In 2011, Margot, an industrial engineering student at the École des Mines de Saint-Étienne, joined Naval Group in Toulon on a work-study contract. She began as Program Management Officer (PMO) for the Brazilian Prosub submarine program within the Mission and Combat Systems Department before moving to the Gowind® corvette program for the Egyptian Navy as a Combat System Planner in 2014, a position she held for three years. This experience gave her a comprehensive overview of the systems and the different actors involved in producing a combat system.
Developing technical and managerial skills
As PMO on Gowind® programs from 2017 to 2022, Margot coordinated program management with a team of six employees. During this time, she deepened her knowledge of systems and completed her training in management, before taking up the position of Innovation PPM in 2023. Margot now manages around fifteen Work Package Managers (WPM) focusing their R&D innovation on combat management systems activities. “My role is to coordinate activities while ensuring that there is an overall logic to the innovations we propose. Our projects can run over the short term or very long term and aim to set us apart in the market, either by making us more competitive or by offering new features. For example, we are working on the digital transformation of the CMS and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI),” Margot explains, adding, “My previous duties gave me an understanding of how programs function and their processes, and allowed me to acquire the right management reflexes, all of which I now put to good use on R&D projects. As IPPM, the predominance of innovation also gives me the opportunity to develop my technical skills.”
Even greater human relations in the role of Department Manager
In 2024, an opportunity presented itself and Margot further expanded her range of skills: in addition to her IPPM hat, she donned that of Department Manager (DM), taking over the reins of the Technical Steering and R&D Department with a team of 7 to 15 employees depending on the period. “My role is to organise the team's workload schedule and provide support on projects if necessary, but above all to support employees in their professional development. The human dimension is of great importance in this role, which is something I rather appreciate. It’s another approach that complements and diversifies my work.” Margot’s journey at Naval Group has been full of rewarding experiences and opportunities: “The diversity of activities and professions at Naval Group makes it possible to carve out an exciting and rewarding career path, both professionally and in human terms.”
Elles bougent
Alongside her work, Margot is also a godmother for the Elles bougent association. Elles bougent godmothers and liaison officers represent their profession, their work and their career to encourage young girls to join them. For more information and to become an “Elles bougent” godmother or liaison officer, go to: www.ellesbougent.com/marraines/inscription/