Science & Society Day
Thursday, April 13th, 2023
Reception and registration from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Gilbert Azoulay (News Tank Education) will lead our morning of discussions
*All interventions in English will be translated simultaneously using headphones
08:45 - 09:00
Welcome Speech (FR)
Roméo Tédongap, Associate Dean, Director of Research at the ESSEC Business
Julien Malaurent, ESSEC Professor and Academic Director for the Executive Master in Digital Transformation
09:00 - 09:45
Prioritizing mental health to build the future of work (FR)
Keynote Speaker, Julia Néel Biz (Co-founder & CEO of teale)
Detailed program
After the pandemic, a new era has come for mental health at work.
Employees now rightfully expect mentally healthy organizations, and mental health has become a strategic focus for 80%* of HR leaders across the globe.
We should collectively use this moment and this aspiration from the employees to lead the change: to create a new paradigm, to build healthier organizations, and to craft new ways of working.
How can we really transform the way we consider mental health and act upon it? How can tech and data make a difference and have a real impact individually and collectively?
*Source: McKinsey
09:45 - 10:30
Artificial intelligence and the labor market (FR)
Keynote Speaker Stijin Broecke (Senior Economist - OECD)
Detailed program
Abstract: As the general purpose technology of our time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to have a significant impact on society, including the world of work. While adoption is still relatively low and limited primarily to large companies, recent advances in AI combined with falling costs suggest that we are on the cusp of an AI revolution. One defining feature of AI is its ability to automate non-routine, cognitive tasks, which means that AI significantly expands the scope of what is automatable. It is no longer just blue collar workers on the factory shop floor who are at risk, but also doctors, lawyers and managers. In addition, AI raises a whole range of ethical issues around privacy, bias, transparency, explainability, and accountability. This presentation will provide an overview of what we know about AI’s impact on the labor market—including on job quantity and quality, as well as inclusiveness—based on the OECD’s research in this area as well as the available literature. While there is little evidence that AI has negatively impacted jobs so far, we are still at the early stages of adoption. Where AI is used in the workplace, however, workers tend to be very positive about the impact it has on job quality. At the same time, there are indications that AI may benefit some workers more than others and could contribute to increased inequality.
Break from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
11:00 - 12:45
Roundtable - The Future of Work (FR)
Moderator: Gilbert Azoulay (News Tank Education)
Valentine Ferreol (Digital Transformation Specialist), Martin Lauquin (Founder Making Tomorrow and creative strategist at onepoint), Audrey Richard (President of ANDRH and Human Resources Director of Up Coop), Emilie Kerharou-Paris (Workplace Sociologist and Founder KP.Pro), Fabrice Cavarretta (ESSEC Professor), Luc Mathieu (CFDT National Secretary) and Julie Lattes (Senior Strategy Director, BCG BrightHouse)
Detailed program
Several themes:
Questions raised by artificial intelligence and technologies in management and organizational control
Taking into account the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which include mobility, well-being at work, gender, diversity and inclusion
A fairer sharing of the wealth produced by work
The new skills and new forms of work
Break from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m.
14:00 - 14:45
NextGen Consulting Competition - Final (EN)*
Student presentations organized by 180 Degrees Consulting ESSEC
Detailed program
The result of a 3-month long competition during which 40 projects will have been presented, debated and then selected by our partners at 180 Degrees, the finals will be an opportunity for the 5 finalists to present their vision of the future of work in front of an assembly, experts from the professional and academic world, and the general public.
14:45 - 15:10
Future of Work: The Role of Human in the Green and Digital Twin Transitions (EN)*
Presentation by Professor Na Fu (Trinity College)
Detailed program
Abstract: Global pressure is increasing due to the significant climate, social, and economic changes. The next decade of the EU is defined by the green and digital twin transitions, which bring both challenges and opportunities for our society. The future of work is already here, with accelerated digitalization and the increasing presence of AI in the workplace. The green and digital transformation is not just about technology and physical infrastructure, but also about how it changes the way we live and work.
In this talk, we will explore the role of human in the green and digital twin transitions. Through insights from research and public engagement, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities for policymakers, academics, enterprises, non-profit organizations, and affected groups. The focus will be on how we can work together to create a dynamic, sustainable, and inclusive future.
Attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the green and digital twin transitions on the future of work, and the role of human in navigating these transitions. We will engage in discussion, debate, and dialogue to explore new ideas and solutions. By the end of the talk, attendees will have a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the green and digital twin transitions and what they can do to support them.
15:10 - 15:35
Future selves in an uncertain future (EN)*
Presentation by Professor Karoline Strauss (ESSEC), winner of the 2022 Science and Society prize from CY Alliance.
Detailed program
Abstract: As technology is rapidly transforming the world of work, how do we figure out what our professional life will look like? How do we prepare for jobs that do not exist yet? Confronted with a myriad of future possibilities, how we know who we will become?
A clear idea of who we want to be in the future can provide a sense of direction and purpose in the face of an uncertain future. Yet imagining our “future self” is not always easy – or enjoyable. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” is a dreaded question we are usually only asked in interviews and most likely do not have a genuine answer to.
In my research, I take a very different approach to this question. I capture the various hopes and aspirations people may have for their future, and study how they connect to each other. Across a series of studies, I found that when their future self shows higher levels of synergy and interconnection between aspirations, people are more likely to proactively develop skills and networks, and they have more energy available to work towards their hoped for future.
Faced with rapid change, holding on to a narrow and static idea of who we want to become may be of limited use. Instead, a coherent and interconnected set of aspirations for our future self can be a resource that allows us to actively shape our career and prepare for the future, no matter how uncertain it may be.
Break from 3:35 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
15:45 - 16:00
Impact of the international cooperation and science diplomacy (EN)
Presentation by Professor Luciana Radut-Gaghi (Vice-president in charge of the European alliance at CY Cergy Paris Uniersité)
Detailed program
Dr. Radut-Ghagi will discuss her work and insights on how institutions and collaborate, what "science diplomacy" means, and how it works.
16:00 - 16:45
Beyond the Hype: Debunking myths about the Future of Work (EN)*
Presentation by Professor Anne-Laure Fayard (Chaired Professor of Social Innovation, Nova School of Business and Economics)
Detailed program
Abstract: The future of work (FOW) with all its ambiguities and multiple narratives, from techno-utopia to technophobia, is much discussed – in the media, in organizations of all sizes as well as among academics. In this talk, rather than listing all promises or dangers associated with the future of work, which many have already done, I propose to step back and debunk some of the underlying assumptions, or myths, regarding the future of work. To illustrate my argument, I will use examples from recent research – mine included. I will focus on two specific phenomena which pervade popular imagination about the future of work: hybrid work (and its variations – digital first, remote work, WFH, WFA, etc.) and artificial intelligence (AI) (under its different forms: algorithms, machine learning, and most recently generative AI). The aim is to provide some tools to reflect on current trends and kickstart a conversation with the audience.
16:45 to 17:00: Closing remarks from Vincenzo Vinzi, Dean & President of ESSEC, and Roméo Tédongap, Director of Research
17:00 to 18:00: Cocktail reception - Hall des Patios