Diana David, Managing Director, SAP România: Organizations need to be prepared – to embrace change, adapt to new circumstances, and demonstrate resilience in navigating uncertain times

Building the career: Trust the process

Diana David, Managing Director, SAP România: A key aspect in my evolution is that I trusted the process. Yes, there were many challenges along the way and I could never say it was easy, but at the end of the day, trust – not just in those around me, but in myself, among others – brought the best solutions.

It wasn’t so much about the key steps I took, but more about staying true to who I am over time. From the beginning of my career, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the lives of the people I interact with. And based on this specific aspiration, which is at the core of who I am, I have built my entire career. Of course, when I first thought about this, I didn’t know where my professional steps would take me. Today, I have a tremendous opportunity to truly improve people’s lives, as we say at SAP, through our approach when it comes to digital transformation.

Throughout my 20-year professional career, I have always been dedicated to people and their development – it remains an inspiration to me to witness what individuals are capable of when supported to be authentic. I have also always chosen to believe in the people around me. And the interesting thing is that in doing so, I always found myself surrounded by people who believed in me. Maybe what they say out there is true: what we put out into the world is also what we get. Another key aspect in my evolution is that I trusted the process. Yes, there were many challenges along the way and I could never say it was easy, but at the end of the day, trust – not just in those around me, but in myself, among others – brought the best solutions.

Every day, I have the privilege of working alongside incredibly genuine, motivated and adaptable colleagues. Together, we tackle our clients’ toughest challenges and I have to say I am constantly amazed by our team’s relentless dedication and pursuit of solutions. With the right mix of talented people and an individualized approach when it comes to each of them, we have fostered an encouraging and motivating work environment. It’s a place where every team member can thrive and develop their skills to the fullest.

Truly, I cannot emphasise enough the vital role that our colleagues play in the success of SAP Romania, as their engagement and tireless efforts have been the main pillar in shaping the organisation into what it is today. I know it may sound cliché, but in all honesty, I consider myself incredibly lucky to live this cliché and witness this level of collaboration every day.

Ethics & values in work

Diana David: Equally reflected in our team is the natural approach when it comes to accepting and appreciating diversity in terms of the backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and ideas of the different members. In my opinion, this is the glue that holds our team together, but also what contributes most to our success.

Our team is built on strong values. We collaborate and communicate effectively and always ensure that we leverage each other’s strengths to achieve common goals. We do all this by prioritizing and understanding our customers’ needs, aiming to provide individualized solutions and services that add significant value.

In addition, I am part of a team that interacts with honesty, both internally and externally to SAP, with our partners and customers. We seek to be part of transparent dialogues and operate with the highest level of integrity.

I strongly believe that professional fulfilment is not merely tied to securing a specific role. Rather, it is rooted in remaining true to your personal values and principles, nurturing a genuine passion for what you do, and, most importantly, comprehending the underlying purpose driving your actions. In essence, professional satisfaction arises when you grasp and embrace the meaningfulness of your work.

I also think that in addition to knowing where you are in your career, finding fulfillment involves knowing where you want to go and being able to meet challenges along the way. Finally, I believe that true professional satisfaction comes from surrounding yourself with people who not only provide opportunities for continuous learning, but also share similar values and principles.

Last but not least, I can’t help but marvel at how creative and innovative my colleagues are – they are constantly looking for new learning opportunities and ways to improve themselves and their work. I truly believe this also leads to a higher level of engagement as well as open-mindedness. New knowledge brings new experiences, but also new perspectives. Therefore, when one of us grows and develops, we all do.

Business evolutions of SAP

Irina Scorțea Tache, SAP SuccessFactors Lead for Eastern Cluster : SAP’s leadership culture is based on the following credo: “Do the right thing, make SAP better for future generations”. We are committed to accelerating growth in the cloud. We are committed to accelerating growth in the cloud.

This is therefore something that, together with our partners, we will focus on intensely this year.

