SAP Experts

Latest Episodes:

Episode 85: SAP Value Starter Part 2: Digitizing your S/4HANA move – Bill Bowers & Nabeel Siddiqui Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Guests:
Nabeel Siddiqui – Director, SAP S/4 HANA Solution Management & GTM
William “Bill” Bowers – Global Vice President, SAP S/4 HANA Solution Management & GTM

Host:
Akshi Mohla – Senior Business Development Specialist, SAP S/4HANA Solution Management and GTM

Here at SAP Experts Podcast, we continue celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the Value Starter. And while the first part, that is episode 82, was all about the vision and strategy behind the value starter, as well as the value it brings to SAP customers, this episode is all about digitization of that vision – the value starter digital platform.

Which is why, today, I am joined with Bill Bowers and Nabeel Siddiqui, two individuals who are instrumental in simplifying the SAP S/4HANA Move, with the power of digitization.

As always, my name Akshi Mohla, and you’re listening to SAP Experts Podcast.

My first guest, Bill Bowers, needs no introduction as this is his fourth time on the SAP Experts Podcast. He brings over 25 years of global industry and IT experience in sales, marketing, manufacturing, product management, business development and consulting, and is currently a part of the SAP S/4HANA go-to-market and solution management organization, where he leads the customer value & success team.

My next guest, Nabeel Siddiqui has six years of experience in the international software industry. He is the Director at SAP America, and he specializes in Strategy and Product Management. Nabeel’s experience has spanned across Product Development, Strategy, Product Management, and Marketing. He is a Duke Alum and has a master’s in engineering management.

An avid researcher of Enterprise Gamification, Internet of Things, NoSQL, he has authored many books, research journals, as well as patents, and has been awarded honors such as “Top Innovative Minds” and “Excellence at Innovation” for his work.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Value Starter Program links:
- Introduction Video: https://sapvideoa35699dc5.hana.ondemand.com/?entry_id=1_d00ykyrk
- Learn more: https://webinars.sap.com/s4-hana-value-starter-reg-platform/en/home

Follow Akshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshimohla/
Follow Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bill-bowers-504ab61/
Follow Nabeel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdnabeelsiddiqui/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 84: Cybersecurity & You - Tim McKnight Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Guest:

Tim McKnight – EVP and Chief Security Officer at SAP

Host:

Steven Spears – Product Marketing Manager at SAP CX

My name Steven Spears, great to back with you for another episode together. Today’s episode I have the opportunity to talk to Tim McKnight, EVP and Chief Security Officer here at SAP. Tim’s closing in on a 30 year career as a security professional both in government service and in industry, doing everything from cloning phones to penetration testing.

On this episode, we dive into Tim’s early career experience at the FBI, learn his key principles for a great cybersecurity strategy, talk both fishing and phishing, and much more.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Follow Steven: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-spears-57895388/
Follow Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothysmcknight/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshimohla@sap.com.

Episode 83: SAP Hypergrowth and startups: The Perfect Match – Jan Gutknecht Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

Guests:
Jan Gutknecht, Co-Founder SAP Hypergrowth Engagement

Host:
Timo Deiner, Office of the CTO SAP Germany

What are you thinking about when you hear SAP and startups? David vs Goliath? Nokia vs Apple – and who has the role of Nokia in this comparison? Or is it a perfect match? Startups have great -mostly purpose driven- ideas to make the world better and SAP’s mission is to help the world run better. Does an early-stage startup need SAP S/4HANA or any other SAP solution to reach its next level? We think yes. And we have a dedicated team at SAP which helps startups, so called hypergrowth startups, to boost their company together with SAP. My today’s guest is Jan Gutknecht, he is Co-Founder of the SAP Hypergrowth Engagement and we are talking about four pillars on startup engagements: language, speed, challenges and cultures.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Follow Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janbgutknecht/
Follow Timo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timo-deiner/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 82: SAP Value Starter Part 1: Your first step towards S/4HANA move – Marcus-Alexander Funke & Bill Bowers Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

Guests:
1. Dr. Marcus-Alexander Funke – Chief Product Owner, SAP S/4HANA Value Starter
2. William “Bill” Bowers – Global Vice President, S/4 HANA Solution Management & GTM

Host:
Akshi Mohla – Senior Business Development Specialist, SAP S/4HANA Solution Management and GTM

Digital transformation can be overwhelming, as you juggle various options, decisions, and questions. SAP Value Starter is here to help your transition, by working with you to create your benefits case. It offers customers a tailored business value focused Point of view through an outside-in perspective and helps fosters understanding of the incremental value and capabilities to customers. Which is why, today, I am joined with Bill Bowers and Markus Funke, two of strategic forces behind this program.

