Saint Gobain: New Coatings & Beginnings

Marie-Caroline appeared to be a great fit! Were you fully familiar with the V.I.E program before she joined your team?

Shefali: We have had V.I.Es for around 5 years now at SageGlass and the program is much older in our parent organization Saint-Gobain. We invest in their growth by giving them challenging problems to solve with appropriate training and we encourage retention as a full-time employee within the Saint-Gobain group once the V.I.E tenure is over. Many of our V.I.Es join Saint-Gobain either for PhD or full-time roles after they complete their assignment.

Hannah: The V.I.E program is a wonderful resource for SageGlass. It has brought in many very well qualified, hardworking, and adventurous young people that added diversity and enthusiasm to our teams.

What made Marie-Caroline such an asset for SageGlass?

Hannah: Marie Caroline had the best combination of hands-on and theoretical science, attention to detail, clarity of thought and her skills in experimental design and data analysis helped her get up to speed quickly on a complex new product we were developing. In 18 months, she became one of the group’s experts in applied new coating development. Her clear communication and reporting skills also made her a key contributor to the project. In short, she had the whole package needed to be a great R&D experimentalist! It was wonderful to have both a strong contributor that I could always rely upon to deliver high quality work, and an equal with whom I could exchange ideas.

Shefali: Marie-Caroline takes on tasks head-on and works towards them persistently until she is satisfied with the results. Although inherently introverted, she has no reservations in asking for what she needs to accomplish her objectives and works with a ‘continuous improvement’ mindset. While at SageGlass, she not only achieved excellence on her projects but also made strong relationships that she continues to leverage even today.

Marie-Caroline, which achievement made you the proudest during your VIE?

Marie-Caroline: My V.I.E experience was amazing, both challenging and fulfilling. I started by shadowing R&D technicians and engineers, then I got more and more responsibilities, eventually leading work groups for an innovative project. I was proud to push my limits and go out of my comfort zone. I learned a lot on the job: how to drive an R&D project, best practices from US management, a strong safety mindset and how to collaborate with a diversity of roles, from technicians to project stakeholders. The most valuable skill I gained during the mission is confidence; it helped me become a strong and independent woman.’’

Would you recommend the V.I.E Program to other companies and young professionals?

Shefali: Absolutely, without reservations! Saint-Gobain SageGlass has been a huge proponent of the program! We love having young professionals who bring fresh perspectives and new problem-solving methods to our business. It also adds to the diversity in our workplace, which we also celebrate.’’

Hannah: I agree with Shefali; I wish we could keep the V.I.Es here – their youthful enthusiasm makes them very productive team members –an integral part of the culture of our teams. Unfortunately, we cannot hire V.I.Es directly after their mission at Sage in the United States due to visa regulations! Should we be able to do so, we would probably try to keep most of them. When they go back to Europe, we do our best to support them in finding a new position within Saint-Gobain: their experience on site with us makes them invaluable assets for the headquarters.

Marie-Caroline: I cannot think of any good reason not to apply for a V.I.E! First, it is a jump start for your career as it teaches you the ability to adapt quickly to new situations. Then, I believe that working in a foreign country is the best way to understand its culture. Finally, Business France and Saint-Gobain greatly support V.I.Es before and after departure, by providing advice and logistical help, making usual expatriation hurdles easy.