A Glimpse of the Future

05 August 2019

Leonardo’s 2019 International Graduate Conference was the final part of the company’s two-year graduate programme, showcasing graduates’ ability to work as a diverse team and be the next generation of innovators, leaders and inspirations.

During July 2019, more than 60 Leonardo graduates from the company’s Italian and UK sites gathered in Milan for the International Graduate Conference, for the culmination of the two-year i-Gr@d Scheme.

Shaping the future

Themed on ‘Digital Transformation’, the two-day conference brought together graduates from a variety of functions to work as transnational integrated project teams, tasked with considering and proposing new ways of working that could help shape the future success of Leonardo.

With the guidance of sponsors and mentors from across the company’s Electronics business, graduates researched solutions to IT-related business challenges in order to establish new ways of thinking. Topics covered:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Demystifying Design for Excellence (DFX)
  • Intellectual Property Management
  • Living Collaborative Communities
  • Nano-satellite Ecosystems
  • Product Maturity Assessment Models

The conference’s concept and structure was driven by the graduates with support from the corporate HR and communications functions. Along with the graduates and senior managers from Italy and the UK, there was a surprise performance from Italian musician, orchestra conductor and leadership expert, Giorgio Fabbri. Taking to the stage with his keyboard, he encourage team working through passion, singing and harmony.

A call for cross-generational collaboration

On the second day, Norman Bone, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Electronics business, reiterated the need and value of collaboration across all generations – from ‘Maturists’ through to ‘Generation Z’ – to achieve cultural change. He also explained about the current global business environment in which the company is operating, and the challenges and opportunities being faced. “The drive for continuous innovations and transformative ways of working are essential for the future success of our business,” said Norman Bone.

With this message fresh in their ears, the graduate teams subsequently presented their digital transformation concepts to senior management and invited customers, with each group also taking questions and feedback on their respective project.

The day’s final session featured a keynote speech from retired Lieutenant General and former head of the US State Department's counter-terrorism office, Ambassador Dell Dailey. Speaking about his personal journey ‘From the battlefield to the boardroom’, he shared his views on the qualities that make a great leader and how values “guard the guardian”.

2019 International Graduate Conference

Giving back to local communities

A core element of the i-Gr@d Scheme is the graduates’ commitment to charitable causes, which was showcased towards the end of the conference. The four charities supported by the 2017-2019 graduate intake were:

Reflecting on the conference, Edinburgh-based procurement graduate, Melanie West, said: “It has been an uplifting and challenging experience to be part of the graduate scheme. It allowed me to push myself to my full potential in the face of diverse situations and cultures. This event concludes the first step of a graduate’s professional development and enables us to understand ourselves, how we communicate to others and how we apply ourselves in challenging situations. The opportunity to build soft skills in communication and networking throughout the two-year scheme is a key take away for everyone.”

Graduate Development Manager, Lucia Hunt, said: "Following the successful conclusion of this year’s conference, our graduates now transition from the Graduate Development Programme into the next steps in their professional careers, which will see them embedded in the organisation within their chosen professions. Congratulations to all our fantastic graduates and we thank them for all their inspiring ideas on the future of our business. We look forward to seeing them realise their potential both individually and collectively!"