Empowering global transformation: SHV Energy’s Digital & Transformation Academy
Empowering global transformation: SHV Energy’s Digital & Transformation Academy

SHV Energy, a leading global distributor of off-grid energy, serves 26 million customers across 25+ countries with over 13,000 employees. To become future-proof – seizing long-term opportunities while optimizing current operations – SHV Energy launched a Digital &Transformation Academy for its ~150-person Extended Leadership Team. This academy empowers Business Units (BUs) with common methodologies, tools, and examples to drive local transformation. SHV Energy asked SparkOptimus to design the Digital & Transformation Academy and facilitate part of the program. This initiative aimed to equip all BUs with the knowledge and resources needed to implement effective changes. The ultimate goal was to better serve customers by fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and digital proficiency across the organization.
SparkOptimus has been a great partner in designing our Digital & Transformation Academy! Their expertise and diligent yet fun approach resulted in high-quality outcomes.
First, we detailed the program's design, focusing on the audience's needs and goals for each audience within the organization. By interviewing various stakeholders across the business units, we identified the critical skills and topics required for the academy. Second, we helped select an academic partner to facilitate and host the program. This partnership was crucial for delivering high-quality content and ensuring the program's success. Next, we co-created the program on Digital Foundation and Analytics and shared relevant cases on the digital transformation journey. Additionally, we established and managed the Project Management Office (PMO) to oversee the academy's delivery and coordinate the creation of specific content modules with internal capability owners. This ensured that the program was built effectively and efficiently, with all necessary components and departments collaborating smoothly. Finally, we conducted a handover to the SHV Energy team, equipping them to maintain and grow the academy independently.
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SHV Energy now has a learner-first design for its global Digital & Transformation Academy, effectively supporting the goal of empowering Business Units to drive local business transformation. The PMO and governance structures are in place to ensure the successful creation and delivery of the program. We established a strong collaboration with IESE, enhancing the academy's credibility and reach. An interactive case program on the global digital transformation journey was developed for SHV Energy leadership and delivered in Barcelona, with SparkOptimus presenting one of the cases. Around 70 leaders have already participated in the program across two cohorts, rating the academy 4.7/5. This comprehensive approach has laid a solid foundation for SHV Energy to drive its digital transformation initiatives, fostering a customer-first mindset while leveraging innovation, continuous improvement, and digital & analytics across the organization.
