Which applications did you work with prior to SAP and how do they compare?
Working across retail, financial services, wagering and military research in my younger years, I have seen a number of systems, applications of all sizes and complexity. SAP has a broad range of applications across multiple industries thus many opportunities to take a skill set across different business models around the world. It can be an anchor for a diverse career.
What are the main obstacles you face in your current role and how do you overcome them?
The challenges seem to be generally the same: cost, high velocity in delivering business outcomes and finding the right talent. The tools I find most useful in looking at cost and high velocity are leveraging cloud, engaging with good partners and picking the right Agile and DevOps methodologies for the business I am in. In finding the right talent it is important for me, to look beyond the technical skills and know how, with great focus on adaptability, critical thinking, flexibility and creativity and ability to leverage risk for growth.
What does equality mean to you?
I believe we would have reached equality when it no longer needs to be a point of discussion and focus: equal pay, equal opportunity, equal voice at the table, no longer feeling and needing to “be better” than a man to be considered equal.
How can we be more inclusive in the recruitment process to promote wider diversity?
Apart from ensuring at least 50% of the candidates put forward are women and ensuring that the interviewing panel also has equal representation, I believe the recruitment process needs to look more holistically at what women have to offer and the benefits diversity brings. If the recruitment continues to select based on years of experience, etc and given in the past it has been traditionally a male dominated environment the progress will be slow and a lot of talent lost.
What advice would you give you to a women working in the SAP ecosystem and looking to advance her career?
- Don’t be afraid to ask and challenge, look at what you can change and how you can influence what you cannot change – pick aspirational but not impossible targets
- STOP wanting to be 120% ready for the next role, just give it a go!
- STOP focusing on what you do not know and weaknesses – lead with strength!
How have you managed to balance your career and personal life?
a. Start at university – offer short internships, offer free summer courses
b. Talk about the outcomes and opportunities not the technology
c. Possibly help young talent find a job aligned with a SAP platform/Service
d. Share success stories at all levels not just senior management and executives
What female inspiration have you had in your career?
In my family for generations all women had a career – the thought of not having one has never been something I have considered, so somewhat/somehow I never looked/needed inspiration.
