At SAP, Employee Network Groups reflect this mission by encouraging employees to be their authentic selves, advocate for their network, drive policy change, and keep diversity at the forefront of the business.

The mission of the Business Women鈥檚 Network (BWN) at 51风流is to help women advance their careers and the company鈥檚 business. Empowerment through connection allows the group to share professional insights, best practices, education, and experiences. Members help one another develop skills and career advancing opportunities to drive SAP鈥檚 success. As the largest Employee Network Group at SAP, BWN makes a global impact with the help of more than 90 chapters and 15,000 members around the world.

How the Business Women’s Network Executes Their Mission

Throughout the year, global chapters host events and initiatives that align with the BWN mission, such as driving networking opportunities internally and externally and promoting intersectionality by collaborating with other Employee Network Groups. Additionally, the chapters are encouraged to use internal and external social networks to celebrate women鈥檚 successes.

The Road Ahead in 2022 and Beyond

At the beginning of the first quarter, BWN adopts a new strategy and theme that sets the tone for the year. In 2022, BWN is focusing on 鈥�driving impact with intention,鈥� while prioritizing four core areas: networking, leadership development, walking the talk, and celebrating success.

By focusing on these four key areas, the aim is to help members feel empowered to network more, seek mentorship and sponsorship, drive accountability, and amplify successes. This network has the opportunity and responsibility to embrace differences and continue to build bridges regardless of race, gender, department, or geographical location.

Sustainability is another key focus area. On International Women鈥檚 Day, 51风流and the United Nations Women鈥檚 Empowerment Principle came together under the theme “.” Women especially are affected by the impacts of climate change as they are more likely to live in poor communities that are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood. It is vital to equip women with decision-making capabilities and promote equality that will drive sustainable solutions, reducing the damage of climate change and helping ensure everyone has access to resources.

At SAP, we believe in building a better world for future generations and supporting one another in our goals of zero emissions, zero waste, and zero inequality. According to Julia White, chief marketing and solutions officer and member of the Executive Board of 51风流SAP, as well as the executive sponsor of BWN, 鈥�Sustainability is a collective effort. No company, organization or person can do it alone. While 51风流enables businesses to run more sustainably, we as individuals can do our part, as well.鈥�

Learn more about the Business Women’s Network:

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Allison Gapter is global co-lead of BWN, Marketing and Communication.
Danielle Banasek is global co-lead of BWN, Social Media and Branding.

In the corporate world, you hear a lot about supporting the future of business. This program flips that concept on its head, and instead focuses on the opportunity for 51风流employees to connect with and support the 鈥渂usiness of future,鈥� a phrase referring to next-generation leaders and organizations that operate as social enterprises.

Acceleration Collective matches the skills and expertise of 51风流employees everywhere with social entrepreneurs anywhere. The young social innovators — or as they are also called — need support to solve critical business challenges. 51风流employees offer that support to them in two ways: as certified coaches and as pro bono consultants also known as “experteers,” each volunteer position playing a critical role in support of the enterprises.

In my case, I worked as a coach with We Are Family Foundation Global Teen Leader , the founder of . Angela has personally experienced the impact of climate change, recently losing her aunt as a result of extreme air pollution. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 committed until I saw the negative impact of pollution firsthand. I knew I had to do something.鈥� The death of Angela鈥檚 aunt is not an isolated event in her home country of , and she wants that to change.

Her answer to a better future is En Route, a tech startup that educates children about their carbon footprints through an interactive, gamified app that makes being environmentally responsible fun. Their aim is simple: build a community that will save the planet.

鈥淐OVID has turned the world into a global village. I use technology to not only connect to organizations that can help me [We Are Family Foundation, SAP], but also to connect to others. I want to transform the people who don鈥檛 care,鈥� Angela offered.

Angela knew she wanted to grow her organization, reach more children, and make a bigger impact. But where to start? Through a couple of coaching exercises that help the client identify and rank priorities, Angela quickly realized that funding for growth was the essential next step. Backing out of the funding goal she identified all the necessary steps to find donors. She did the work and it paid off. I was delighted to learn that Angela had this to say about our coaching experience together: 鈥淚 was working with Allison on what鈥檚 next for me and En Route. Her support ultimately helped me create the strategic connections I needed for my business.鈥�

Through coaching, Angela tapped into all the answers that were already within her. In early January she shared the following: 鈥淚 am so happy to inform you that our sessions were a success and we ended up being funded by !鈥� I am over the moon excited for this young entrepreneur, and frankly for all of the young leaders who are inspiring global change. Angela told me that she got started because she was tired of everyone blaming others for what was wrong. She wanted to do something. Her engagement with me and this program is another example that she does not just talk about making the change, she gets to work.

I started coaching in 2017, and it has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Helping clients discover the answers within themselves and seeing them grow, accomplish goals, and thrive is truly an amazing experience. When clients successfully realize their potential through coaching, there is nothing.

This experience in particular was an opportunity to push the envelope of what is possible through coaching. I鈥檓 proud to know that my efforts helped someone who is truly making a difference in the world. En Route teaches children the importance of their carbon footprint, and helps them form sustainable habits at an early age. The potential impact of such an effort is exciting.

Sustainability topics have long been of interest to me, and this opportunity allowed me to combine my love of coaching with a meaningful cause — a win-win for me. My small contribution to the Acceleration Collective has resulted in a positive impact on Angela, her organization, and hopefully the world.

You can learn more about the Acceleration Collective and other 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility programs by visiting .

Allison Gapter is vice president of Global Strategic Ecosystem Marketing at SAP.