One of the best ways to show what Life is like at SAP is to share our employee stories to provide insight into their experiences and what being successful means to us at SAP. I am Heather Walker, and I work on the Global Employer Branding team. Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to speak with 50 colleagues across our Europe, Middle East and Africa region to help share their stories. Here is one of those interviews:
Vigdis, from Norway, had a dream of becoming a stage actor as teenager, but chose a career with SAP as a Retail Industry Senior Account Executive. We spoke to her about her SAP journey.
What did you study at college/university?
My first degree was a Bachelor of Science in Managerial & Administrative Studies from Aston University in Birmingham, England. Then, while working in Norway I studied part time for a 3-year Executive Master of Management at BI Norwegian School of Management. This course specialized in strategic leadership, product management and innovation.
When did you start working at SAP?
I started in October 2014 as a Senior Sales Solution Executive, responsible for Hybris Customer Engagement & Commerce in Norway. I moved into my current role June 2016.
How did you get your current job?
It was through a strong combination of sales, product, marketing and project management experience gained from working in management consulting, the software industry and as a manager in the telecom and retail industries.
Did you need any specific qualifications for your current job?
It was my experience rather than specific qualifications that I needed for this role. My previous roles combined with retail insight and interpersonal skills were what was important.
What are the key skills people need if they are considering a similar career?
You need to have a good customer focus, business understanding and a keen interest in working on challenges where you see the important interaction between business and technology.
What does your career at SAP mean to you?
Work is an important aspect of my life. For me my career in SAP means the chance to continuously develop myself. I work with leading industry solutions where I can see we can make a real difference and I have colleagues that I look forward to meeting the next day.
What does success look like to you?
To me success is realization of goals which are meaningful to me and the people around me. It is about having trust and good relationships both on a private and business level.
If you could go back in time and give your 18-year-old-self one piece of career advice what would it be?
Study abroad, challenge yourself, don’t always take the easiest choice and be true to yourself. Try to keep you options open, I started in marketing and now work in sales; not what I previously thought was right for me, but today I see that some of my main strengths is the combination of previous jobs, dedication and my personal skills.
To see where Life at SAP could take you,
click here.