June 11, 2017

By Line Goyette

Since her arrival at the head of ABB Canada in fall 2015, a constant-good-news flow happens with Nathalie Pilon: a collaboration with Nova Bus (a division of Volvo Buses) for ABB’s first automated electric bus charger in North America, a Davos announcement with Minister Navdeep Bains for the North American Centre of Excellence in e-Mobility located inside a $90 million investment for the company’s new Canadian headquarters, Campus Montreal in the Ville Saint-Laurent Technoparc, which had its official opening on May 24 in the presence of Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB Group, Bill Morneau, Canada’s Finance Minister, and a range of business, government and client representatives. She has been engaged in numerous industry and thought leadership conferences since her appointment, and has contributed written features in POLICY magazine about innovation and energy.

Nathalie Pilon is also a leader with multiple talents who is oriented towards the community around her. It can also be said that she has abundant energy entirely dedicated to Canada’s manufacturing industry, and is an ardent advocate of renewable energy and the electrification of transportation.

We made an appointment at the end of our first meeting — while still President of Thomas & Betts Canada and Australia — to meet again some time after Nathalie Pilon had become the head of ABB Canada. This second meeting took place in the heart of ABB Customer World 2017 in Houston this past March.

The moment Nathalie sits down with me, she begins speaking with great enthusiasm about the 160 solutions presented on the floor of Customer World.

“Eighteen months ago I told you that I had sometimes wondered whether an engineering degree or more technical training could have helped me, but looking around me today I realize that the skills I developed during my years in management have helped me to tame different technologies and approach them without any preconceived ideas. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, it is essential to find innovative technology solutions for businesses and the Canadian economy. You have to listen to the needs, and this I have done.”

I would add that she also has a passion for this new industrial revolution at our doorstep.

Convergence of the energy and industrial revolution, speed and relevance

“There is an electric revolution at our fingertips; it’s conceivable that we could effectively control an entire plant with an iPhone.” Digital has established itself very quickly in our lives, especially through the smart phone, and allows us to get closer to individuals. The meeting of automation, the Internet and data in electrical management has had the effect of accelerating all these processes, and we are now witnessing the convergence of the energy and industrial revolutions. There is no doubt that we are at the crossroads of technologies; it’s the result of globalization and digitization.

“It will be interesting to see how our industry will change. We will be both electricity producers and consumers; the opportunities for our industry and the Canadian economy are incredible. We have to decide which direction we want to take in both storage and energy generation and cost management.”

I ask her in this context what are the challenges facing the Canadian economy and more specifically our industry?

“These changes must now be incorporated into energy management and sustainable development. Energy storage will be the determining factor (game changer) in this convergence, and Canada must participate in these changes. I have seen these changes coming for five years, and when we are in a critical supply chain like energy, we need to adapt quickly to the environment in which we want to work and propose solutions.

“We are evolving in a new economic ecosystem with important influencers like Cisco, Microsoft and Google. We need to participate in projects earlier in their development phase, propose solutions on a larger scale, and not think about integrating products, but complete solutions. We have new tools to do it and we have to use them.

“In the face of this technological revolution, my role is to prioritize. It is essential to analyze the abundance of data available so that we can provide customers with the best solutions. The main development axes are the electrification of transport and renewable energy. Automation in this context will bring value to the manufacturing industry and greater competitiveness. Our governments want to take part in these developments and I want to be at the table to discuss and influence decision-making to ensure the quality of life in our communities.”

About the new campus that opened its doors last month

“It’s much more than a move, it’s a change in management, the way we’re now going to work together in a collaborative space. This campus was built to attract and retain the new generation. I can walk among working groups and find the fluidity and collaboration that we are looking for in creating system solutions. We have greater power to influence and our impact is more important.”

As a conclusion… for now

“I have a financial background and I see the new business model that can be put in place with the electrification of transport and the development of renewable energies.

“I also realized in the last five years that I had to accept that as a woman I had a role to play, that I should take the floor and be present where we can have visibility and an impact so that young women will believe it and make it clear to the business community that while we may have a different style we have a place.

“I believe that being a leader means being the person who amplifies and gives people the chance to believe in themselves — both women and men.”

Line Goyette is Managing Editor of CEW; linegoyette@kerrwil.com.