Sebastien Locteau

First Published for Trinity College Business School, BU8007-202122 Publishing & Professional Practice In Research. 10 January 2022 Sébastien Locteau, a Human Capital Management Global Product Manager with a PhD in Business, is a man of many experiences and perspectives. His unique journey has taken him from the battlefields of France to the Olympic Games, and from the boardrooms of multinationals to the heart of the Irish sporting community. Sebastien's story began in France, where he served as a Chief Nursing Officer in the Ministry of Defence Special Rescue Operations. In this role, he led a team of nurses, doctors, and emergency technicians providing medical care to soldiers and civilians in the field. He faced life-threatening situations, engaged in logistical, intelligence, and security actions, and managed highly stressful environments. After leaving the military, Sebastien turned his attention to the world of sports. He became a Director of People Operations at Sports Ir

 For over three decades, I have traversed the dynamic landscapes of business, sports, and the military, leaving a trail of success and impact in my wake. I am Sébastien Locteau, a seasoned product manager, program manager, and Olympic coach, driven by an unwavering passion for empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential. My journey began in the French army, where I served as a Chief Nursing Officer, leading a team of dedicated medical professionals in the Special Rescue Operations unit. In this high-stakes environment, I honed my leadership and decision-making skills, navigating complex situations and providing critical care under immense pressure. My military service instilled in me a deep-rooted commitment to excellence, which I carried into the business world. As a Human Capital Management Global Product Manager at Specsavers, I spearheaded the implementation of SAP SuccessFactors suite across multiple countries and multinational corporations, transformi

What’s been your biggest learning as a manager so far? That there are different ways to achieve certain outcomes, or even better outcomes, than my way of working, and adapting my beliefs to others. I also change my ways of working at a fast pace, and prioritise what is important from ‘everything is important’. When I joined Specsavers, I learned the meaning of listening and understanding people rather than focusing on myself. It allowed me to bring people on the same journey rather than battling and isolating myself. I also established more honest communication channels to enable trust and confidence in people. I failed a few times myself, allowing my frustration of achieving at all costs to impair my judgement and see the bigger picture. I am lucky to have managers in Specsavers who trusted my ability to change and grow. I think this is key: bring people on your journey so they choose their own path, and potentially become great leaders themselves. How do you tailor your management st

  Swimming across the English Channel with a team was a fantastic experience. 68km pacing 1min27 for 16h39 with a team of 5. Solo are a different kind of fish, it's a pretty individual experience, and for my second time in a relay, the experience is entirely different. Thanks to  Specsavers  and my team, who supported me in my challenge.   It wasn't just about the fundraising for Cancer care west; we raised €5000, but also about all the children who spend a lot of time in the children's hospitals worldwide. I grew up and went to school in a children's hospital, I was supposed to be paralysed at 35, and Now at 44, I achieved things I never thought I would. I promised some that I would wear a 'superman' hat for them, and I did in one of the swims, along with my Galway Swimming Club hats for all the young swimmers I coach weekly. It wasn’t an easy journey.   You have to work as a team; when one is not doing well, you have to lift them up. Waiting on the boat for yo

I have been a military nurse and later an international coach for years. Like, everyone, I read, listen and watch carefully what is going on. I notice an increase of public panic and paranoia. Increase of articles trying to find faults in everything and a way to blame someone. Teachers are criticised for not home-schooling children immediately. Do people didn’t notice we are in an unprecedented emergency? Children will catch up soon enough, a few months won’t harm them. You as a parent are the ones putting that pressure with a deadline to pass exams and compete with other parents.  As a parent, you are responsible to educate them. What a great opportunity to learn more about hygiene, viruses, manners toward vulnerable people or even career options. What more valuable education are you looking for? It reminds me of people trying to be busy at work for the sake of being busy. Rather than looking to make the business more efficient and be creative, innovative they worry to lose their w