INTERNATIONAL MENTORING: IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES WITH POTENTIAL... WHEREVER THEY ARE
An international mentoring scheme reinforces the visibility and diversity of young talent at Arkema all over the world. This is a valuable tool to help them make the most of their potential and prepare the leaders of the future.
“Talent has no age, gender or origin.” But how do we make our men and women with potential, from all countries in which the Group operates, more visible and help them to grow in order to foster diversity within management and executive roles? This is one of the core focuses of Arkema’s HR policy. “We want to create a breeding ground for young talent in all areas and in all our business lines…people who aspire to rise through the Group, including outside their country of origin,” confirms Mengdi Yuan, Group Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion Manager. International mentoring allows talented people outside France selected by the HR departments in different countries (China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, New Zealand, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia and the Netherlands) to be supported by mentors who are senior managers or heads of business units and corporate functional departments. Eleven mentoring pairs were put together in 2020, and nineteen in 2021. “They’re all volunteers about halfway through their careers, with a successful track record to date. We have mentees in countries where Arkema doesn’t necessarily have a very strong presence, many of whom have questions about their career development prospects. In these countries, mentors, often with extensive international experience, can provide visibility and help them to expand their network.”
Mengdi Yuan, Group Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion Manager
“The international mentoring program is a unique opportunity to be able to talk openly and honestly about your own experience, and to get to know a talented young person in another country whom you otherwise might not have met. It allows you to contribute to someone’s development and help them reveal their potential. The program helps us to diversify the workforce by improving the gender balance and attracting people from different countries and cultures. We have a very clear ambition and need to ensure we have the means to achieve it. Change is not a given; it needs to be brought about and this program helps make that happen.”
David Silagy, Kynar® General Manager, mentor
With operations in
55 countries, Arkema generates 36% of its revenue in Europe (including 10% in France), 32% in North America, and a similar amount in Asia and the rest of the world. These figures attest to the Group’s ability to develop well beyond its origins, spurred by the collective energy of its 20,600 employees.
