Every year, the Company welcomes over 2,400 work placement students and 800 interns across France, including nearly 200 at the CSTJF and PERL in Pau, to undertake work experience at TotalEnergies. Training, inspiring, showcasing talent: TotalEnergies is counting on young people to build the future and launching initiatives to develop their skills. Malika and Gauthier give us an overview of the inter-company national challenge which brought together 53 young people to compete in public speaking and the art of persuasion. Both from Pau, they took part in this big contest and proudly flew the flag of the CSTJF and the Béarn region. Read on to discover their experience.
"We believe that knowing how to speak in public, defend your ideas and persuade people is a key skill to gain confidence, feel at ease in all personal and professional situations, and help build the world of tomorrow. This is why the Company launched a public speaking competition two years ago, aimed at work placement students and interns, in partnership with Air France and Siemens", Céline Berbiguier, Head of School Relations, Talent Acquisition and Youth Programs for TotalEnergies, explains.
After learning how to structure their arguments, manage stress and make an impact when speaking in public during an intensive day of training in November, the candidates competed against each other until the final on 11 December. The students delivered memorable performances in front of the audience and a jury made up of company representatives and public speaking experts.
On the agenda? Bold topics which question society and how it is changing:
These issues gave rise to inspiring discussions, powerful punchlines and shared moments packed with emotions!
Gauthier and Malika tell us their experience of this event and what they took away from it – with a great deal of enthusiasm!
Gauthier Daube
Gauthier is currently studying Reservoir Geoscience & Engineering at the IFP School and completing a 6-month end-of-study work placement at TotalEnergies in Pau (CSTJF) in the Reservoir & Asset Management department: My internship topic focused on the integration of digital solutions for automatic forecasting of hydrocarbon production to back up manual estimations of oil and gas reserves. This includes decline curve analyses, for instance.
Malika Dilmi Bouras
Malika is in the final year of a Master’s degree in Geoenergy, specialising in Reservoir Engineering at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) and undertaking a work placement at TotalEnergies in Pau (CSTJF), in the Injectivity and Productivity department: I am working on projects to optimise the injection and reinjection of process water in oil reservoirs. In particular, I work between in-the-field data, reservoir modelling and operational performance to improve the efficiency of operations with technical and environmental constraints.
Gauthier Daube(GD): I saw an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself on an exercise which differed from my daily technical operations. I like discovering new experiences, even more so when they are challenging and can teach me new skills, and this competition seemed like a great opportunity to learn in a welcoming environment. I was also encouraged from the outset by my tutor, Ignacio Arhancet, and my manager, Hélène Berthet, which counted a lot.
Malika Dilmi Bouras (MDB): It is often said that engineers know how to solve problems but not how to speak in public. I wanted to take part in this competition to break away from clichés and show that an engineer can also be clear, convincing and inspiring. Once selected, the encouragements of my tutor Jalel Ochi, Mickeal Mohamed and the entire departmental team supported me in this initiative and gave me the boost I needed to see the experience through to the end.
GD: I chose “Are skills gendered?”. This is a theme which few candidates dared to explore, and that’s precisely why I chose it. I was lucky to be surrounded by inspiring men and women. The discussions I had with my peers and the diversity of viewpoints expressed convinced me that this topic would offer enriching debates.
MDB: I chose “AI: the promise of retiring at 18 years old?”. This topic immediately caught my eye, since it reflects my background and practical experience. After encountering AI in a real-life industrial context, I wanted to deconstruct received ideas on this topic. My message was clear: artificial intelligence is an excellent decision-making tool but it will never replace engineers. It is a complement that never substitutes our expertise, our critical mindset or our responsibility.
GD: This experience taught me how to gain perspective on how I approach public speaking and improve in several specific areas: my stance, how I structure my speeches, rhythm, managing the space and above all feeling more at ease with silences and pauses and how they can benefit discussions and ideas. I feel I already use what I learned on a daily basis, including in a professional context.
MDB: This experience taught me how to transform a technical reflection into an easy-to-understand and compelling speech. I gained confidence and clarity and now feel more at ease when speaking in public. Above all, I learned that public speaking is a key skill for engineers: knowing how to explain, convince and federate is just as important as knowing how to analyse and conduct modelling.
GD: I would tell them: if you’re afraid, that is probably a good reason to try it. The competition is challenging but with the right supportive environment it is an excellent training ground for higher-stakes public speaking engagements. You will learn how to manage stress, clarify your ideas and be persuasive. So grab your pen and get started!
MDB: I would tell them not to wait until they feel ready. You will never be fully ready. You have to dare to take the leap, accept stage fright and learn how to make it a strength. This type of experience helps you to express yourself, get out of a purely technical way of thinking and become aware of your own voice. And sometimes, it is precisely at this moment that you’ll really gain self-confidence.
At the end of the final, two work placement students and an intern from TotalEnergies really stood out.