As always, my name Akshi Mohla, and you’re listening to SAP Experts Podcast.

My first guest, Bill Bowers, has over 25 years of global industry and IT experience in sales, marketing, manufacturing, product management, business development and consulting working within both large & small companies such as: IBM, Trilogy, i2 Technologies and SAP. Bill’s professional focus has been to reduce time-to-market and time-to-value of highly differentiated businesses.
He is currently a part of the SAP S/4HANA go-to-market and solution management organization, where he leads a customer value & success team.
On a personal note, Bill is originally from the USA and enjoys travelling, scuba diving, cooking and gardening but now calls Germany home with his wife and three dogs.

My next guest, Marcus Funke, is a part of the SAP oneMOVEMENT and the Chief Product Owner for the SAP S/4HANA Value Starter.
With this initiative he helps customers to understand why to make the move to SAP S/4HANA now highlighting the benefits and ROI enjoyed by other customers who have already made the MOVE.
Marcus joined SAP in 2001 and held a succession of customer facing and regional leadership roles in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. His focus is productizing, scaling and rolling out services at large scale.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Value Starter Program links:
- Introduction Video: https://sapvideoa35699dc5.hana.ondemand.com/?entry_id=1_d00ykyrk
- Learn more: https://webinars.sap.com/s4-hana-value-starter-reg-platform/en/home

Follow Akshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshimohla/
Follow Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bill-bowers-504ab61/
Follow Marcus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-alexander-funke/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 81: The SAP Academy for Presales – Akshi, Ice, Nazli and Eric Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

Guests:
Ice Chan – Solution Advisor for Finance
Nazli Savasci – Solution Advisor for Finance
Eric Lavoie – Solution Advisor for Intelligent Spend Management
Akshi Mohla – Business Development Expert, SAP S/4HANA Solution Management & GTM

Host:
Victor Hoeck – Solution Advisory Specialist, Digital Supply Chain

My name is Victor Höck and today’s episode is very special to me, as it takes me right back to the first days of my career at SAP – the SAP Academy for Presales. I’m joined today by Nazli, Ice, Eric and Akshi, who are all graduates from the Academy like myself, and we’ll talk about what the Academy is, how this experience has helped shape our careers and how we still draw on the skills that we have acquired there. It’s a fun episode for everyone interested in presales, or how learning and early talent development works here at SAP.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

SAP Academy for Presales: https://www.sap.com/about/careers/students-graduates/graduates/academy/presales-academy.html
SAP Academy for Presales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesapacademy/
Follow Akshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshimohla/
Follow Ice: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ice-chan/
Follow Nazli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazl%C4%B1-sava%C5%9Fc%C4%B1-b5613093/
Follow Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-lavoie/
Follow Victor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorhoeck/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 80: Enabling customer’s journey towards digital transformation – Steve and Mark Filus Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

Guests:
Steve Filus – Solution Advisor, SAP Business Technology Platform
Mark Filus – Business Architecture & Strategy Director, SAP North America

Host:
Akshi Mohla – Senior Business Development Specialist, SAP S/4HANA Solution Management and GTM

In a relay race, passing the baton properly from one player to the other, is just as important as the speed of the individual runners. Make an improper pass, and you get disqualified.

Similarly, our customer’s transformational journey, is enabled by specialists, both internal and partners, and relies on effective communication, comprehensive handover and seamless collaboration. Between SAP, partners and the customers, every step of the way. To illustrate this very point, I have not one, but 2 very special guests that represent 2 distinct point in the customer’s transformation journey – the Filus brothers – Steve and Mark Filus.

As always, my name Akshi Mohla, and I am a Senior Business Development Specialist at SAP S/4HANA Solution Management and Go-to-market; and you’re listening to SAP Experts Podcast.

My first guest Steve Filus has a passion for people and technology hence, he has spent his entire professional career at SAP as a solution advisor supporting customers in their Digital transformation journey by leveraging the Business Technology Platform.

Steve is a loving husband and proud father of 2 and holds a bachelor’s degree in IT from the University of South Florida.

His brother, Mark Filus, is thought leader on streamlining business processes and simplification, with over 8 years of Management Consulting experience. He is currently a Business Architecture and Strategy Director at SAP, and has over 16 large scale SAP implementations and upgrades across the globe under his belt.

