« I wish you endless dreams and the furious desire to make some of them come true. ». This phrase by Jacques Brel is the driving force behind Bénédicte Gallon, Deputy Managing Director of the Learning Planet Institute, where she has been working for over seven years. After a trip around the world, a humanitarian commitment, and experience in auditing and consulting, she had, in her own words, never seen an organization with such a high level of commitment. « such trust in others ». Meet us.
With a smile on her lips and a mischievous look in her eye, Bénédicte Gallon has a warm energy and dynamism that she passes on in the corridors of the Learning Planet Institute, teams and students. In her office at the heart of the 5,300m² Paris campus she oversaw, she talks about her career and her affection for an organization that is unique in her eyes. «I didn't come to the Learning Planet Institute completely by chance. In fact, I don't think anyone did: students, staff, or teachers!»
After business and engineering school, Bénédicte Gallon started out in industry, before setting off on a round-the-world trip with her husband. This trip was not only an opportunity for hiking, mountaineering and diving, but also for a humanitarian commitment with the’NGO Cameleon in the Philippines. « After this world tour, we had received a lot and we wanted to give something back.»
The couple decided to return to the Philippines for two years to support and structure Cameleon, which accompanies abused young girls and offers community programs. Their eldest daughter is born in the Philippines, and they return to France. Bénédicte Gallon then worked for KPMG, in the specialized NGO section. As parents, she and her husband also run a parents' crèche. « Educational issues were already very prominent » she said, smiling.
In parallel, Bénédicte Gallon works with the Telethon and the Scouts et Guides de France. At the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. She sets up social sponsorship and works on two major projects: one on hearing, and the other with the Centre de Recherches Interdisciplinaires, the CRI (former name of the Learning Planet Institute). « As time went by, I became detached from the projects, the relationship with François Taddei and I returned to the Learning Planet Institute when a position opened up for me. ».
She hasn't left him since. And for good reason:
I don't think I've ever seen an organization with such confidence in each other. There's a real respect for others. I listen to you because you have something to contribute, whether you're a student, researcher, teacher, manager or employee. There's a rare kindness and respect here. When new people arrive, we are first and foremost welcoming, never suspicious.
For Bénédicte Gallon, the Learning Planet Institute's culture is ultimately one of listening to the collective. « It's quite incredible, and I believe that the values conveyed by François Taddei and Ariel Lindner at the very beginning are still there. The role of the student, for example, is particularly central.»
According to Bénédicte Gallon, listening to young people and their projects should be extended beyond the walls of the Learning Planet Institute. « Here, students set up their own projects (project-based learning), learn to collaborate and tackle issues from a variety of angles. They develop critical thinking skills. We pamper them and truly embody this closeness to them.»
Bénédicte Gallon is well placed to speak, as she is often present at project presentations and student parties. « Students and Learning Planet Institute teams are very close, whether through internships, apprenticeships, the clubs students create, or Learning Planet Institute's flagship activities such as the’IKIGAI or the MakerLab. » In fact, when asked about the typical profile of Learning Planet Institute students, Bénédicte Gallon finds it hard to answer, such is the diversity.
Everyone comes away with their own uniqueness, enriched by the uniqueness of others. Here, we recruit you as you are, in all your authenticity and wholeness.
Anchored in research, which has also been an integral part of the Learning Planet Institute's culture from the outset, students and teams are encouraged to explore, test projects and prototype. « The YES culture at Learning Planet Institute is no joke. It's a culture of freedom. There are no limits, we allow ourselves to explore the unknown, it's encouraged and it lasts. The ability to say to ourselves that we're constantly breaking new ground, that we're not going where no one else is, is uncomfortable but makes us a moving organization and a crossroads for interesting encounters. Sometimes it's scary, but that's how we set up projects, how we create, with people on the inside, but also on the outside. »
As Bénédicte Gallon said, she didn't come to the Learning Planet Institute completely by chance, and she thinks that's true of everyone.
We come here because we believe in the project, because we share the same values. We come because the mission of creating a learning society is, for some, a real quest. We come because we choose each other and we choose a community. These are things we're very sensitive to when recruiting.
The Learning Planet Institute is an organic organization. This culture of welcoming others, of exploration, of interdisciplinarity is reflected in the walls of the campus in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. « The management and the building are totally aligned with our values.», emphasizes Bénédicte Gallon.
« It's a place for expression, freedom and experimentation. We test projects, we prototype... The development of this campus right up to the installation was one of my first major projects. I had to review all the plans and layouts, and bring on board the teams and a whole community that had not yet lived together (at the time, there were researchers at the Cochin hospital, teams and students in the Montparnasse tower...). We had to think about the best way to get students, researchers and project managers to live together. It went really well. The building reflects this community, and is the physical expression of the Institute: an interdisciplinary, agile, modular place that respects materials (waste management, purchasing, choice of suppliers...). People enjoy coming here. »
When Bénédicte Gallon is asked what surprises her every day at the Learning Planet Institute, she speaks of diversity, enthusiasm and good humor, and this carries her through, even when she encounters the challenges inherent in a management position. « People are smiling, happy and enjoying each other's company. It's great fun.», she said, without hiding her own satisfaction.
But that's not enough: new projects are always feeding the organization. « I can mention two (among others) that are of interest: a project focusing on children's mental health and well-being (LISA) - initiated by former student Élie Rotenberg, and a challenge for the Institute to go international and create a project to serve the planet by federating players. The LearningPlanet Alliance is playing this role, but we'd like to go even further, by designing a decentralized university. (Planetizen University), where everyone contributes their know-how and values. That's why we recently signed a partnership agreement with the United Nations University, and we don't intend to stop there: there are many of us in the world who think in this way, and we need to capitalize on these shared values!»
LEARN MORE
Find out more about the project «LISA»
Find out more about the International Alliance
Discover other portraits of our community members
A portrait by Marie Ollivier
Thanks to Bénédicte Gallon for answering our questions
