Data has been a pivotal driver in Schneider Electric’s HR wins in recent years—but it needs to be served up with a healthy amount of empathy, says Mai Lan Nguyen, senior vice president of HR for North America.
Nguyen, one of this year’s HR’s Rising Stars, knows the balance well. Among her most significant contributions to Schneider has been the design and execution of the Open Talent Marketplace platform, designed to give employees access to internal opportunities and growth. It was rolled out with an iterative process through which Nguyen’s team analyzed early results, pivoted and evolved the program to meet employee needs.
Staying in tune with what employees are looking for from Schneider also drove Nguyen to create Recharge Breaks, through which workers can earn up to a 12-week paid sabbatical. More than 800 employees have taken or plan to take such a break.
Read more about this Rising Star: Advancing people success with a ‘heart and mind’ approach at Schneider Electric
The impact of such programs is measurable: Turnover dipped to under 4%, while engagement soared to an all-time high.
Leading with empathy driving accomplishments
In a recommendation letter supporting Nguyen’s Rising Stars nomination, Aamir Paul, executive vice president, North America Operations, Schneider Electric, wrote that Nguyen has been a “transformative force in our North America Operations, guiding our 40,000-plus people strategy through a period of rapid growth and industry disruption. Her leadership has been instrumental in aligning HR with business strategy—ensuring our workforce is not only prepared for the future but actively shaping it.”
Paul said Nguyen “exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, vision and heart.”
That’s an assessment the Rising Stars judges agreed with, according to judge Xan Daniels, vice president of inclusion, diversity and employee engagement at Alight Solutions and a 2024 HR’s Rising Stars winner.
Nguyen, she says, “has shown that when HR leads with empathy and boldness, it becomes a catalyst for growth and connection.”
See also: ‘Shaping the future of work’: Introducing HR’s Rising Stars for 2025
Watch the video above to learn more from Nguyen.
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