Three Key Lessons for 2022

?

2021 was anything but ordinary. We faced challenges on a global scale like never before. We chose to rise to the occasion. Proving that in extraordinary times, people can do extraordinary things.?

Last year, I was bestowed the honor of joining SAP’s Executive Board as Chief of Customer Success, during a time of disruption and a world in flux. Words like ‘lockdowns’, ‘social distancing’, ‘isolating’ were becoming natural parts of everyday life. I, like many of you, was navigating what this meant for my reality. The many wonderful things that we all have taken for granted for the last many years, from getting on planes to hugging elderly relatives, shaking hands with business partners, to drinking coffee in a café, were no longer a guaranteed part of our lives.

?And whilst it has not been easy, I can tell you that there have been rewards. When facing adversity, humans can find extraordinary solutions and I saw that time and time again last year. From digital adoption to technological breakthroughs, scientific marvels to astounding creativity, the human spirit is very much alive.

?I witnessed our collective spirit, tenacity, and care as I met with each of you around the world. You shared your experiences, your fears, and opportunities. But what surprised me the most is just how connected and similar the underlying themes were from conversations across the world. As we look towards a new year, I wanted to take a moment to share the key themes that each of you – our customers, partners, and colleagues -- have said are top of mind in 2022 and beyond. These will be the things I am thinking about as we move towards the next horizon.

1.?The world of work will never be the same

?In 2020, when businesses were forced to adopt a ‘work from home’ policy, many met the challenge with practical solutions, helping employees find new ways of working from home - from new communication tools to digital platforms, the focus was on productivity. Now in 2022, having endured almost 2 years of a pandemic, the lens has shifted. We are now dealing with the long-term implications of these changes – especially around mental health. That is why it comes as no surprise that we are witnessing ‘the great resignation’ as individuals re-evaluate their priorities and potentially their careers. Whilst this may scare others, I believe this is a good thing. It is an important reminder for leaders to prioritize the wellbeing of our employees – to ensure they are cared for, feel valued and have a sense of purpose in their work. Fostering healthy work environments (even from home) is good for business and overall morale. If our workforce is not healthy – physically and mentally - neither is our company. It is the people of SAP that drive its success and it is the responsibility of each leader to ensure the people that make up SAP are not only surviving, but thriving.

?New adoptions from flexible working to compassionate business policies, and from authentic conversations to agile approaches are making positive impact at SAP. We know employee needs are changing. I’ve been listening as staff have opened up about their daily challenges. I’m proud that we have been able to adopt and adapt. There is, of course, more to do, but I am confident in our ability as a company to create working environments that bring out the best of our exemplary workforce and as always, I’m committed to doing more.

2.?Digital transformation is accelerating at pace?like never before

The overarching question I heard last year from small enterprises to large corporations was “how do I remain viable as a business?”. No matter how long you have been operating or what size of company you are, questioning one’s viability is extremely confronting - even to the most seasoned business leader. In 2021 our customers and partners were less focused on the minutiae of the SAP product offering and were instead asking us to help them use all our technology capabilities to navigate this challenging business period. Heading into 2022 together, we remain outcome-focused.

There were also customers who for the first time in their established companies, took the digital leap and adopted new technological solutions. They successfully overcame their fear and navigated a learning curve that has resulted in overwhelming positive results and profits for their businesses. These digital transformations will have a long-standing impact on these companies moving forward and I’m delighted we could support the evolution of their organizations. It’s when SAP has impact that I am most proud.

?Change is never easy and forced change is hardly desirable, but the digital accelerant that has been COVID-19 has also lit a flame under businesses to step into an exciting technological future. The question was never “is this going to happen?” but rather, “how soon?”. Watching customers face their fears and cross over into the digital realm has been inspiring and humbling.

3.????People want to support businesses with purpose?

The pandemic has created a moment of personal pause - a chance for people to reconnect with themselves and their values. A report by McKinsey shared that almost two-thirds of employees in the United States claim that the COVID-19 experience has driven deep reflection on their purpose in life. It is therefore inevitable that people would turn to the businesses around them with the same questioning and expectations. Companies can no longer be cut off institutions devoid of principles. People, customers, employees, and prospective employees are all asking where a business stands when it comes to the issues that matter to them most.

?As business leaders it’s imperative that we bring strong human values to our companies. Equality and diversity need to be embedded in the fabric of our organizational DNA; the environment and sustainability are not CSR missions – they’re personal missions, and balancing people, planet and profit is simply good business practice. I’m often heard speaking about “the top line, the bottom line and the green line.” Everything must work together for there to be success. It’s always about striking the right balance.

?As a believer in progress not perfection, we are improving. We’ve had some great victories, for example the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and our Chasing Zero initiatives, though there is still a lot to do. The benefits of working at a company like SAP is that we can create change at scale, and as such I am always asking myself “how can I make a positive impact?”, “how can I use my powers for good?”. I will keep working to play my part in creating a world that I would be proud to pass on to my children. Their future deserves it.

Final thoughts

This has not been an easy year, but we are stronger and more resilient than we realized. 2021 challenged us all. We have risen together to find new ways to work together, connect, persevere, and even succeed. Through adversity we have uncovered silver linings, wins, that we can carry into our futures to create better relationships, better work environments, and a better world.

?Let’s take the best part of last year with us into 2022 and may the new year provide each one of you your own personal definition of success.

?We will continue to close out this year strong, and I look forward to connecting in 2022.

Scott Russell ?

?

?

?

?