In this interview, seasoned engineer Lionel takes us on a journey through his remarkable career at T&S. From his days as a business manager to his current position as a project manager, Lionel shares his insights on the challenges he's faced, the successes he's achieved, and his vision for the company's future. His unwavering dedication to teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning serves as an inspiration to aspiring engineers everywhere.

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Do you remember your first day at T&S?

Yes, I remember it well! I still have the profile picture they took of me that day. It was in front of a door in the building, at 4 rue de la paix. I think it was Éric Del Sandro who took my picture.

I also took a tour of the premises and the staff. There were 99 of us at the time, including 60 consultants. But only 40 were on the premises in Strasbourg. So, at the time, it was really “a quick tour”. It is much longer today.

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Do you remember your first missions?

As a business manager, I started with prospecting. I contacted potential customers and, thanks to my personal network, found my first business within a few days. Which isn't supposed to be the norm, but it happened for me!

I still remember my first business, my first consultant, and my first signed contract. It was a great satisfaction, and it made me want to keep striving to find new customers.

You have mostly positive memories of your early days?

Yes, overall, I have good memories of my early days at T&S. It was an intense period, with a lot's to do. But it was also a very enriching period, where I learned a lot and met some great people.

It's a bit like a preparatory school. It's hard at the time, but when you look back on it, you realize that it was a very beneficial experience.

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What was the first thing you learned at T&S? The first life lesson?

The first thing I learned at T&S was how to work the French way. It's a very different culture from the ones I experienced in Germany and Spain.

I learned to be more patient and to take the time to do things right. I also learned to be more collaborative and to work as part of a team.

The second thing I've learned is to bounce back from mistakes. I made mistakes at the beginning, but I've learned to turn these mistakes into ways to improve.

T&S has given me the opportunity to learn and grow, and I'm grateful for that chance.

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What are the most enduring challenges you've faced during your career at T&S?

Every period has had its challenges!

As a project manager, I had to show precision, communication and leadership. I had to learn to manage multicultural teams and negotiate with demanding customers.

One of the most difficult challenges I encountered was managing internal conflicts. There was, once, a kind of Cold War between the hardware and software teams. I had to learn to stand up for my team and find solutions to resolve conflicts.

I learned a lot from this experience. I learned that it's important to stand up for what you believe in and not let anyone walk all over you.

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What are your best memories or biggest success?‍

I'm proud of the team we've built. We're a tight-knit team that supports each other and will do anything to succeed.

We're like a rugby team. Likewise, we don't leave gaps between the lines, and we stick together. We're ready to sweat together to make it work.

Charlotte and Benoit and I have worked hard to create this environment, and I'm happy to see that we've succeeded in instilling this DNA, this state of mind into the team.

Today, our team is made up of talented and dedicated people, and I'm grateful to be able to work with them.

What do you think about the future of T&S?

I'm optimistic about the future of T&S. I believe in our executives, who have made the right choices in the past, especially when it comes to mergers with other companies.

I believe that T&S has the potential to continue to grow and prosper. However, it is important to ensure that the company retains its DNA and culture.

I am convinced that T&S can remain T&S by continuing to focus on people, innovation, and quality.

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What are your goals today?

My main objective is to develop the team. I want us to be able to meet the growing demand from our customers. However, I want to grow responsibly. I intend to we retain our DNA and our culture.

To do this, we're very selective about whom we bring on board. We're searching for like-minded people. They must be passionate about our mission and values.

We have the privilege of being picky. Our project is very attractive, and we receive many applications. So, we can afford to be selective.

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What can be improved or needs to change at T&S?

T&S needs to improve communication and collaboration between different teams and departments.

This would create more synergies and offer a better customer experience.

The company also needs to avoid unnecessary duplication of work. This can be done by centralizing information and coordinating efforts between different teams.

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Any advice for young future engineers?

Be confident and ambitious. Don't let your age limit you. You're capable of great things if you work hard and are passionate about what you do.

Be open-minded and willing to learn. The world of engineering is changing fast. It's important to keep up to date with the latest technologies and trends.

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. It's by challenging yourself that you'll learn and grow.

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Any final remarks on your career and your experience at T&S?

I've had a somewhat atypical career, but I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had. I've learned and grown at every stage of my career, and I'm proud of the person and engineer I've become.

Furthermore, I'm happy to be at T&S. The company gives me the opportunity to work on exciting projects and collaborate with talented people. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.