Clément Jacques (ESILV 2017), Data Program Manager at L'Oréal

Data Program Manager at L'Oréal, Clément Jacques (ESILV 2019) recounts how his curiosity and taste for challenge led him to master data flows, migrations, and security. Between advice on taking risks and cultivating networks, he offers a pragmatic and inspiring vision of a career in IT.

Can you tell us about your job and your career path?

I am a Data Program Manager at L'Oréal. My role is to optimize all data flows and data migrations between the applications used within the company. 

After graduating, I didn't really know what I wanted to do, so I turned to consulting to see as many different projects and companies as possible. I was able to acquire a lot of knowledge and skills in IT and corporate culture in general. 

Then I joined L'Oréal, which was the second turning point in my career. I developed my knowledge of supply chain and was able to perfect my IT skills. 

My most recent position, which is the third turning point in my career, is where I now work more as an expert in data migration, on topics where I am qualified to contribute thanks to all the experience I have gained in the past.

How did your studies at ESILV contribute to who you are today?

The way you prepare for midterms forces you to structure information and prioritize what is important and what is not. And that's exactly what you use later on in the working world. So, yes, it definitely had a big impact on me and still does. 

What do you particularly like about this job? 

Working with different cultures, with people who come from different backgrounds. 

I get to interact with developers, architects, business experts, but also people who are located in other countries, who don't have the same culture and don't communicate in the same way. So that's something I also enjoy.

My current challenges? GDPR issues. Data that must be accessible to certain users and not to others poses a challenge on the IT side, and that's part of my job right now. 

Any advice for someone starting out in a career like yours? 

No one is ever going to give you what you want; you always have to go out and get it yourself. You have to fight for the job you want, and you always have to fight for the deal you want. You have to manage to do all that while staying true to yourself. So that's the only advice I would give to anyone who wants a career where they enjoy their work and feel comfortable in their company.

Another piece of career advice: networking is very important. The alumni network, yes, but the network within a company is even more important: when I have projects that need to be done quickly, I always have an advantage over certain people because I've managed to build a team of reliable people, a close-knit team, people who work well. And of course, when you have good contacts, you move faster, and on your own, you don't get very far. 

What does being Alumni mean to you? 

Being an alumnus means belonging to a group. It's easy to identify with people when you've been to the same school, the same campus, people I still see today even though I graduated seven years ago. These are bonds that last a lifetime, so of course they're important.

Do you participate in Alumni community events? 

I was able to attend the Alumni Awards last year, and it's true that it's a pretty nice event in the sense that you can see old classmates again and share moments with people you don't necessarily see every day. Thank you to the Alumni community for organizing this kind of event!

Un Alumnus to follow!

LinkedIn Clément Jacques