When Frederic Pinglot, Vice President of Human Rights at Schneider Electric, joined Hello Accelerator, he was looking for something concrete. The global industrial technology leader had already made strides in integrating human rights into its policies, but Frederic wanted to do more—especially when it came to the fair and inclusive recruitment of migrant workers.

From Risk Mitigation to Opportunity Creation

Initially, Frederic’s work focused on reducing human rights risks for migrant workers, particularly during recruitment in vulnerable regions. Schneider Electric had made a policy shift in 2022 to explicitly include migrants and refugees. By 2023, they had published recruitment guidelines grounded in international standards. But something was missing.

Despite these efforts, putting the recruitment guidelines into practice at scale remained a challenge.

"In many parts of Europe, we’re experiencing serious talent shortages," Frederic explains. "And there are so many skilled, motivated people on the move who simply don’t have access to the right opportunities."

Through conversations with colleagues, peers in the cohort, and the Hello Accelerator team, Frederic began to see a broader opportunity: migration wasn’t just a risk to manage—it could be a powerful solution, a source of talent and innovation.

A Space to Zoom Out and Refocus

The Hello Accelerator experience gave Frederic something rare: time and space to step back, think systemically, and return to his work with new clarity.

He was especially energized by the in-person sessions in Warsaw and the mix of perspectives from across sectors. "It was inspiring—and challenging—to shape ideas with people from such diverse contexts. But that’s exactly what helped spark new thinking."

This fresh perspective highlighted the potential for Schneider to take on a larger role— not just setting policies, but becoming a space to experiment with and implement new ideas.

Prototyping New Hiring Pathways

Frederic and his team emerged from the Hello Accelerator with a clear idea: pilot a hiring initiative that connects the untapped potential of migrant talent with real business needs.

The goal isn’t just corporate responsibility—it’s about adapting to labor market realities while living up to Schneider’s values. "We’re exploring ways to involve teams from HR to CSR, and to build a movement internally," he says.

He’s also changing the conversation within the company: “It’s not just about risk. It’s about becoming more inclusive, more innovative, and more future-ready.”

It’s Not Easy—But It’s Possible

There are still real challenges. Finding the right candidates, shifting internal mindsets, and navigating bureaucracy can all slow progress. But Frederic believes that asking better questions—and being willing to test new ideas—is the way forward.

The Accelerator didn’t give us ready-made answers. It gave us the right questions. And the courage to start.