The reason I have been working at SAP for so long is because of the inclusive culture across all dimensions – gender, age, abilities, etc. SAP provides a lot of opportunities to continuously develop yourself. I have changed roles, expanded roles, added responsibilities, and more. SAP provides the freedom to learn, define your role, and bring your expertise to bear. This is very motivating for me.
Alexa Gorman
Alexa oversees SAP’s global startup and intrapreneurship activities. Alexa joined SAP in 1999 in the retail space and over the years has led various teams and initiatives from marketing, strategic partnerships to strategy in Germany, New York and Paris before moving to her current role in SAP.iO in Berlin in 2017. As part of the New Ventures and Technology group that reports directly into our CTO office, Alexa and her team drive and manage startup-driven and employee-driven innovation and acceleration.
SAP incubates early-stage startups that can add additional value for its customers. In turn, these startups receive access to customers globally, technical support and mentors. All of which lead to rapid scaling – 18 months of work can be condensed into a mere 13-week period.
One of the most compelling aspects of the program is access to SAP’s 450,000+ customers who are leaders across industries and global markets. And SAP customers are very open to meeting with these startups because they are not only very innovative but also heavily vetted by SAP for product fit, market viability and technology, among other critical factors.
“The real goal of our startup activities is to build an open innovation ecosystem and create a win-win-win situation for our customers, startups and SAP. We are just scratching the surface in terms of possibilities; there is still so much potential to unleash,” says Alexa.
Her enthusiasm is contagious when she talks about the possibilities, the openness, and innovation that SAP offers.
“The reason I have been working at SAP for so long is because of the inclusive culture across all dimensions – gender, age, abilities, etc. SAP provides a lot of opportunities to continuously develop yourself. I have changed roles, expanded roles, added responsibilities, and more. SAP provides the freedom to learn, define your role, and bring your expertise to bear. This is very motivating for me,” Alexa said.
Another key factor Alexa shared is the flexibility offered by the company. Alexa has had three children while being employed at SAP. She appreciates the support from her managers and cherishes the freedom to balance her professional and personal life. “I never had to take a day off, I was able to balance it. It is important to SAP and to me to have the best of both – a career and a family,” said Alexa.
One of Alexa’s colleagues is Lior Weizman, Director of SAP.iO Foundry Tel Aviv, which is part of SAP’s global network of top-tier startup programs. Together, they share ideas, discuss exciting startups, and align on new ways to grow the SAP.iO ecosystem.
“Innovation sparks when great people come together and realize that by combining your insights you can create something that might change the world, be it on a small or great scale,” said Alexa. “This is why I enjoy working with Lior and many others at SAP.”
Meet Lior Weizman, one of Alexa’s colleagues who she collaborates with at SAP.iO. Lior Weizman is Director of SAP.iO Foundry in Israel.
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