Decoding Leadership: How an “Engineering Brain” learned to navigate the boardroom

In the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence, technical brilliance is often assumed. But in a massive organisation like ING, having the best code isn't enough to drive change. You need to convince stakeholders, manage risks, and bridge the gap between innovation and tradition. Tanguy d’Hose, AI Chapter Lead at ING, shares how he is transitioning from a technical expert to a strategic leader with the help of Projective Talent.

Tanguy’s journey didn’t start with a clear path to management. In fact, it started with a false start. He initially enrolled in Business Engineering but quickly found himself disengaged. "It felt too scientific, too abstract. I just didn't like it," Tanguy recalls.

He decided to pivot back to what he knew best. "I always had a natural affinity with computers," he explains. He switched to Computer Science, and suddenly, everything clicked. The irony? The heavy mathematical and physics courses from Business Engineering came back, but this time, they weren't a burden. "Suddenly, those 'horrible courses' weren't a problem anymore because they were linked to something that actually drove me."

I was a bit of a geek, But I didn't want to just be 'Mr. Science in AI'.

Completing his Bachelor’s with ease, he looked at the market and saw the rising wave of Data Science and AI. He chose a Master’s in AI and Web Technologies, sensing that this was where the future lay. He graduated with a thesis on evolutionary game theory, scoring a near-perfect 19.5/20.

"I was a bit of a geek," Tanguy admits. "But I didn't want to just be 'Mr. Science in AI'. I wanted to confront that knowledge with the market".

After starting his career at a start-up and managing a data science division at a pharma company, he felt he hit a ceiling. Despite his experience, his age (28) often saw him boxed in as ‘just a consultant’ or ‘too junior’ for high-level strategy. That was until he discovered the 'Lead the Way' track at Projective Talent. A programme designed specifically to add a layer of leadership skills on top of technical expertise .

Not just a "license manager"

Today, Tanguy is an AI Chapter Lead at ING. It is a role that was created specifically for the new environment he is helping to build. But make no mistake: this isn't just about handing out software licenses.

"The biggest misconception is that AI is magic. That you just give someone a license and their life changes," Tanguy explains. "In a bank, you have to manage data confidentiality, risk, dependencies, and actually teach people how to use the tools" .

In a bank, you have to manage data confidentiality, risk, dependencies, and actually teach people how to use AI tools.

His team focuses on making AI a "daily buddy" for employees. A concrete example? One internal team spent about 20 days a year manually downloading and formatting quarterly reports from various websites. Tanguy’s team built an automation solution using M365 Copilot that handles the fetching and formatting instantly.

"We gave them back 20 days of work," says Tanguy. "Now they can focus on the conclusion of the analysis rather than the boring process of data entry" .

The translation gap: knowing vs explaining

Delivering these results requires more than technical know-how; it requires navigating the complex politics of a major financial institution. As a young leader, Tanguy often finds himself in rooms with senior executives who rely heavily on decades of experience.

"It is a bit of a battle of generations," he acknowledges. "You have senior stakeholders who say, 'From experience, I know this.' And then you have me, coming in with facts and figures saying, 'But the data shows that.' It’s a challenge to find a common language" .

This is where the challenge lies for many youger technical experts: the gap between knowing the solution and explaining it. "The biggest hurdle for me is communication," Tanguy admits. "I have an engineering brain, meaning that everything happens naturally in my head. But having someone in front of you who truly understands that logic is something totally different."

I have an engineering brain, meaning that everything happens naturally in my head. But having someone in front of you who truly understands that logic is something totally different.

He describes it as unintentionally "injecting brain fog" into a conversation. You might have the facts, but if you cannot translate that internal complexity into a clear message for a non-technical stakeholder, the message gets lost.

The "Lead the Way" catalyst

This is exactly where Projective Talent’s Lead the Way programme proves its value. It acts as a bridge between Tanguy’s technical instincts and the soft skills required for senior leadership.

For me, the Lead The Way Programme acts as a strategic accelerator.

Through group sessions, weekends away, and targeted training, the programme forces participants to step out of their comfort zones. "For me, the programme acts as a strategic accelerator. It validates that I am developing the right skills to reach the next level in my career," Tanguy notes. "We have trainings on change management, negotiation, and even communication tone. It helps me understand: I communicated something, but how was it perceived? And how do I need to adjust to get my team on board?" .

It transforms the "brain fog" of technical details into a clear, inspirational vision that stakeholders can buy into.

Future ambitions

Tanguy isn’t done yet. He sees his current role as just the start. His eyes are set on the future of institutionalised AI, perhaps as a Chief AI Officer one day.

"I am ambitious," he smiles. "I want to reach a level where I can conceive and share a vision that moves the entire company. The people currently in those positions are inspirational to me, and thanks to the support I’m getting now, I know I’m on the right path to joining them" .

For Tanguy, Projective Talent isn't just an employer; it's the accelerator that is turning a high-potential engineer into a future executive.

About Projective Talent

As part of Projective Group, Projective Talent connects ambitious professionals with leading financial services companies, opening doors to career-defining opportunities. Whether through traineeships that transition into long-term roles with our clients, or missions that offer flexible assignments, we ensure the right fit for both candidates and businesses.

With access to A+ clients, expert coaching, and a strong professional network, we help talent and companies grow together - fuelling careers, innovation, and long-term success.