How Sanofi and Authentic Talent focused on potential to develop talent in the Digital Graduate Program, using Hogan Assessments.
‍
‍
How Digitalents is shaping the next generation of Sanofi leaders.
In a world that’s always evolving, we know that fresh thinking and diverse perspectives are what fuel our future. That’s why Sanofi created Digitalents — a flagship program designed to attract, assess and develop early careers talent in Digital roles across Sanofi.
Led by Marcela Fernandes, Global Talent Partner and Sophie Billaude, Global People Business Partner Digital at Sanofi, the initiative reflects a bold and modern approach to talent development: one that prioritizes potential over experience and builds a path for growth from day one.
We want to become the home of the best talent - fostering a powerhouse of innovation and future success. We believe that by attracting, developing, and empowering individuals at the start of their professional journeys, we are building the foundation for our continued growth.
Sanofi is at a pivotal moment. As experienced leaders prepare to move on, we’re thinking ahead — investing in the next generation of talent who will shape what comes next.
Digitalents is a targeted early careers initiative within our Digital organization that connects high-potential individuals with real development opportunities, personalized learning, and leadership support.
To identify future leaders, we’ve partnered with Authentic Talent to bring in advanced assessment tools. Their methods help us look beyond CVs, focusing instead on the behavioral traits and potential of each candidate.
At the heart of Digitalents is a two-step Hogan assessment process, co-designed with Authentic Talent:
- Step 1: Understanding the profile
Each participant begins with a one-to-one Hogan debrief. This session helps them understand their personality traits and strengths — and how these align with Sanofi’s strategic direction and our “Take the Lead” mindset.
- Step 2: Crafting the development plan
One month later, a follow-up session supports the creation of a personalized development roadmap. This plan focuses on sharpening strengths and addressing growth areas, all linked to real-world challenges and career goals.
Importantly, Sanofi leaders play an active role in this process. Many have chosen to take the Hogan assessment themselves, reflecting a culture of shared learning and commitment to growth at every level.
Since its launch, Digitalents has exceeded expectations — and not just in numbers:
And the value isn’t limited to those who were selected. Every candidate who completed the Hogan process gained meaningful self-awareness and insight — skills they’ll carry forward in their careers, with or without Sanofi.
Our vision for Digitalents reflects a wider shift in how Sanofi sees talent:
Digitalents is more than a graduate program — it’s a bold investment in the future of Sanofi. By focusing on potential, applying smart assessment tools, and engaging leaders in the development journey, we’re building a pipeline of diverse talent ready to lead through change. At the same time, our targeted employer branding efforts are helping Sanofi stand out in a competitive market — showing the next generation that this is a place where they can grow, belong, and make an impact.
‍
‍
