After eight years at MACIF in various departments—risk management, innovation, and strategic intelligence—Claire de Marchi joined the CSR department in 2022, taking over as its head a few months later. She then took the initiative to develop her skills by enrolling in the Académie Carbone 4 program. Her story highlights the impact that continuing education can have on a career, particularly in the context of the energy transition, where there is a massive need for new skills.

Could you tell us a little about your professional background?

I am starting my third year as CSR Manager at MACIF. I joined the company in 2012, first in internal audit for five years, then in innovation. In 2018, I moved to the strategic intelligence division as Manager. I worked on an ORSE guide on integrating ESG issues into risk mapping, and I’d kept that topic in the back of my mind. At the same time, I became interested in work on the environmental transition, such as that of the Shift Project. One thing led to another, and I realized I wanted to focus my career on CSR and environmental issues. So I asked to receive further training in this field and turned to the Académie Carbone 4, which I had identified as a resource.

Back then, in 2022, three training courses were available; I decided to create my own skill-building path based on them through the “Developing a Climate Roadmap”, “Become a Climate Finance Expert” and “Adapting Your Organization to Climate Change”. These training programs helped me strengthen my candidacy when the opportunity arose to join the CSR team, and then take over management of the team a few months later

What were your professional challenges at the time of the training sessions?

I felt a real need to align my personal concerns with my professional life. The sense of vertigo caused by the realization of planetary limits and the urgency of the situation led me to ask myself what I could do on my own level, and what skills I could draw upon in the context of my work. Thanks to my experience in the risk management division, I was able to identify what was most important and think in terms of scale to find the most effective courses of action for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building internal support.

What made you decide to sign up?

Before taking the Carbone 4 Academy courses, I was teaching myself, spending my free time taking MOOCs on environmental issues and corporate transition, such as the C3D MOOC.  And while that content provided a solid foundation, I still needed more in-depth training from seasoned consultants who bring a “hands-on” approach to the subject—not to mention, of course, the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers. The training programs thus provided me with practical insights; they gave me a realistic understanding of the subject and enabled me to anticipate the specific challenges of the position I was aiming for within the CSR division.

What aspects of the training made the biggest impression on you?

I appreciated having a trainer who guided us throughout the course and served as a true guiding force in putting things into context. The contributions from external participants were also relevant and enriching. I really appreciated the discussions with the other learners; the weekly schedule was well-paced, and I found it very enlightening to be able to compare our activities as CSR managers from different sectors,

The training content is based on scientific facts, with very clear materials. I sometimes go back and review the materials. In terms of the substance of the training, I think it’s really well done; the balance between the theoretical component on the platform and the group discussion sessions is truly interesting. The hands-on exercises were also invaluable and clearly demonstrated the complexity of the tasks and projects to be undertaken.

While I took the first three courses online—the format offered in 2022—I was recently able to take the course “Developing a Biodiversity Roadmap” which offers a hybrid format that includes one day of in-person sessions at Carbone 4’s offices in Paris. I really liked this format: it allowed me to interact more with the other participants and build connections between sessions. The “class” spirit was even more evident!

What skills or knowledge did you gain from the training?

The “Developing a Climate Roadmap“It really helped me develop a critical mindset and a holistic perspective, while keeping in mind the orders of magnitude and the strategic vision to be implemented.”

“Adapting Your Organization to Climate Change"While this was less directly applicable to my own work, it nevertheless helped me grasp the essential concepts of climate adaptation and resilience."

“Become a Climate Finance Expert” has given me a solid foundation in regulatory matters, so I now have a clear understanding of the roadmap at the European level and its implications for businesses.

Finally, regarding the training “Developing a Biodiversity Roadmap” which I took in November 2024, I wanted to gain a solid understanding of this other major planetary boundary and identify the sectors with the greatest impact on biodiversity.

Who would you recommend this training course to, and why?

For anyone who wants to learn more about the concrete link between a company and its impact on the climate—to quantify and clarify the issues at hand, and then develop a coherent strategy. The great strength of these training programs lies in their ability to mathematically demonstrate what is happening and where we stand, so that we can understand how to tackle the problem and which solutions to implement accordingly—as quickly as possible.

In fact, two of my colleagues have taken—or are planning to take—the “Developing a Climate Roadmap” and “Become a Climate Finance Expert” after I told them about it.

Any final thoughts?

I highly recommend the training courses at Académie Carbone 4! They really helped me land this position on the CSR team by strengthening my application—my hard work clearly paid off. Thank you to the entire Académie team!

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