, the challenges of artificial intelligence and new technologies like 5G...

Other topics covered are Vallourec.smart and the Employee Advocacy program, or the promotion of an organization by its staff members on social media. There is a real awareness of the usefulness of tools like Twitter and LinkedIn and top managers are willing to spend time sharing the content they consider most relevant on the web.

A growing action

At Vallourec, the initiative is coordinated by Henri Planchon, IT & Data Project Manager, who manages and runs the mentoring community and coordinates the various initiatives.

Today, the goal is to extend the initiative to other regions and new categories of employees. Reverse mentoring is being deployed on the Valenciennes, Rath and Montbard sites, as well as in the Middle East and the United States. "We are looking to recruit local coordinators", explains Henri. "You just have to want to share your passion for digital".