When Briggs Cecil joined Schneider Electric as a Secure Power Service Sales intern, he wasn’t thinking about marathons.

He was thinking about momentum – about finding a first role that wouldn’t box him in, but instead help him understand how a global company actually operates, and where he might grow within it.

Raised in rural Illinois, Briggs studied computer science with an early interest in agriculture and systems with real, tangible impact. That curiosity led him toward industrial automation – into PLCs, controls, and technologies he had only encountered from the outside – and, for the first time, to Schneider Electric.

What started as a summer internship quickly became something more.

“I didn’t realize how much there was to Schneider. Power systems, software, services… it opened my eyes to how many different directions you could go.”

He stayed on full-time in business development. Less than two years later, he’s now a Program Manager in the Power Systems Strategy & Execution team based in Nashville – and this April, he’ll take on another milestone: running his first Boston Marathon as part of the #SEGreenRunners team.

Two very different commitments. One shared theme: growth built over time.

Built for endurance

Schneider Electric’s Development Programs are designed much like marathon training: structured, deliberate, and focused on long-term development rather than quick wins.

Over the course of each program, participants complete training and rotations across the business – gaining hands-on responsibility, cross-functional exposure, and increasing leadership opportunities along the way.

Rotation 1: Power Systems Strategy and Execution Program Manager

Briggs is currently completing a rotation at the center of Power Systems strategy and execution, where he serves as a critical link between commercial teams and Schneider Electric’s manufacturing plants.

In this role, he supports large-scale projects – many tied to data center customers – helping teams determine how they build major orders for switchgear and power equipment, where they produce them, and how they manage timelines.

While execution ultimately sits with the plants, Briggs’ team operates at the intersection of sales, strategy, and manufacturing – ensuring alignment across customer priorities, plant capacity, and long-term forecasting.

Sitting on the strategy team provides exposure to some of Schneider Electric’s most critical decision-making. Briggs works closely with manufacturing leaders at facilities such as El Paso, Mt. Juliet, and ETO plants, while also supporting commercial teams serving large and strategic customers.

“It’s a role that lives in between. You’re balancing customer needs, plant realities, and long-term strategy – often all at once.”

The experience has been a crash course in business operations, influence without authority, and the complexity behind delivering at scale.

Rotation 2: Industrial Automation & Software Exposure

Beginning this July, Briggs will move into his second rotation within Industrial Automation, stepping into a Business Development Manager role on the Industrial Performance team, an area he has been eager to explore since joining Schneider Electric.

Listening to company leaders discuss the future of Schneider Electric, one message has resonated strongly throughout his first rotation: the organization’s continued shift toward software, services, and digital solutions.

Briggs has taken that message to heart.

Industrial Automation houses much of Schneider Electric’s software portfolio in the U.S., including AVEVA and a broad range of plant, machine, and control-system software. In this upcoming role, Briggs will gain exposure to dozens of software offerings and build a deeper understanding of how automation, digital tools, and operational performance intersect across industries.

“IA touches so much of what Schneider does beyond buildings. If it’s automation outside of buildings, it usually sits here.”

The rotation further prepares him for a future where Schneider Electric becomes increasingly software-driven and reflects his proactive approach to shaping his development path within the program.

A third rotation is still ahead and intentionally left open.

Owning the path

At Schneider Electric, employees are expected to take ownership of their careers. After an initial foundation, Development Program participants take ownership by identifying opportunities, building relationships, and helping define what comes next.

“It’s not a program where you just check boxes. There aren’t boxes waiting for you – you have to decide what they are. You have to be comfortable with ambiguity and trust that you can figure it out before you have all the answers.”

That ownership can feel uncomfortable – but it’s also what accelerates growth. The same principle applies to marathon training. Distances increase. Expectations rise. Discipline compounds.

Preparing for Boston pushed Briggs to apply the same intentionality to his personal routine that he brings to work. Training forced balance back into busy weeks, creating time for himself alongside an already full professional schedule.

“It made me more deliberate,” he said. “About how I plan my days – and how I take care of myself.”

Community in motion

“I’ve found myself bleeding SE Green more each day. I’ve invested time and energy into the community, getting involved wherever I can.”

Through Schneider’s Nashville hub, he built a strong network early – meeting colleagues across teams, joining employee communities, and participating in events and initiatives beyond his day-to-day work.

