You’re likely familiar with TIME100:The Most Influential People of 2024. It’s an annual roundup of artists, leaders, innovators, and pioneers who made their mark in 2024 in a significant way. A lot of the people on the list you probably already know.
At Dassault Systèmes, we have 23,811 extraordinary employees in 142 countries worldwide and over 350,000 customers in 12 different industries. And while their names may not have the same reach as Dua Lipa or Mark Cuban’s, we’re pretty proud of the impact they’ve had on this company and the future of the industry.
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re revisiting the humans within the Dassault Systèmes ecosystem that were highlighted throughout the year on the Dassault Systèmes blog. Whether you missed it the first time around or are enjoying it a second time, we hope these influential people inspire you.
Please note that this list is completely for fun and not a true ranking of the most influential people in this company. The goal of the Humans Driving Progress series is to highlight employees and friends of Dassault Systèmes who are making a mark in their own unique way!
2024’s “most influential people” – according to Dassault Systèmes
1. Josephine Ong
“The female figureheads that I knew left a deep impression at the beginning of my career—being able to speak up and be confident, especially in a male-dominated environment. You simply cannot let the fear of speaking up keep you from doing so.” – Josephine Ong, Managing Director at Dassault Systèmes
Read more: What it takes to drive progress: Tips from a business leader
2. Elahe Javadi
“We need to embrace discomfort. If we don’t do that, how can we pursue self-discovery? How can we make a lasting change?” – Elahe Javadi, previous Modeling and Simulation Consultant at Dassault Systèmes
Read more:Meet the engineer reshaping how patients and physicians view the human body
3. Amy Hamilton
“There are very few of me. And there are no teaching education programs for industrial or technology education in the entire state of Florida.” – Amy Hamilton, Teacher at Sleepy Hill Middle School, User of Dassault Systèmes software
Read more: Meet the middle school teacher shaping the next generation of engineers
4. Anne Asensio
“Design is profoundly connected to this history of where we come from as creative people. This is something I believe AI will never truly understand and something we need to preserve. Although AI can describe something to you, it can never live it. It can tell you about your favorite painting, but it will never be able to feel the emotions you get from looking at it.” – Anne Asensio, WW Vice-President, Design Experience at Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Meet the designer putting people first in a rapidly changing world
5. Devin Hamilton
“Using SOLIDWORKS with a disability such as cerebral palsy has forced me to continually merge assistive technology with engineering to take computer access to the next level.” – Devin Hamilton, President of RapAdapt, User of Dassault Systèmes software
Read more: Meet the engineer creating a more accessible world for people with disabilities
6. Laina Emmanuel
“Being around my two confident elder sisters and sticking up for myself taught me valuable lessons in self-confidence. I know that BrainSightAI can change the world because I believe in its value—and it is that value I want to share with others.” – Laina Emmanuel, Co-founder and CEO of BrainSight.AI, Partner of Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Meet the CEO changing the way we view the human brain
7. Valérie Hénaire
“I make sure that we select organizations that will create a positive economic and social impact. At this point on Earth, we’re not only borrowing materials but also borrowing time. How can we leave this planet better than the way we found it?” – Valérie Hénaire, Co-founder and Director of the National Optics Institute’s Quantino incubator, Partner of Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Meet the woman spearheading entrepreneurship in high-tech
8. Elena Pop
“The future is now. The technology coming out every day is only going to further revolutionize our world. We can’t waste time looking for the next big thing—we must make it.” – Elena Pop, Hardware Lead at .lumen, Member of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab
Read more: Meet the robotics engineer building glasses to empower the blind
9. Rachael Naoum
“There are times when you’re presented with a choice. There is the safe option, and then there is the scary option. Choosing to do something when you’re scared is having courage – it’s being brave. Be scared and do the thing anyway. More often than not, it’s the right decision to make.” – Rachael Naoum, Product Definition Manager at Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Meet the young CAD engineer inspiring girls to get into STEM
10. Julien Payen
“Science is still driving the world now, and we will find new solutions to help the people we care about. That’s what inspired me, and if others have the same mindset, I think humanity will be in a good position in the future.”– Julien Payen, Co-founder & CEO of LATTICE MEDICAL, User of Dassault Systèmes software
Read more: Meet the textile engineer redesigning the breast implant
11. Claire Biot
Read more: Meet the life sciences executive drawing inspiration from the past to create a more equitable future
12. Fabian Quintero
13. Xavier Fouger
“We’ve moved from an era where professors were the primary sources of knowledge to a time when they serve more as facilitators for students who now access multiple learning channels. Not only has their role changed, but the decreasing attention spans of modern learners have driven changes in educational strategies. We’re in a time where more dynamic and interactive teaching methods are required.” – Xavier Fouger, Senior Director of Global Academia Programs at Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Meet the engineer who bridges technology and education
14. Els Van Langenhove
“We all need to nurture our four bodies and take care of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health in order of priority. Unfortunately, I had to learn this the hard way, but now I do what I can to share this way of living.” – Els Van Langenhove, Senior Strategist at 3DEXCITE, Dassault Systèmes’ Commercial Innovation brand
Read more: Meet the mindful mentor who is changing how we think about work
15. Fabio Crescenti
“When it comes to explaining things to others, you realize, first of all, maybe you’re convinced you know enough, but then you might find it’s not the case.” – Fabio Crescenti, Industry Process Consultant in Dassault Systèmes’ Business Development Hub
Read more: Meet the mentor who’s enabling sustainable farming at scale
16. Suraj Kamble
“In the beginning, I used to do my work all by myself, and I wasn’t interacting too much with other people,” he said. “But then, once I started to train the interns and mentor them and teach them something new, I opened up a bit more.” – Suraj Kamble, Engineer at Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab
Read more: Meet the mentor whose work with start-ups is taking him out of his shell
17. Henry Shibayama
“It’s our role to think outside the box. To see from your own experience and your knowledge and try to help these startups the best you can. I think that’s the way I approach work, not only with startups but with every client I have a meeting with.” – Henry Shibayama, Industry Process Consultant in NETVIBES, Dassault Systemes’ AI-augmented business intelligence division
Read more: Meet the mentor helping lead a revolution in women’s healthcare
18. Sal Lama
“If we can inspire the next generation to continue to use our software, that’s good for everyone,” – Sal Lama, Director of Product Definition at SOLIDWORKS
Read more: Meet the mentor who’s inspiring makers in the lab and beyond
19. Claire Brisbart
“If I have one desire, it is that all these beliefs are finally banished and that people understand that video games can lead to great encounters and many skills that make the difference once entering the job market.” – Claire Brisbart, Web Product Owner at Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Is gaming the gateway to more women in STEM?
20. Laila Jones
“I’m an engineer by training – so I always encourage young women to head to STEM programs, but I also see that they need to learn to step up, speak up, and be bold, and I think gaming helps with those skills.” – Laila Jones, WW Value Engagement Competitive Intelligence Director at Dassault Systèmes
Read more: Is gaming the gateway to more women in STEM?
Related resources: