Havas reached 75% AI proficiency in six weeks with Section

The Challenge

Havas' AI challenge wasn't unique, but at the scale of a global agency network, the consequences of getting it wrong were significant. Converged.AI is as much about investing in people as in technology, and Dan Hagen knew Havas needed to go beyond a central team of AI experts to realize that vision.

The Section diagnostic told a clear story. Havas had genuine curiosity and interest in AI across the network, senior leadership actively engaged with its strategic importance, and existing tools deployed across agencies. But:

• 74% of employees reported no AI strategy
• Only 18% said AI use was expected in their role
• 54% reported no approach to AI implementation

"Section's platform has taught me skills. It's taught me new ways to approach AI. As the teams at Section are continually evolving the platform, we're finding new use cases as time goes by."

Dan Hagen, Chief Data and Technology Officer, Havas

The Solution

Dan found Section independently, before any company-wide program existed. He signed up for a course, Become an AI Leader in a Day, and describes it as a genuine turning point.

"It was a real aha moment. I was taught really simple applications to get myself into using AI – as a partner for thinking, as a way of synthesizing information, as a way of synthesizing my own thoughts. That was a real unlock for me, and it enabled me to accelerate my journey with Havas in terms of the transformation we're trying to drive."

Dan Hagen, Chief Data and Technology Officer, Havas

Dan believed that if the CDTO could go from dabbling to genuinely capable through Section, the platform could do the same for the network. He approached Section to offer tailored AI coaching to employees across roles and geographies, so planners, strategists, creatives, and buyers can use AI to address real client needs. The partnership covers:

• AI Maturity Diagnostic: an organization-wide assessment to establish an honest baseline on proficiency, usage, and the specific gaps blocking progress
• AI Strategy and Vision: setting the agency's "why of AI" – an urgent, specific reason for implementing AI – and expectations for every employee
• AI Transformation Planning: a roadmap covering three pillars Havas executes in parallel: AI Enablement Foundation, AI First Workforce, and AI Powered Agencies
• Section Coach: the core platform for Havas' AI proficiency certification, deployed across the network with a goal of moving from basic to advanced proficiency over the year
• Ongoing partnership to support the transformation, offer guidance, and help Havas hit its KPIs

Havas launched with Section Coach Day, a dedicated date for the whole company to get certified in AI. Leaders gathered, communication went out, and teams were given protected time to complete their proficiency certification.

The Results

Havas reached 72% proficiency, with multiple countries at 100%. Employees started posting their AI proficiency badges on LinkedIn, and Dan started getting calls from people saying Section Coach had taught them skills they didn't expect. Havas has integrated AI into CEO-level MBOs, so executives are responsible for driving 50% AI proficiency among their teams.

Lessons from Havas + Section:

• Start with a validated baseline, not assumptions. Assumptions about "where the org is" consistently overestimate adoption.
• The leader has to go first, personally. Dan's journey as an actual user gave him the credibility to push for network-wide adoption and the understanding to design it well.
• A shared foundation is what makes scale possible. The problem wasn't motivation – it was the absence of a common standard, expectation, and path.
• Create a moment, not just a rollout. A structured launch and a specific day created a strong signal to invest in AI.
• Certification creates cultural permission. It created a common language and shared sense of progress across the network.
• Meet people where they are, then raise the bar. Basic proficiency first, then advanced. Foundation before workflows. Individual capability before agents.
• Hold executives accountable. AI in CEO-level MBOs ensures proficiency is driven at every level.