It’s an environment where early-career professionals aren’t siloed – they’re encouraged to explore, connect, and contribute.

Marathon Community

Briggs had seen the impact of community well before his own race.

When Schneider Electric employees ran the Boston Marathon in 2025, the energy was impossible to miss – colleagues tracking split times between meetings, cheering runners on, and rallying around a shared goal.

He wanted to be part of that.

Initially hesitant – and even waitlisted – Briggs ultimately took the leap with encouragement from a mentor. Training soon became more than preparation for a race. It became a reset.

He hadn’t originally planned to run a marathon and nearly didn’t sign up at all. When his name moved off the waitlist, the opportunity suddenly became real.

“I wouldn’t have signed up on my own,” he said. “But I’ve learned that a lot of growth comes from jumping into things before you feel fully ready.”

That pattern – stepping into uncertainty and figuring things out along the way – mirrored his experience in the Development Program.

Training reshaped his routine. Mornings that once began at 7 a.m. in the office shifted to 8 a.m. arrivals after a run – a small change that quietly rebalanced everything.

With long hours and strong momentum early in his career, personal well-being had begun to slip. Marathon training changed that.

“It forced me to make time for myself,” he said. “Now it’s part of my routine in a way it wasn’t before.”

Running with purpose

This year, Briggs is running in support of the American Red Cross, an organization whose impact reaches into moments most people hope never to face.

Through the Red Cross team, he found something unexpected: another community.

Weekly runs, shared training plans, and conversations about nutrition and recovery turned preparation into connection. By race day, he won’t just be running for a cause – he’ll be running alongside a network built over months of early mornings and long miles.

Looking ahead

As Schneider Electric’s partnership with the Boston Athletic Association advances sustainable best practices across race events, Briggs carries that mission with him – representing both impact and community on the starting line.

If he hadn’t been an intern, he’s not sure he would have found the program at all.

“It’s hard to know these opportunities exist unless you see them,” he said. That early exposure – seeing different teams, meeting people across the business, understanding what was possible – made the difference.

For those considering a Schneider Electric Development Program, Briggs’ advice is simple: be curious, be proactive, and be ready to step into the unknown. Career development at Schneider Electric isn’t designed for a single path – it’s designed for people willing to build their own.

Schneider Electric’s U.S. Development Programs are built for early-career professionals seeking structured growth, cross-functional experience, and real responsibility from day one. Through rotations, mentorship, and hands-on experience, participants gain exposure to different parts of the business while building the skills needed for long-term success.

For Briggs, that journey has already spanned multiple roles, expanded his perspective, and led him to one of the world’s most iconic starting lines.

For others, it might begin with a single application – and the decision to keep showing up.

Growth accumulates

The starting line in Boston will be loud.

But the real work happened in quieter places: early meetings, stretch assignments, cross-functional conversations, and miles logged before sunrise.

Growth doesn’t announce itself. It accumulates.

For Briggs, that accumulation has taken shape over time – through new roles, unfamiliar challenges, and opportunities he didn’t always feel fully ready for.

For students and early-career professionals considering Schneider Electric, his story isn’t just about 26.2 miles – it’s about visibility, curiosity, and the willingness to step into something before you have it all figured out.

And sometimes, if you keep showing up, it leads you somewhere iconic.

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About the author

Briggs Cecil, Strategy and Execution Program Manager – Development Program

Briggs is part of Schneider Electric’s early‑career rotational program, currently supporting Power Systems Strategy & Execution with an upcoming rotation in Industrial Automation. He enjoys learning about the intersection of strategy, manufacturing, and software as he builds his career. He enjoys learning about Schneider’s various software offers and how they are helping the energy landscape evolve.

About the author

Kristen Larsen, Employer Brand Specialist

Kristen (Krissy) Larsen is passionate about showcasing Schneider Electric’s people and the meaningful work they do. Through creative storytelling, strategic content, and close partnership with talent acquisition, she brings employee experiences to life and helps connect candidates to purpose-driven careers.

She is also deeply involved in Schneider Electric’s community programs, serving on the leadership council for Rhode Island’s charitable partnerships. Outside of work, Krissy channels her creativity into musical improv comedy. With over 15 years of experience in theater and improvisation, she specializes in creating stories, songs, and scenes on the spot.