Leader profile: Sylvaine Caillou (EDHEC 1994), Renault

1. Tell us about your professional background (career, diplomas, curriculum, specialisations, etc.).

I graduated from EDHEC in ‘94 (specialised in marketing) having followed a traditional path: scientific baccalaureate and general preparatory studies.

2. Describe your work with Renault (product, market, target, team, originality, etc.).

I am Vice Director of Product Range for family and executive cars. At the moment I am overseeing the launch of the new Koleos, an SUV that adds to Renault’s high-end vehicles, alongside the new Espace and the Talisman.

What makes this model special is that it is a global vehicle, designed to be sold in 80 countries worldwide. The challenge was therefore to meet the expectations of highly diverse customers, making all the necessary adaptations to the product so it can meet the needs of each market.

I work with a highly international team: the technical centre and factory that will be supplying Europe are located in South Korea, the plant that will be supplying the Chinese market is in China, and my marketing correspondents are located in the four corners of the globe: Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Organising a meeting with everyone at once is a bit complicated because the Koreans are asleep when the Argentinians are getting up!

3. What advice do you have for students or graduates who would like to enter the automobile sector?

The automobile sector is full of passionate people, and plunging into the heart of this activity is a highly enriching human and professional experience. Every day in the life of a project brings its fair share of unforeseeable circumstances, encounters and new directions to take, which is what makes this business so fascinating.

I would therefore advise them to get involved with confidence and enthusiasm. Seeing your product driving along the street after years of preparing for its launch, and presenting it to the press and the wider public are unforgettable moments! Young women in particular should not be afraid to join a technical sector, where men are over-represented, and I’m sure they will soon find their place. We shouldn’t forget that women play an essential role in the act of purchasing a vehicle, and their involvement in development is a highly valuable contribution for companies.

4. You will be participating in the Rallye des Gazelles next March, can you tell us a bit more about it?

The Rallye des Gazelles is an off-road rally for women only that is held every year in Morocco. GPS navigation is not allowed, so you have to use a map and compass! It requires analytical skills and strategy if you are to assess the difficulties of the terrain and choose the shortest path possible.

At the same time as the rally, we will be organising an event to mobilise children and youths from our respective towns: we will be collecting childcare products and clothing which we will distribute on site in collaboration with the charity organization, Cœur de gazelles.

For me, participating in the Rallye des Gazelles is about getting back to adventure and mechanical sports. I once took part in a motorbike rally on the African routes of the Paris Dakar, but I put that hobby on hold to focus on my three children. I now hope to rediscover that feeling of freedom for a few weeks, far from my daily life.

5. What are the next stages of your Gazelles project?

We are currently putting in place various communication tools: blogs, social networks, etc. which will allow us to share our experience as it happens before, during and after the event, and also to provide information about our sponsors. We are also preparing events in the Ile de France region to get some publicity for our sponsors: team departure from the region, before the official start in Nice on the Promenade des Anglais (with nostalgic thoughts about my time at EDHEC), and an in-house presentation of our experience on our sponsors’ premises.

We’ve already reserved our vehicle: a Nissan Patrol 4x4 3.0l turbo diesel 160 hp which is prepared specially for the rally, and we’ve organised several training sessions on driving and navigation, including one which will take place on site.

All that remains is to reach our budget, for which we’re reaching out to the EDHEC community! The rally gets international media coverage, and we have advertising space on our vehicles, helmets and clothing, as well as appearances before the press and in-house.

6. What advice do you have for young women from EDHEC starting their careers?

I advise young women starting their careers to adopt the basic principle that they are every bit as legitimate as anyone else when it comes to accessing senior posts. Women always tend to wonder whether they are capable of taking on new responsibilities, whereas a man with the same skills often doesn’t ask himself enough questions. Women need to be daring, they must want to push themselves and have great confidence in their own potential. A feminine leadership style can often be fiercely effective.

7. Have you ever benefited from the network of EDHEC graduates?

The network of EDHEC graduates enabled me to discuss experiences with other professionals from the automobile sector, both from Renault and elsewhere. My participation in the EDHEC forum also gave me the chance to recruit interns, apprentices and new staff members.

8. What are your expectations from the community of EDHEC graduates?

If you are interested in sponsoring our team, contact me! Whether it’s a financial contribution, hands-on participation or a donation to our humanitarian project, everyone is welcome.

I would also like to use the EDHEC community to boost communication about our project and the benefits for our sponsors.