I look forward to learning more about both of their unique perspectives and how their respective role collaborate to insure, seamless end-to-end innovation.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Follow Akshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshimohla/
Follow Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefilus/
Follow Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mafilus/
If you would like to support Mark in raising awareness and funding for The National MS Society: https://mssociety.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=57031

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 79: Customer Experience for Financial Services – Betty Moon Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

Guest: Betty Moon – Industry Advisor, Financial Services at SAP CX
Host: Steven Spears – Product Marketing Manager at SAP CX

My name Steven Spears, great to back with you for another episode together. Today’s episode is all about the institutions that handle our money and small amounts of dogecoin in my case. I’m joined by Dr. Betty Moon. Betty spent over 20 years working in the financial services industry and is now an Industry Advisor for SAP CX.

On this episode, we dive into Betty’s experience leading divisions at some of the country’s largest banks to learn about the evolution of customer experience in financial services and where it’s headed.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Follow Steven: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-spears-57895388/
Follow Betty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbettymoon/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 78: Holistic Business Success with Sustainability Performance Reporting – Christian Polivka Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

Guest: Christian Polivka – Director, SAP S/4HANA Solution Management
Host: Akshi Mohla – Senior Business Development Specialist, SAP S/4HANA Solution Management and GTM

In the past, businesses may have stuck to financial key performance indicators when it came to business reporting. However, today, with the consumers becoming increasingly more aware of environmental concerns, sustainability is no longer a mere buzzword. Hence, across the globe are seeking ways to meaningfully incorporate sustainability metrics into business reporting.

Today’s episode with Christian Polivka, is all about the importance of sustainability reporting and how SAP Sustainability Performance Management enables Holistic Business Success.

As always, my name Akshi Mohla, and I am a Senior Business Development Specialist at SAP S/4HANA Solution Management and Go-to-market; and you’re listening to SAP Experts Podcast.

My guest, Christian Polivka is a Director at SAP S/4HANA Solution Management, specializing in SAP’s solutions around Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS). In this role, Christian is responsible for the solution Go-to-Market and overall strategy.

Christian brings more than 10 years of experience with SAP’s EHS solutions and joined SAP in 2011 through the acquisition of TechniData, where he held positions in Consulting, Presales, and Business Development.

Prior to SAP, Christian was employed at an EHS Business Consultancy where he faced the EHS challenges of the manufacturing industry on a daily basis. It was during that time that he developed a passion for how software could dramatically support environment and safety practitioners. Today, Christian draws on nearly two decades of EHS and sustainability experience to drive continuous innovation in support of practitioners in that domain.

Christian holds a MBA from the University of Glasgow and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cooperative Education in Karlsruhe.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Follow Akshi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshimohla/
Follow Christian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-polivka-525499b/
Learn more about how SAP helps businesses with holistic sustainability reporting: https://insights.sap.com/redefine-success-sustainability-reporting/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 77: Building A Customer Experience Strategy – Adrian Nash Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

Guest: Adrian Nash – Head of Strategy at SAP CX
Host: Steven Spears – Product Marketing Manager at SAP CX

My name Steven Spears, great to back with you for another episode together. Today’s episode is a conversation about strategy and experience. I won’t be reading passages from The Art of War, though that was a consideration. I’m joined by Adrian Nash. Adrian is the Head of Strategy for SAP CX.

On this episode, we’ll learn about the SAP CX strategy through Adrian’s process for developing a great strategy and his experiences throughout his career.

All of that on this episode of the SAP Experts Podcast.

Show notes:

Follow Steven: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-spears-57895388/
Follow Adrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriannash81/

Please like, share and subscribe!

Give us feedback or provide us your questions at akshi.mohla@sap.com.

Episode 76: Sustainability with SAP – Bettina Zedlitz Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

Guest: Bettina Zedlitz – Director for Sustainability and Climate 21 Go-to-Market and Solution Management, S/4HANA
Host: Victor Hoeck – Solution Advisory Specialist, Digital Supply Chain

Today we’re talking about a topic that is very dear to my heart: Sustainability. Not least the extreme weather events that have taken place in the recent weeks – the wildfires in the USA, or the floods in Germany and China – have highlighted that the case for sustainability shouldn’t be negotiable anymore. The need for drastic and swift change is chrystal clear.

I am talking to Bettina Zedlitz today, she is the Senior Director for Sustainability and Climate 21 Go-to-Market and Solution Management in the SAP S/4HANA organization. As such she has the overview over all the sustainability-related activities happening at SAP. We talk about why sustainability needs to be taken seriously by businesses, how SAP supports enterprises in doing their part in reducing their environmental footprint, but also how we ourselves are integrating sustainability in our own lives.