Jury: The real verdict is also decided on the other side of the table

Every year, the Léonard de Vinci Campus calls on its alumni to serve on jury panels during thesis defenses or admissions competitions. This is a unique opportunity not only to share their expertise but also to offer a fresh perspective on students’ projects and build bridges between generations.

Recently, Stéphanie Boileau, an EMLV graduate (class of 2004), returned to her alma mater—this time as a jury member—to offer her experienced perspective on the students’ Hackathon projects. 

With over twenty years of experience at Servier, she is now the ESG Reporting Manager, specializing in managing CSR reporting and indicators. Her background in R&D management control and CSR initiatives enables her to strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable and responsible practices.

She reflects on her experience, which she describes as “intense, stimulating, and inspiring.”

 Stéphanie Boileau

“On the other side of the table, I was a judge.”

Facing her were students from EMLV, ESILV, and IIM who had come to present their prevention campaigns on the theme: “Let’s Rally Around the Brain,” in partnership with the Brain Research Initiative.

“Very quickly, the topic came to life.” What had initially been just an academic exercise took on a whole new dimension, and the subject became tangible. “Some realized they weren’t getting enough exercise. Others questioned their diet—and its impact on their energy, concentration, and productivity. The topic was no longer theoretical; it became personal. And that struck me,” she confides.

Her experience in sustainable finance within the pharmaceutical sector usually leads her to work on issues of prevention, impact, and responsibility… but often through frameworks, numbers, and indicators. What she observed here was different. More direct. More human. “There, I saw what really makes a difference: it’s not just a good idea; it’s the ability to touch people, to make them think… and to change behaviors,” she explains. “And that’s exactly what we’re trying to do in CSR, in my day-to-day work.”

“Stepping outside one’s comfort zone, sharing knowledge, learning… and above all, reconnecting with the meaning of one’s work”

These moments of interaction between students and alumni remind us just how much academic projects can extend beyond the classroom. 

Beyond evaluation, this experience invites us to take a step back. “Being on a jury isn’t just about evaluating. It’s about reconnecting with the meaning of what we do.” It challenges, resonates with, and sometimes transforms the way we view our own challenges. Returning to campus is also about that: an exchange where we share as much as we learn.

To those who might still be hesitating to take the plunge, her message is clear: “Go for it. You think you’re bringing something… but you often leave with even more.”

A question that remains open for everyone: “And you, when has a professional topic made you see your own daily life in a new light?”

Because ultimately, the true verdict goes beyond what we evaluate.

Convinced and interested? Let us know HERE, and we’ll contact you for the next sessions!