Cultivating Talent for the Future of Life Sciences
Talents — The world of life sciences is vast and constantly evolving. It’s not enough to follow trends: you have to anticipate them, and to do that you need to bring together the best specialists. At ALTEN Group, Stéphane Thérèse is well aware of this.
STÉPHANE THÉRÈSE /
DIVISION DIRECTOR — AIXIAL GROUP
What kind of profiles do we have today within the life sciences sector at ALTEN?
— We have a broad range of profiles within our life sciences division. Our teams include pharmacists, doctors, engineers, scientists, biologists, and the list goes on. This diversity is not just a strength, but the trademark of our unique market position. Historically, we have strong engineering DNA, but today, this wide array of expertise allows us to tackle challenges from multiple angles, making us a strong challenger in the market.
How do you keep up with the training and career development of your talents while respecting this diversity of profiles?
— We have a 360° approach when it comes to training and development. We participate in many external conferences, promote knowledge sharing through communities, and together with the Group, we are enhancing our training offerings. Career-wise, we also conduct transparent talent reviews and maintain a detailed profile mapping to accelerate our consultants’ growth.
Do you see new roles emerging? How can we envision the life sciences market within the next years?
— Life sciences is an ever-evolving industry. We are in the first stages of the next technological advancements, especially in AI. Due to the healthcare industry becoming more and more global, we can expect many new opportunities and developments for our people abroad within the next years. Studies tell us that 85% of the jobs in 2030 do not exist yet. However, we know that the new landscape will be 100% linked to AI and technology. I believe that we already have the qualified experts, and that they will need to grow and adapt to keep pace with the upcoming changes.
How does ALTEN anticipate these changes to keep on responding to clients’ needs?
— Our DNA is not simply knowing how to react to changes; but rather to anticipate and shape them. By making strategic investments and maintaining close relationships with our clients, we ensure that we can meet their expectations. In-house, we are starting to develop training programs focused on AI and other emerging technologies. In Belgium for example, we developed the Masterclass program to train students and offer them their first opportunity within the industry. Externally, we partner with top-tier universities, developing scientific programs. These initiatives allow us to identify young talents and play a role in shaping their careers, as it is paramount to stay connected to the next generation of talents.
