Impact Makers: Gilles Vermot-Desroches

NAME

Gilles Vermot-Desroches

TITLE

Chief Corporate Citizenship Officer and SVP Institutional affairs, Schneider Electric

LOCATION

France

ABOUT

Gilles Vermot-Desroches is passionate about building practical, inclusive routes into the energy transition, particularly for young people who may not have easy access to training or employment.

At Schneider Electric, he helped develop Youth Education & Entrepreneurship, a programme focused on technical skills in energy management and sustainability. Since its launch, it has reached over 1 million youth, more than 12,245 trainers and 11,555 entrepreneurs globally.

Beyond the company, Gilles is involved in several initiatives that support youth inclusion and employment. He chairs 100 Chances-100 Emplois, which helps young adults in urban areas find stable work by connecting them with public services, employers and local organizations. The programme has supported over 13,100 young people since 2004, with an 80% success rate for sustainable employment.

Gilles also sits on the board of Ticket for Change, which has reached more than 81,000 people through its social entrepreneurship initiatives. Additionally, Gilles contributes to the Collectif pour une Économie plus Inclusive, which brings together 40 major companies to promote apprenticeships and inclusive employment, representing 1.5 million employees across France.

MOTIVATION

“I truly believe that to make the energy transition possible, we need to put people at the centre. Inclusion is key to bringing everyone along. What drives me is meeting the different partners, colleagues, and beneficiaries of all our actions.”

IMPACT

• Over 1 million trained through Youth Education & Entrepreneurship since 2009

• 13,100 participants supported through 100 Chances-100 Emplois since 2004

• 81,300 people reached through Ticket for Change

• 40 companies engaged in the Collectif pour une Économie plus Inclusive, representing 1.5 million employees

CHALLENGES

One of the ongoing challenges has been ensuring these programmes continue to have impact over the long term. This has meant adapting to new contexts, staying in conversation with local partners, and learning from the people the programmes are designed to support.

ADVICE

“Many people I have met, especially youth, have so many ideas which are enablers for innovation for impact. I always encourage people not to spend too much time thinking or doubting what they can do, but instead jump straight into action! Please collaborate with peers, ask difficult questions, volunteer, and continue to dream big.”

CONTACT

LinkedIn