In 2023, Vivek Venkatram, a pupil from the College of Warwick was chosen to participate within the TeamWork Worldwide Expertise Programme with 155 different EUTOPIA college students, from the College of Ljubljana, Ca’Foscari College of Venice, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Gothenburg College, CY Cergy Paris Université and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Collectively, they participated in 23 digital tasks from organisations throughout Europe, together with Air France, Eurostar and The Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice. On the finish of the programme, Vivek was invited to current on the Air France Procurement Discussion board in Paris. Right here he shares his story.
“Over Summer time ‘23, I used to be a part of a TeamWork 2023 EUTOPIA venture with Air-France KLM. As Procurement Interns – Disruptive Improvements, CSR & Round Financial system – we created 11 feasibility research to cut back the environmental influence of particular fleet carpets, curtains and seat covers. Having realized from and collaborated with the Air France-KLM group, remainder of the scholar group and EUTOPIA employees from June to July 2023, it was unimaginable to see our venture wrap up with a rewarding fruits. As a part of our collaboration, I coordinated our method, aligned internally, delegated duties, and supported my friends. By specializing in separate areas inside procurement sustainability, we have been in a position to sort out the extensive scope of the venture. A key aspect which was conducive to the success of our venture was the heat and supportive surroundings created by the Air France group. Our weekly pupil conferences have been an exquisite technique to work together with friends from the world over and I nonetheless stay in contact with a few of my EUTOPIA associates.
By embarking on the TeamWork venture, participating in analysis and creating evaluation, I grasped the multifaceted concerns with implementing sustainability options. With the help of the procurement group, utilizing technical knowledge sheets, we quantified our suggestions as a lot as potential. After presenting our pitch, which was well-received by the Senior Procurement Sustainability Supervisor, part of me was nonetheless not sure how we might tangibly influence Air France’s current CSR & Round Financial system focuses.
Quick ahead to a couple weeks later after I was invited to current on the Air France Procurement Discussion board in Paris. I used to be excited and knew this may be a superb alternative to boost the influence of our collective efforts throughout the venture, clarify intimately the rationale behind our sustainability-driven sensible options and interact with procurement sustainability consultants throughout firms, universities and nonprofits. I started creating and refining our proposals additional. Over a number of weeks, I knocked on many doorways throughout the college and the prospect of me attending the Discussion board grew to become more and more bleak. One effective morning, I obtained a profitable reply from the leaders of the TeamWork program, Nicola & Esther!
Air France-KLM appears to be making important strides in strolling the sustainable path: in-fact it’s already piloting a venture to upcycle carpet into footwear!
Touchdown in Paris for the primary time on the sixth of December, I had launched into fairly the journey: my flight – British Airways – was postponed by a number of hours and transport halted at Charles de Gaulle Airport. I reached in time for the beginning of the convention and in addition bought to know the airport just like the again of my hand. Scanning my customer card on the Air France HQ and getting into the tarmac-facing convention corridor, I felt the infectious buzz within the room – excited to be taught from 26+ revolutionary organisations within the corridor & share our proposals with the 100+ attendees. Like a child in a sweet store, I used to be awestruck. There have been a plethora of fantastic applied sciences showcased: from a headhunting app that excluded background info to take away biases, to exoskeleton expertise that assists the carrying of heavy hundreds, a precision-guided industrial robotic arm and a reusable cup closed-loop system, to call a number of. Although a lot of the placards have been in French, everybody was form and accommodating in answering my inquisitive questions. One in every of my favorite demonstrations in the course of the discussion board was participating with an AI-enhanced flight simulator. I channelled my internal pilot as I whizzed by way of the pre-flight guidelines…however sadly, that didn’t qualify me to fly one of many Airbus planes sitting on the tarmac.
I used to be crammed with a way of optimism listening to in regards to the tasks and journeys of many unimaginable entrepreneurs – and proceed to remain related through LinkedIn. I additionally met one other TeamWork participant, Jimena, and realized about her group’s research over a delicious lunch. It was additionally nice to reunite with acquainted faces: I met the Air France venture group – Catherine, Prisca and Alexis – for the primary time in-person! Regardless of Catherine and Prisca being busy as organisers of the Discussion board, they nonetheless took the time to talk with me at size. It was fantastic to satisfy Alexis (Air France Cabin Undertaking Purchaser) to pitch our further-developed proposals, hear about progress from his finish, and have an in-depth dialogue on the implementation of our research for over an hour. It was reassuring to listen to that Air France-KLM is already taking proactive steps to trial concepts similar to a few of our proposals and that their group is eager to motion a lot of the factors we mentioned. We caught up on an array of subjects, together with the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics – which Air-France KLM is formally partnering with. On the shut of the occasion, I used to be grateful to obtain a personalised letter from the Air France-KLM Procurement Director thanking our group and I for the collaboration.
On a chilly and wet winter evening, venturing into the town from Charles de Gaulle Airport – hopping from one christmas market to a different – appeared like a logical factor to do. I simply couldn’t get sufficient of the colourful French capital and on the day of my flight, determined to take the prepare to the town as soon as extra. I ended my unimaginable journey in essentially the most becoming manner potential: ordering a vegan crepe at a French café alongside the River Seine and taking a British Airways flight again to London.
If you wish to embark on the journey of a lifetime – while assembly outstanding folks, creating influence by way of a fruitful venture and constructing your work expertise.
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