Innovative Talent Strategy - Learning ecosystem

Intesa Sanpaolo invests in its talents creating a unique ecosystem of skills in line with the Bank’s evolution, with the aim of guaranteeing the best professional experience for the Group’s people. 

During 2024 Intesa Sanpaolo continued to implement innovative training models and methodologies to provide a multi-channel training experience that maximizes simplicity and flexibility through various platforms/apps.   

UN SDG SUPPORTED

The Group’s training solutions prioritised digital channels with quick, simple and interactive forms of participation, reaching around 90% of total training in digital form.

In order to guarantee high quality standards and constantly updated content according to the specific needs of the Group, all training, including mandatory training, is carried out with the support of the dedicated supplier Digit’Ed S.p.a., partner of Intesa Sanpaolo in the implementation of training initiatives. The company was established in 2022 following the transfer of the business unit relating to training and, leveraging Intesa Sanpaolo’s innovative learning infrastructures, has positioned itself on the market as an aggregator of the best Italian operators in the sector. Intesa Sanpaolo supports the dissemination of a responsible banking culture among its people through a wide range of training and awareness raising initiatives: 

• the development of new digital contents designed to adopt the regulatory updates on the subject of Legislative Decree 231/01, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption; 
• an ambitious training and development plan to upskill and reskill its people with aim to meet emerging competence needs and prepare for new professions; 
• the engagement of managers and executives in targeted training (including Coaching courses, Shadow Coaching, Distance Tutoring, Digital Talks on leadership topics and future scenarios, and Compliance Talks mandatory training) to address the challenges of an ever evolving environment and broaden managerial awareness and strengthen leadership skills (potentially involving 6,100 Managers, 1,950 Coordinators of Operational Activities (COAs), and approximately 200 Talents).

Training for executives remained a key focus, with dedicated update programmes for members of the Board of Directors.

In 2024, 11 sessions were held on crucial topics such as ESG topics, European regulations about Digital Finance, Risk Data Aggregation and Risk Reporting, EBA Guidelines on internal policies, procedures and controls to ensure the implementation of Union and national restrictive measures and EBA Guidelines on internal policies, procedures and controls to ensure the implementation of Union and national restrictive measures under Regulation (EU) 2023/1113; renewal of corporate bodies.

* The figures are shown on the basis of a recalculation that takes into account training effectiveness parameters, resulting in increased value for hours of learning provided remotely. The figures do not include the hours of training provided to employees that left during the year. 

Training activities are intended to support the dissemination of the sustainability culture, not only by conveying ESG notions and knowledge, but also by ensuring that, for the Group’s people, these are transformed into the skills needed to act as agents of change, contributing to the implementation of corporate strategies geared towards generating economic, social and environmental value together.

Training contents cover key topics such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Taxonomy, the Code of Ethics and the Modern Slavery. In addition to mandatory training, Intesa Sanpaolo organizes Digital Talks and specialized courses for specific divisions, such as the Eurizon Advanced Training Program in Asset Management and ESG training within the Insurance Division. 

Substantial investments in the Group’s people development underpin the targets of the 2022-2025 Business Plan, ensuring the enhancement of human capital with the aim to elevate internal resources, and identify, manage and develop high-potential resources. These efforts are supported by key initiatives, as the International Talent Program (ITP) and Key People. 

• The International Talent Program (ITP) one of the Group’s key talent development initiatives, designed to cultivate a new generation of managers and professionals with a cross-functional, international mindset. The program involves personalized development paths lasting around 3 years. Participants also benefit from a mentorship and tutorship program, with Senior Managers and structure’s Heads. 
• The Key People Program serves as the second pillar of the Group’s innovative talent strategy, and it is focused on identifying and developing future leaders. It targets selected middle management professionals, aiming to enhance their professional and managerial growth and prepare them for leadership roles in more complex contexts.

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One of the Group’s most interesting programmes is the establishment of Job Communities, designed to enhance knowledge sharing, collaboration and professional development within the organisation. Job Communities bring together groups of professionals with homogeneous skills, learning paths and titles or with common interests on strategic bank issues or projects (i.e. Artificial Intelligence, Data, Arts, etc). In 2024, the Group expanded its commitment to this initiative by activating 4 new communities, bringing the total to 12 Job Communities. The Group has introduced a dedicated mobile application that enables people to participate in community activities anytime, anywhere. 

As outlined in the 2022-2025 Business Plan, Intesa Sanpaolo is also committed to developing a sustainability oriented business culture in its customer companies: this is a key step for guiding them towards an economic transition that is not only sustainable from a financial perspective. To increase the knowledge and skills that customer businesses require in this area, the collaboration between Intesa Sanpaolo and Digit’Ed S.p.a., partner of Intesa Sanpaolo in the implementation of training initiatives, continued through 2024, providing a dedicated online platform, customized training and support programmes, leveraging on internal skills and external partnerships. Digit’Ed continued to develop digital training activities dedicated to businesses through the Skills4Capital training platform, with the goal of supporting business’s growth, developing skills and taking advantage of the opportunities that arise in a continuously evolving market. 

Digit’Ed also maintained the Skills4ESG platform, aimed at raising awareness of ESG topics via a specific portal, a single access point for ESG training topics with dedicated content. 

Furthermore, Intesa Sanpaolo invested in ESG Laboratories, physical and virtual meeting places to support different businesses in their long-term growth with positive impacts on the environment and people. Finally the Circular Economy Lab (an initiative founded in Milan by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and Cariplo Factory) has provided non-financial support to businesses and academia, offering dedicated workshops and lectures regarding the circular economy topic, to enhance knowledge sharing, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, accelerating Italy’s transition to a circular and regenerative economy.