Laetitia Cailleteau, a prominent leader in her industry, is renowned for her resilience, creativity, and dedication to excellence, exemplifying an extraordinary career journey marked by an unwavering pursuit of success. Her humble beginnings instilled in her a deep appreciation for education and its ability to generate new possibilities. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and an indomitable spirit, Laetitia has consistently defied obstacles, never accepting “no” as an answer, and triumphing over numerous challenges to emerge as a frontrunner in her field. As she contemplates her leadership position, Laetitia recognizes the importance of purposefully harnessing these qualities to further excel in her role.
For Laetitia, leadership is not defined by a fixed set of traits but rather by the uniqueness of individuals and the complementary qualities they bring. She personally embodies several key traits that contribute to her success as a leader. Competence is a fundamental aspect of her approach, as she continually develops her skills and expertise to lead effectively in her field. She embraces creativity and innovation, exploring new approaches and unconventional solutions to overcome challenges. Authenticity is at the core of her leadership style, as she brings her genuine self to her work, maintaining sincerity and authenticity in all aspects of her professional life. Ethical decision-making is of utmost importance to Laetitia, and she consistently upholds moral principles in her actions and choices. Transparency guides her leadership approach, prioritizing open and honest communication to establish trust and safety among her team.
As a woman in a leadership position, Laetitia has faced challenges, with ageism posing a greater obstacle than gender discrimination. Early in her career, she had to work exceptionally hard to make her voice heard and prove her worth. She encountered moments where she had to navigate conflicts and work with individuals driven by personal agendas, testing her patience. However, she has learned the importance of engaging in constructive conversations to reach resolutions and addressing any discomfort proactively.
Balancing the demands of work and personal life is a constant challenge for Laetitia as a consultant. She has established priorities and boundaries, such as regular dinners with her family, time for personal activities, and conscious decisions regarding work-related events. While exceptions occur, maintaining these boundaries helps her achieve a balance. She recognizes the need to take a step back, relax, and ground herself when personal boundaries are neglected for too long.
As a leader, Laetitia has had to make difficult decisions. One notable example was her experience running the Liquid Studio in London, where they developed an AI solution to support independent living for the elderly. Despite its success, funding constraints led to discontinuing the project. However, after securing a grant, they resurrected the project, indicating the market was now receptive. Maintaining contact with the participants, many of whom support the project once again, highlights the importance of perseverance and adapting to changing circumstances.
Fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion is a top priority for Laetitia and Accenture. The company has implemented initiatives to groom a diverse talent pool and ensure fair and inclusive promotion processes. Laetitia personally champions inclusivity and strives for a balanced approach when appointing individuals to key roles. She actively supports and provides opportunities for women to grow and succeed within the firm.
Staying up-to-date with industry trends and innovations is vital for Laetitia. She reads extensively, maintains a strong LinkedIn network, and benefits from the vast scale of Accenture and the breadth of her role, which exposes her to diverse projects. Additionally, she has a professional coach and trusted advisors who offer guidance, and she remains attentive during events and client discussions to stay attuned to the latest developments.
Conflict management is an essential aspect of Laetitia’s leadership. She distinguishes between conflicts, which are loaded with emotions and personal agendas, and disagreements, which can be useful for challenging the statusquo and pushing thinking. Laetitia believes in creating an inclusive environment where all team members have a voice and feel safe, heard, and valued. She acknowledges and addresses challenges, reframing unspoken issues when necessary. In the face of complex challenges, she considers ethical aspects and what is right, the best interests of her clients, and the best interests of her team members. While striving for consensus, she understands that making decisions, even if they may be overridden later, is often better than prolonging uncertainty. However, she also acknowledges the challenge of receiving less upward feedback than before and remains open to constructive input.
Laetitia Cailleteau’s career journey and leadership approach reflect her unwavering determination, commitment to ethics, and dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion. As she continues to break barriers in her industry, Laetitia remains a source of inspiration for aspiring leaders, demonstrating the importance of competence, authenticity, innovation, transparency, and ethical decision-making. Through her strategic balance of work and personal life, she sets an example for achieving personal fulfillment alongside professional success. Laetitia’s ability to navigate difficult decisions, manage conflicts, and stay up-to-date with industry trends further solidify her position as a respected leader in her field.
One project that Laetitia Cailleteau is particularly proud of is the development of the Conversational AI platform at the Liquid Studio. This platform, which they patented, revolutionizes the way brands handle communication by providing a low-code, interoperable, and cloud-agnostic solution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform proved invaluable in supporting over 35 clients in responding swiftly to the crisis, assisting with tasks like providing information on nursery opening times, understanding COVID-19 protocols, and identifying eligible grants. More recently, it has played a crucial role in helping the people of Ukraine on their journey to safety across Europe. Additionally, the platform serves as a means to introduce clients to the latest GPT technologies, enhancing their capabilities.
To women aspiring to leadership positions in business, Laetitia’s advice is to remain authentic and true to themselves. Embracing individual qualities and strengths without imitating men is crucial. She encourages women to be courageous, speak up, and share their opinions and experiences to bring about meaningful change. Confidence in earning their place at the table is key.
When it comes to risk-taking, Laetitia’s approach depends on the specific risk and its potential impact. Thorough research and preparation are important, along with engaging in conversations with stakeholders to refine and frame ideas. She values genuine feedback from her team and looks for synchronicities in the ecosystem, such as clients interested in trying new ideas. Knowing when to pivot or call it quits is a challenging aspect of risk-taking.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and customers is crucial, and communication plays a central role. Laetitia emphasizes being well-informed, reliable, and consistent while being open to listening and solving challenges together. Difficult conversations and co-creation of solutions strengthen relationships and build trust.
Accenture has taken initiatives to support gender equality and empower women in the workplace, including the Women Executive Leadership (WEL) program. This program assigns internal coaches, provides support from BetterUp, and conducts thought-provoking sessions led by GMC members. Being part of the women executive network has offered opportunities to connect with inspiring leaders, engage in reflection, and collaborate on ideas.
Measuring the success of Accenture involves the organization’s consistent growth and providing exciting and challenging work to assist clients on their complex journeys. Intellectual challenges and continuous learning are significant measures of success for Laetitia.
Looking ahead, the biggest challenges and opportunities for women leaders in business lie in fostering empathy, care for others and the environment, and striving for balance and inclusivity. The opportunity is immense as the world undergoes major transformations. The greatest challenge lies within women themselves, with hesitation to use their voices or conform to societal expectations. Laetitia encourages women to embrace their vulnerabilities, be bold and courageous, and create a brighter future for the next generations.