In terms of the evolution of our local team and department, I am proud to say that we have become what we fondly call a “dream team”. Having a group of people around me that I can consistently rely on and who share the same goals is simply invaluable. However, building such a cohesive team is not without its challenges. In my view, it requires a healthy leadership style and the ability to find the right individuals whose skills complement each other within the team – or, in other words, the missing pieces of the puzzle.

For me, another important consideration is SAP’s holistic view of performance measures, whether they relate to financial or non-financial performance, such as Women in Executive Roles (WiER) or the Employee Engagement Index.

Furthermore, SAP is constantly looking to the future and paving the way for the next technological trends. With this in mind, I believe the adoption of business-related artificial intelligence is critical to all aspects of operations, whether it’s human resources, finance or other areas of a business. Our focus on Business AI signals the beginning of a new era in enterprise innovation. Earlier this year, SAP established a dedicated growth area specifically designed for AI. This unit is responsible for managing the full spectrum of SAP Business AI, from product development and research to customer implementation. What I can say? The future looks incredibly bright!

The people-centered leadership

Diana David: From what I have experienced so far, both with my own managers over the years and as a manager myself, I have come to the conclusion that people-centred leadership, i.e. the leadership style that puts people first, is the one that suits me best.

What I try to do in my leadership role is to understand different perspectives and actively listen, as well as support inclusive decision-making. I know that I don’t have all the answers, which is why I always value diverse viewpoints and encourage everyone’s participation. In addition, I believe that healthy communication as well as transparency should never be missing from our interactions with each other.

What I also believe we should not forget is the celebration of our successes. We often go through our lives trying to tick off as many activities and tasks as possible, which in our opinion does not leave enough room to stop sometimes and really acknowledge what we have achieved so far.

When it comes to leaders who inspire me, I would not name specific individuals, as I feel I would not do justice to those leaders who are not “famous”, but rather focus on the real traits that inspire me in my leadership approach. I am truly inspired by leaders who have a clear vision and lead according to it and by those who show compassion to others, but also actively choose to empower, all while embracing innovation and creativity.

Irina Scorțea Tache: To me, it’s about feeling like an integral part of a supportive team. Building strong work relationships creates a sense of belonging and collaboration.

Secondly, it is about having autonomy in planning work that allows efficient and effective work. Third, recognition for efforts is also crucial. I believe that feeling acknowledged and appreciated motivates and fosters a positive work environment more than most people would think. Additionally, going hand in hand with what Diana also mentioned, it is about being in a role that aligns with one’s passions and values, meaning that someone gets to wake up every day eager to start work. And to me, this lies at the heart of sustained professional fulfillment. Moreover, it is about having opportunities for continuous growth and development that contribute to the overall motivation when it comes to a career trajectory.

In my 9 years at SAP, I’ve come to understand that valuable results take time and that every difficult step contributes to a rewarding journey. Patience has not always been my strongest trait, but I have come to appreciate its merits. As a proud Gen Z member, I often found myself yearning for immediate results, but I learned that valuable achievements rarely happen overnight, at least not in my experience. As a result, I prioritized maintaining focus on my personal and team goals, constantly striving for success. In the shifting landscape of the IT industry, where change is the only constant, adaptability is essential. While the complexity of this environment presents its share of obstacles, it also offers abundant opportunities for both personal and professional advancement.

Power words for 2024

Diana David: I would like to pick “embrace the new” as the power words for 2024.

If we look at the past few years, it has become clear that organizations need to be prepared – to embrace change, adapt to new circumstances, and demonstrate resilience in navigating uncertain times. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, the market has realized the importance of adopting and adapting to new technologies, innovations, and digital tools to stay ahead of the advancements in the different industries they operate in.

Irina Scorțea Tache: Fully resonating with what Diana mentioned regarding embracing the new, in 2024, I would choose “game-changing” as my power phrase.

It signifies innovation, disruption, and impactful change. I believe this year is about creating groundbreaking solutions that reshape industries and make a real difference and as we all move forward this year, I am truly excited to harness the power of “game-changing” to drive progress and shape a brighter future.