Case Orange: Aalto EE brings external perspective to Orange's top talents

The program focuses on the changing business environment, especially the transformation of service business.

Ville Blåfield, 26.06.2017

Aalto University Executive Education has developed a unique Talent Leadership Development Program for Orange Asia-Pacific in co-operation with the telecommunications giant’s own Orange Campus. The three-year program delivered in Singapore focuses on the changing business environment, especially the transformation of service business. Key questions to be answered are: How to create value to your customer, how to lead change in a global matrix organization, and how to think in an innovative and creative way?

”We have a lot of trust in Aalto EE to manage such a key and strategic people program for Orange”, says Jessie Lim, Head of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific, at Orange.

We were facing some talent retention challenges in 2015 and this program has helped to anchor our key talent.”

Jessie Lim, Head of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific, at Orange, says the new program aims at two levels.

”First, to focus on leadership development, developing the leadership bench and succession planning, and second, to drive talent management of our key talent - both top and emerging talents - so as to retain them for growth in the company”, Lim describes.

”We were facing some talent retention challenges in 2015 and this program has helped to anchor our key talent and engage them proactively for their professional and career growth. It has also broadened the horizon of our talents’ perspectives, and positioned them for job enlargement and promotions within the company.”

Three of the program’s modules are facilitated by Orange Campus, three by Aalto Executive Education. Orange Campus provides modules on empowerment, creativity, and management. Aalto EE’s modules tackle customer oriented mind-set, the ”new normal” in business, and a business simulation.

”The partnership between Orange Campus and Aalto EE is a customized, hybrid approach to develop our talents both from an internal as well as external perspective”, Lim says.

”The internal referendum is important to ensure alignment to our company strategy, mission and values, and leadership competencies, while the external referendum provides a strategic exposure to our talents on the industry best practices and competitive landscape externally. In addition, the Orange Campus puts practical focus on building soft skills to encourage individual and team empowerment and leadership agility, while Aalto EE brings a strong element of business acumen skills in an academic yet practical approach.”

Engaging, effective and academic. Once in a while it is good to revisit this academic side of things.”

The first Talent Leadership Development Program is still underway, but feedback has already been encouraging. ”Engaging, effective and academic. Once in a while it is good to revisit this academic side of things”, wrote one participant. ”Much of the content I can use in my daily work”, wrote another. ”Delivered clearly with links to Orange.”

”Our participants greatly appreciate the much broader dimension offered by Aalto EE on the industry knowledge and competitive environment operating externally”, Lim interprets.

”The partnership between Orange Campus and Aalto EE has been a very positive experience for us. We have a lot of trust in Aalto EE to manage such a key and strategic people program for Orange. We appreciate the flexible and adaptable approach taken by Aalto EE, and the professionalism and high standard demonstrated by their staff.”

Graduates of the program receive a Aalto University Graduate Diploma in Management.

Aalto EE is enabling continuous development and strategic transformation of its customer organizations. Read more

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