After 37 years and 9 months with SIG, our very own Françoise recently retired! Her exemplary career at SIG bears witness to the adaptability and spirit of collaboration that have been the company's strength over all these years.
A rich and varied career
Françoise joined SEP (Service d'Etalage Publicitaire, later SIG) in 1986, and has risen through the ranks over the years. "I did a lot of things in the company, really a lot of things", she recalls.
Her career path has taken her from entering payroll data and managing payroll claims, through a little accounting to sales support, then operational responsibility for clients. She then set up a reporting department to centralise customer orders, with a team of telephone operators to collect feedback from the field, and finally took over responsibility for the customer service department, which included scheduling, monitoring interventions, validating payroll items and launching the payroll.
This cross-functional career path has enabled her to acquire a global vision of the company, a major asset when it comes to understanding the challenges and interactions between the various departments. "That's been my great strength, having a cross-disciplinary background and having held different positions within the company", Françoise explains.
Adaptation, the watchword of his career
Over the years, Françoise has seen many technological and organisational changes. "I've gone from 'I walk to the computer with floppy disks' to dematerialisation. It's quite extraordinary how far we've come in 37 years and 9 months," she marvels.
The merger between SEP and BW in 2007 represented a major challenge. "I think that was really the biggest challenge of the merger. At the time, I was already involved in setting up the new payroll system, and it was a real challenge to be able to take the lead on a system that was completely foreign to me," Françoise recalls.
His secret: the importance of teamwork
For Françoise, the key to her longevity and motivation has been teamwork. "The most important thing for me has been teamwork. I've never been in conflict, and I've always been building and looking for solutions, whatever the situation," she says. This collaborative approach has enabled her to forge strong bonds with her colleagues, some of whom have become true "first-hand companions".
A role as referent and trainer
Over the last few years, Françoise has played a crucial role in passing on knowledge. "What I've gained a lot from is helping new employees to become independent users of our systems," she explains. Her expertise and availability have made her a valuable "human resource" for her colleagues.
His view of the company's future
Although it is difficult to predict the future of SIG's business lines, Françoise believes that SIG and the Group will have to focus on digital services and the use of AI to gain a better understanding of the consumer. She also sees potential in the development of 'commandos', specialist teams capable of delivering high added value.
Plans for retirement
Françoise has no intention of remaining inactive during her retirement! She has already started taking English lessons and joined a hiking club. "There's no age limit on learning," she says enthusiastically.
Françoise's career at SIG is an example of adaptation, collaboration and commitment. Her message to the next generation? "Get closer to people who have the knowledge and skills to share, be cross-functional and, above all, thrive on teamwork. That's our strength.
The whole SIG team wishes Françoise a fulfilling retirement, rich in new adventures and learning, just like her exceptional career, which has brought so much to her colleagues and the company!
