Learn about the adrenalizing effects of the Electrifier for Impact program, straight from its architects and participants.
Schneider Electric is widely recognized as a global leader in energy management and industrial automation. Now, the company’s next frontier—defined by sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation—depends on unlocking the full potential of its people.
For decades, Schneider has actively identified and nurtured its top experts, empowering them to directly influence business. But even the brightest minds are subject to their environment. Many experts found themselves working in silos, with limited visibility, unclear career paths, and innovations that rarely reached the boardroom. To address this, the Electrifier program was launched, gathering experts from three levels:
- Level 1 (Electrifier), known for deep knowledge and leadership in their field of expertise
- Level 2 (Senior Electrifier), considered high experts throughout the company
- Level 3 (Fellow Electrifier), widely recognized outside the company and across the industry as a world-class expert.
In 2023, the program underwent a major transformation to strengthen ties between experts and leadership, and to break down organizational silos. Schneider partnered with MIT Sloan Executive Education to create Electrifiers for Impact—a nine-month accelerator designed to supercharge technical expertise and leadership, while oiling collaboration across the company.
This flagship program is designed for Senior and Fellow Electrifiers, representing a community of 313 experts as of July 2025.
A bespoke offer from a world-class partner
Steve Eppinger is the academic director of the Electrifiers for Impact, as well as professor of Management Science and Innovation at MIT Sloan School of Management. He explains the value of his institution: “MIT is uniquely positioned to help clients like Schneider, as we blend business and engineering seamlessly. We take the time to understand both the strategic and technical dimensions of their business, which allows us to bring the right faculty and topics to create meaningful change.”
“When we looked at the proposals, MIT was clearly the best prepared for innovation,” added Olivier Bouffet, experts community leader at Schneider Electric. “When you speak to our Electrifiers about MIT, their eyes light up! The brand, the experience, the quality of learning—it all matters.”
Electrifiers for Impact launched late 2023, with a potent blend of digital and on-site learning. This included four and a half days on the MIT campus, an investment in immersive education. Tina Mylon, SVP Talent Inclusion and Culture, explains: “Being on MIT’s campus synergized the learning and multiplied the inspiration. We had to justify the ROI—and it was absolutely worth it.”
“What I like is having participants exposed to startups, engaging with different kinds of conversations, and tapping into the MIT innovation ecosystem,” adds Anja Thiemann, VP Global Leadership Academy. “This exposure opens up their thinking in ways that just can’t be replicated in a digital environment.”
Good and commercially viable ideas
Participants formed cross-functional teams to tackle real business challenges, applying their new skills with guidance from MIT faculty. The end goal was to connect innovation to business outcomes. Of the seven projects launched in the first cohort, three earned executive funding and moved into execution.
For Chad Lloyd, director of Cybersecurity Architecture, this was a personal breakthrough. Having filed 14 patents in his career, he finally saw one go to market. “I came into the program with frustration that we can innovate, coming up with patents every year, and, effectively, they die on the vine. The Electrifiers for Impact opened my eyes to how you do this in business. It’s one thing to have a good idea, it’s another to demonstrate it can produce return on investment.”
Beyond project outcomes, participants reported stronger networks, greater confidence, and a shift in mindset—from technical contributors to strategic leaders. By the end of the accelerator, silos were broken; experts from different geographies and domains began collaborating in ways that had never happened before. Tracy Fang, Senior Expert and Procurement Effectiveness Senior Manager, highlighted that “I was honoured to meet many senior experts from different areas. Being physically surrounded by a group of passionate individuals in technology, digital, our products, and our services was incredibly energizing.”
Throughout Electrifiers for Impact, executive sponsorship played a constant role—with senior leaders joining kick-off calls and supplying inspiration. Their engagement reflects how seriously Schneider takes this initiative.
Boosting soft skills, ambitions, and ultimately, retention
David Corbet is an engineer at Schneider Electric, with a career dedicated to electrical engineering and innovation. For him, the partnership between Electrifier and MIT delivered the most value in developing soft skills and better communicating his ideas. With the company since 2004, he explains how the recognition motivates him: “It’s a big change at Schneider. A real booster to help convince people to stay in the expertise career and have a real impact on our strategy.”
Many participants felt similar surges in career momentum, with some pursuing higher expertise certification. “Now I understand that I matter to Schneider,” another participant shared. “They’re investing in me because they believe in me.”
From top minds to top voices
As Schneider continues to build a growth culture of innovation and sustainability, lifting its technical leaders is essential. “We’re not just running training programs; we’re codifying skills, mapping future needs, and preparing for the long term”, said Tina Mylon.
With Electrifier for Impact, Schneider Electric and MIT Sloan Executive Education have laid a cornerstone for talent retention and upskilling. It serves as a golden model for how people-centric organizations can nurture their brightest minds, preparing them to spearhead tomorrow’s business transformations.
Details about our partnership
In 2023, Schneider Electric partnered with MIT Sloan Executive Education to create Electrifiers for Impact, a nine-month leadership accelerator. The goal: convert in-house expertise into hard business impact.
The accelerator builds upon earlier initiatives, addressing key challenges such as siloed work, unclear career paths, and the need to better connect technical ideas with commercial outcomes.
Blending online learning with an on-site immersive experience at MIT, participants engaged with startups, faculty, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
They formed cross-functional teams to tackle real business challenges, guided by MIT staff. Of the seven projects launched in the first cohort, three earned executive funding. For many, the experience was transformative, with their hard-won innovations finally reaching the market.
Beyond business impact, the accelerator built confidence as well as soft skills. Experts reported stronger networks, rising ambitions, and a renewed sense of purpose. “Now I understand that I matter to Schneider,” another participant shared. “They’re investing in me because they believe in me.”
Executive sponsorship and visible leadership reinforced the accelerator’s strategic importance.
Electrifiers for Impact is more than career development. It’s a cornerstone of Schneider’s employee retention and upskilling, and a model for how we can uncork the full potential of our technical talent.
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