Learning Month at Ekkiden: Growing Together, One Step at a Time

A Culture Built on Continuous Learning

At Ekkiden, our ambition is to build a learning culture where everyone has the opportunity to grow, continuously develop new skills, and unlock their full potential. Learning & Development is not a programme reserved for a few: it is about creating opportunities for everyone to learn, share knowledge, and support their own career growth through training, mentoring, webinars, language learning, and collaborative initiatives.

This April, our Learning Month brought that vision to life, encouraging employees across the company to explore new resources, exchange expertise, and invest in their professional development. A big thank you to everyone who contributed and participated in making this initiative a success.

Ekkiden Connect: Knowledge Shared by Those Who Live It

One of the highlights of Learning Month was Ekkiden Connect, our internal webinar series where consultants and colleagues share their real-world expertise with the wider team. This edition featured two sessions that offered valuable insight into highly specialised professional fields.

• Quality Control and Product Compliance in Fine Jewellery

The first webinar was led by an experienced Quality Consultant who spent several years working for a leading international luxury jewellery company. She explored the challenges of ensuring quality and compliance in an industry where excellence is non-negotiable: from supplier collaboration and material traceability to regulatory requirements and continuous improvement. A fascinating deep-dive into a world where rigorous quality systems are as essential as the craftsmanship itself.

• QHSE 360° : une approche globale et opérationnelle

The second session offered a comprehensive overview of the QHSE function: Quality, Health, Safety and Environment, through a practical and operational lens. This webinar explored how QHSE professionals navigate complex regulatory frameworks, manage risk across organisations, and embed a culture of safety and responsibility into day-to-day operations. A broad and enriching perspective on a discipline that sits at the heart of responsible business.

Both sessions are a testament to the depth of expertise that exists within our Ekkiden community, and a reminder of how much we can learn simply by listening to one another.

Switch & Learn: Stepping Into Someone Else's World

Alongside Ekkiden Connect, Switch & Learn was one of the most talked-about initiatives of Learning Month. The programme gives employees the opportunity to discover another team or department by spending three half-days observing colleagues in a role of their choice: gaining first-hand insight into different responsibilities, ways of working, and day-to-day realities.

The objective is simple but powerful: foster curiosity, encourage cross-functional collaboration, and help employees broaden their understanding of the business, whether to explore new career paths or simply to better appreciate the work of those around them.

This year, several colleagues took the leap, and their feedback says it all.

Miguel De Sa Veloso, Legal Counsel & Contract Manager, spent time with the Spanish market team led by Iñigo Navarro:

"The Switch & Learn program gave me a better understanding of how our teams work together and how our processes connect. It reinforced the effectiveness of our current way of working while encouraging valuable exchanges and a continuous improvement mindset."

Laura Vassileff, Senior Marketing & Communication Manager joined the French IT market team led by Thomas Longeault:

"This experience allowed me to better understand how Business Managers prepare client meetings, gather client feedback, and balance the different aspects of their role, from business development to administrative tasks and meetings." 

Carlota Pino, Creative Designer & Branding Specialist, spent time with the HR team:

"Switch & Learn was a great opportunity to better understand another team's daily work and gain a broader perspective on how we collaborate. Beyond discovering HR's responsibilities, I was particularly inspired by the team's soft skills — their empathy, communication, and commitment to employee wellbeing. The experience also sparked ideas to improve collaboration and communication between teams."

Valentin Drouard, HR Officer, joined Benoît Duchêne, VP Finance, Legal & Admin, to discover the world of finance and legal management:

"Switch & Learn offered a valuable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of our VP Finance, Legal & Admin. It was eye-opening to discover the breadth of finance and legal topics involved, as well as to observe how different stakeholders collaborate during negotiations. Beyond gaining a better understanding of Benoît's role, the experience reinforced the value of knowledge sharing and sparked the idea of creating finance awareness sessions to help employees better understand this function."