2023-11-26 05:00:00
“Take the time to listen and invest in young people”
Young people are having a difficult time since the pandemic?
“Mental health is a phenomenon that should not be neglected. It’s a bit like a silent killer. The international context (health, climate, wars, etc.) also worries them. You have to take the time to listen to them. At Ethias, we want to know what their moods are. We interact with them on social networks or in a more original way during master classes with a renowned influencer in particular. »
What are their needs today?
“At 18, they no longer want to immediately have a car. They want solutions to their life problems. Training will also be decisive. This is why we formed a partnership with BeCode or why I launched the idea, several months ago, of creating an IT ecosystem in Liège. When I see large companies looking to India for their IT services, I believe we need to retain our talent. It is time to imagine, the world of business and education together, new rapid solutions to have qualified people who can work in this sector in Belgium. At Ethias, we are always looking for them for our headquarters in Liège and Hasselt obviously. »
So everything will go through education?
“Education is the key. We must raise awareness among young people regarding the professions of today and tomorrow. Many opportunities exist. We need to tell this to young people. Today, working in an insurance company is ten times sexier than it was in 1999 when I joined the company. Data analyst, Data prediction, Risk analysis we are looking for… At Ethias, over the last 3 years, we have hired more than 200 employees between 20 and 30 years old. Furthermore, if a diploma is very important, life experiences will become more important. Emotional intelligence will be as essential in the development of the person as of their skills. »
“Allowing young people to fail”
Do you also want to allow young people to fail?
“We must remember that we have the right to fail and that we can recover from it. This is missing in European culture compared to American culture. This is why Ethias launched “#FailBetter”, a new platform to encourage them to take new steps in their lives. With the “AI-ccident” experience, an artificial intelligence experience, we also allow them to visualize their own kitchen fire, sporting accident, car accident or travel accident, and to simulate their reaction. We have already had more than 8 million views, not counting social networks. »
They are passionate regarding climate. And what can you do at this level?
“We obviously need to take measures in favor of the climate. As a reminder, under European climate law, European Union (EU) countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The goal is to make the climate neutral EU by 2050. Everyone must take actions according to their capacities, means and ambitions. For my part, I gave the Ethias group the objective of achieving “zero carbon” in 2030 for its operational activities. It is a corporate and societal choice that we implement in all the policies we implement. It has also become an attractive factor for young employees. Obviously, it’s complex (building, mobility, fleet of cars, etc.) but we’re starting to get used to it since we’ve been developing multi-year plans since 2003.”
Is it also a personal desire?
“Indeed, it is also a man’s choice. When you become a grandfather, you say to yourself: what am I going to leave behind? We must therefore take action and have the courage to state things clearly. »
Health: the needs of hospitals
How is the health system in Belgium?
“Everyone tells me that we have one of the best health systems. Today, we are shareholders in certain hospitals. We are establishing health ecosystems at the Belgian level. We want to help hospitals face the challenges of tomorrow. As we have relatively efficient data analyses, we can help them in the analysis of profitability phenomena and refocusing of activities, for example in reference centers for a pathology. Hospital institutions will be faced with investment needs in infrastructure and technology. We must therefore imagine a form of sharing, of partnership, hence the importance of ecosystems. »
For your part, are you investing in prevention?
“Obviously, prevention is strategic in all areas and not only in health but also in housing, work accidents, etc. It can also have a downward effect on the pricing of insurance premiums since, for example, the sooner a health problem is detected, the sooner it can be taken care of.”
Sport and health: central element of prevention
Has Ethias always supported sport?
“Yes. We are the insurer of many sports federations. We also collaborate with champions like Wout van Aert and Matthias Casse. They are “bridge” athletes, with values that can speak to people from all regions of the country. Who other than Wout would have abandoned the Tour de France to join his wife in childbirth?
Do you also want sport to provide better prevention?
We want to inspire and motivate people to exercise. We do this thanks to various sponsorships of unifying events such as MonVentoux (Sporta), cycling events, etc. At the Ethias 15KM in Liège Métropole, I want to set up a partnership with different health and prevention players, including hospitals, to show how we can positively impact society together. There is also our support for the various sports federations and more particularly for their young talent projects. »
Have you realized this recently with tennis too?
“In collaboration with the European Open, we organized the first Ethias NextGen Day on October 15 at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp. The aim of Ethias NextGen is to offer young Belgian tennis players quality advice in their pursuit of a professional tennis career. During this day, parents and children were able to ask all their questions related to a possible professional career to experts, managers and coaches from the world of tennis. »
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