How upskilling at every level drives competitive edge

Engaging talent to solve global challenges

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To stay ahead in a competitive market, PNO recognizes that attracting, retaining, and developing highly skilled professionals is essential. With a workforce that is highly educated - 80–85% holding master’s degrees or PhDs - academic expertise alone is not enough. PNO invests in learning and development to ensure its people are not only technically skilled but also capable of connecting with clients, seizing business opportunities, and making a meaningful impact.

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“We help other companies find financing for their innovations, and innovation is key for handling the societal challenges we face. But the limit of our growth is the availability of talented people. Finding, onboarding, developing them, and making sure they're fully engaged—that's our challenge.“

Janneke Wildemans

Chief People and Culture Officer

Business need

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Developing consultancy and commercial skills across a diverse team

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PNO’s consultants are experts in their fields, but the organization identified gaps in consultancy and commercial capabilities. Employees needed skills to interact effectively with clients, embrace new business opportunities, and collaborate across teams and countries.

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Wildemans emphasizes the importance of this human element:
“As consultants, they really have to get in there, connect with people, and talk with them to thoroughly understand their projects and needs. There has to be some heart there.”

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The company’s L&D strategy needed to address this by combining academic knowledge with people-centered skills, ensuring team members could engage clients deeply while fostering retention and growth across an international workforce.

Training solution

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Capability academies for continuous growth

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PNO partnered with Lepaya to implement modular capability academies designed for every career stage - from young talent to senior leaders. Each academy focuses on developing essential soft skills, such as communication, stakeholder management, and commercial acumen, alongside technical expertise.

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“What I like about Lepaya is the modular approach. We can say, ‘These are our challenges, these are our target groups, this is our idea of how we would like to help people and facilitate development.’ And then the Lepaya experts help us create the learning journey.”

Janneke Wildemans

Chief People and Culture Officer

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Learning is embedded into day-to-day work through practical exercises, role plays, and peer collaboration. The academies not only provide skill development but also foster a sense of community, connecting colleagues across teams and locations.

Impact

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Continuous development, stronger connections, and greater client impact

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PNO’s partnership with Lepaya has created a continuous learning culture, ensuring employees at all levels are developing the skills needed to succeed in a consultancy environment. Consultants report improved confidence in client interactions, stronger collaboration across teams, and the ability to leverage their expertise to create tangible client value.

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The academies have also fostered community and peer learning, strengthening the bonds between employees across countries and functions. This approach not only enhances individual growth but also contributes to organizational resilience, employee engagement, and overall consultancy effectiveness.

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Wildemans reflects on the program’s lasting value:

Through continuous, modular learning, PNO ensures that its consultants remain equipped to solve global challenges, strengthen client relationships, and drive innovation worldwide.