Leveling Up in Digital Transformation: Wenjing Machu’s Success Story

3.4.2025

Wenjing Machu, recently appointed International Learning & Change Leader, has transformed her 14+ years of L&D expertise into a strategic leadership role, thanks to the Executive Master in Digital Transformation (EMDT) at ESSEC Online. From AI Business Adoption to agile methods and change management, she now drives innovation and impact at a global level.

From L&D Expertise to Digital Transformation Leadership

"I chose the Executive Master in Digital Transformation at ESSEC to extend my competencies and develop business acumen in order to answer new business needs," Wenjing explains.

With over 14 years of experience in Learning & Development and digital learning innovation, Wenjing Machu was looking to take her expertise to the next level. Through the Executive Master in Digital Transformation (EMDT) at ESSEC Online, she gained the strategic mindset, leadership skills, and cutting-edge knowledge to drive impactful change in her organization.

In the meantime, Wenjing's role has been officially expanded to "International Learning & Change Leader" at Aprolis. Her proposal on "AI Business Adoption" has been confirmed by the company and is now part of her KPIs for this year. This will allow her to apply everything she learned through the EMDT program, including change management, data-driven strategy, Agile & design thinking, and business acumen. In this article, she shares how the program empowered her to integrate agile methods, AI applications, and change management into her role, positioning her as a key transformation leader in her field.

A Curriculum Designed for Impact

During her journey at ESSEC, Wenjing strategically selected four key modules: Driving Digital Change, Design Thinking & Agile Methods, AI for Business, and Leading with Data-Driven Strategy. Among these, she found Design Thinking & Agile Methos to be the most impactful, as it provided her with a structured yet flexible approach to problem-solving and innovation.

"Design Thinking & Agile methods was the most impactful module for me. It gave me a new way of tackling challenges, fostering creativity, and building solutions that align with business needs," she shares.

The program equipped her with a wide range of new skills, including change management, agile methods, design thinking, leadership, and AI application in business contexts. These competencies have proven instrumental in her current role, where she applies them daily to enhance training solutions, streamline L&D strategies, and support organizational transformation initiatives.

Bridging Learning and Real-World Application

One of the key strengths of the EMDT program is its emphasis on real-world applicability. Wenjing quickly put her learning into practice by leveraging Generative AI for L&D efficiency. This involved identifying AI use cases to enhance training solution creation, localization, and real-time translation.

"I applied GenAI to boost L&D efficiency—accelerating training solutions creation, improving localization, and leveraging real-time translation. This has significantly streamlined processes in my organization," Wenjing highlights.

She also applied change management principles to organizational culture building, leadership development, and the deployment of a new Learning Management System (LMS).

Her thesis project, titled "How can new technologies (Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics) improve the agility of talent management in the new world of work?", directly aligned with her professional responsibilities. The research provided her with actionable insights to implement AI-driven solutions for talent development and workforce agility.

The ESSEC Online Experience: Flexibility and Support

One of the standout features of the ESSEC Online program for Wenjing was its flexible structure, allowing her to integrate learning seamlessly into her daily work, evenings, and weekends.

"The learning experience was well integrated into my daily work (and nights & weekends!), but it was worth it. Even though it was a distance-learning program, I never felt excluded thanks to the professors’ and community managers’ attention," she recalls.

She particularly appreciated the unwavering support of the academic coaches and community managers, highlighting their immediate, patient, and professional guidance throughout her studies.

"Their support was immediate and pertinent, no matter when. They provided guidance with patience, care, and professionalism," Wenjing notes.

A Collaborative Online Learning Environment

The online format of the EMDT program enabled Wenjing to maintain her personal rhythm while balancing professional responsibilities. The primary advantage was its flexibility, though she acknowledged that virtual learning sometimes lacks the depth of personal connections that in-person programs offer.

"The flexibility was a major advantage, but I did feel that the online format sometimes lacked deep personal connections. However, ESSEC compensated for this with excellent faculty engagement and career coaching," she shares.

Professional Growth and Career Impact

Since completing the program, Wenjing has expanded her responsibilities by integrating change management principles into her international L&D role.

"The program helped me extend my responsibilities by incorporating change management into my L&D role, which now plays a crucial role in driving transformation across my organization," she states.

The knowledge and skills gained through ESSEC have empowered her to support business transformation initiatives, align global L&D strategies, and drive an agile mindset across her organization.

In the meantime, Wenjing is thrilled that her responsibilities have just been officially expanded from "International Learning Manager" to "International Learning & Change Leader". Additionally, her proposal on "AI Business Adoption" has been confirmed by the company and is now part of her KPIs for this year. This will allow her to apply everything she has learned about change management, data-driven strategy, Agile & design thinking, and business acumen within the scope of her EMDT. She also scheduled a meeting with Professor Fabrice Marque to get his valuable advice.

Wenjing is excited to have a year of condensation, reflection, and additional learning following her studies at ESSEC. Her next goal will be to effectively translate these insights into the business.

For professionals looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape, Wenjing’s journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of ESSEC Online’s Executive Master in Digital Transformation. Her story underscores how the right education can bridge the gap between theory and practice, fostering innovation and leadership in the digital age.