Interview “Inside Out” : Vanessa Gambert, Project Manager for Skills Development & Two-time champion of the WAT CUP

For this fifth edition of Inside Out, we’re delighted to feature Vanessa Gambert-Merret, Project Manager for Skills Development.

A graduate of Skema Business School in Nice with a specialization in Human Resources, Vanessa has been working in the field for 26 years, including 20 within the BNP Paribas Group.

For the past three years, she’s been actively contributing to the deployment of agility at BNP Paribas Personal Finance, through the Centre of Expertise for Agility & Performance, alongside her main role in skills development. In collaboration with Jean-Pierre Saugère (Hub Agite), she co-created the Agile University a training offer designed for all levels of agility. For Vanessa, agility is a powerful lever for upskilling and discovering new career paths.

Hello Vanessa, what is your “Unexpected Job” ?

I’d describe myself as « a skills alchemist ».

Like a lab master, I mix methods, pedagogy, and tailored support to unlock everyone’s potential. My goal: to foster sustainable skills that meet tomorrow’s challenges.

My role is very diverse and that’s exactly what I love about it!

I design custom training paths aligned with our strategic plan. It’s a true team effort with HRBPs and training coordinators.

I co-lead agility awareness sessions with agile coaches. In just one year, over 900 employees were trained through hands-on, playful formats open to all.

I launched My PF Tube in 2019, our internal learning YouTube platform. It enables everyone to learn and share knowledge — today, it features over 200 tutorials!

🦸‍♂️ What’s your “little something extra”?

Outside of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, I have a big passion: tennis.

A lifelong fan of racket sports, I took part in the We Are Tennis Cup, an internal Group competition open to employees of all skill levels.

Together with my teammates from the Finance department (Jean-Charles Brault, Yannick Duluc, Nicolas Vitry), we won the French national title in 2023 and 2024, and were crowned BNP Paribas Group world champions both years.

The cherry on top? Playing the final on the legendary courts of Roland-Garros, including the Simonne-Mathieu court, in front of a cheering crowd. It was an incredible human and athletic experience.

What I take away from it: when kindness, team spirit, and joy come together, you can achieve great things.

This adventure inspires me daily at work, it reminds me how collaboration and passion can transform potential, on the court and in the workplace.

😃 Because life is not just about work, what are your “3 Blissful Moments a Day”?

1 – Sharing and laughing with my colleagues: I love simple chats, inside jokes, and spontaneous bursts of laughter. People often say my laugh is contagious and I take that as a compliment!

2 – Quality time with my family: those moments of connection, affection, and bonding with my loved ones are essential to my balance. They ground me and recharge my batteries.

3 – A good workout: sports energize me and clear my mind. Whether it’s a padel match with colleagues or friends or a swim session, I always come out feeling refreshed.

✨ The mascot has a magic wand, what are your 3 wishes for BNP Paribas Personal Finance?

1 – A fulfilling and supportive work environment: a space where everyone can grow, learn, and thrive. I truly believe that a positive climate drives both engagement and performance.

2 – A skills-sharing platform: I’d love to see the creation of an internal “Skills Marketplace,” where employees could offer or request support on specific topics.

3 – The ability to take on multiple roles within the company: I’d like to see a “slashing” culture develop, where people can explore and express their different talents across BNP Paribas Personal Finance.