But don鈥檛 worry! This doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean buying everyone in the world a present. Truly making an impact is an easy thing that can start with the decisions you make, and the can help you there. 

What if the coffee you鈥檙e gifting also encourages seniors to learn new skills and prevent their feeling of isolation? Or the sustainable pullover you find protects a UNESCO heritage skill, embroidered by women who are economically disadvantaged? Would you like to receive handcrafted, artisanal d茅cor, knowing that its purchase sent life-saving supplies to children in need? The 51风流community holiday gift guide contains more than a hundred gift-giving options that can make these dreams a reality. 

We know it can become difficult to navigate holiday shopping. Thus, the 51风流community holiday gift guide is a curated list of more than 200 organizations that not only ensure high-quality goods and services but also focus their profits into increasing opportunities in their communities and ecosystems. 

As consumers, we know that our choices carry ripple effects: we buy what we support. By听purchasing听products from these听small听businesses,听you听aid听in their听persistence听and innovation. You听contribute to听SAP鈥檚 mission of accelerating听impact听businesses and听the development of听skills.听You听show that you are a part of a system that values听inclusivity,听sustainability,听and听morality.听

Peruse and听make听a small decision that goes a long way.听Feel free to share the guide with听your听networks听and inspire them to听consider听the power of impact听businesses, and听use the hashtag #SAP4Good on social media.听

Here鈥檚 to a gift that makes everyone smile鈥攆rom the supplier鈥檚 beneficiaries down to your chosen recipient. With more intentional and sustainable gift giving, we can help the world run better, together. 

Mia Naval and Franziska Holstein are part of the Social Responsibility, Inclusion, & Commmunities Team at SAP.

Indeed, Lithuania is fertile ground for social enterprises and impact businesses. At the end of 2024, for the first time. The resulting report provided a comprehensive assessment of the current social enterprise environment in Lithuania and allowed for comparison with the 30 other European countries assessed. According to the ESEM report, there are about 200 social businesses in Lithuania currently, but the potential is 10 times that number.

鈥淎ccording to a done by LISVA (Lithuanian social business association) in 2022, each euro invested into social enterprises yields a net benefit of 鈧�0.63, with positive effects,鈥� Kristina Bal膷iauskait臈, local project manager for Pyxera Global, explained. 鈥淎pproximately 60% of social enterprises in Lithuania operate outside major cities, being active in smaller towns and rural areas. This contributes directly to strengthening local economies, creates new jobs for underserved populations, and helps reduce regional disparities in economic development and access to services.鈥�

As part of 51风流CSR鈥檚 mission of powering equitable access to economic opportunity, education and employment, and the circular economy, the pro bono portfolio works with social impact businesses that are pursuing innovative solutions to societal issues. The impact businesses gain access to private-sector professional expertise, the opportunity to address critical strategic challenges, advance their service provision, and facilitate transfer of skills and know-how to their staff.

For the 51风流Social Sabbatical program, 51风流employees are placed in highly diverse teams to apply their skills and professional expertise in a unique, short-term assignment, solving concrete strategic challenges for client organizations, developing leadership skills, and advancing SAP鈥檚 purpose to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives. The program has been running since 2012, and in that time worked with 619 client organizations across 61 host countries impacting 7 million lives.

Lithuanian impact businesses

For one month, 11 51风流employees worked with four Lithuanian impact businesses to help address unique challenges.

Looptex

is a circular fashion solutions platform on a mission to drive sustainable solutions and inspire the world to rethink, re-love, and recycle textiles. The startup gathers used clothing and other textiles in Lithuania and prepares them for resale and upcycling to give them a second life, managing the entire process from collection to recycling. The re-loved pieces are available for sale through an online store and brick-and-mortar locations. The 51风流Social Sabbatical team helped optimize Looptex鈥檚 business model and processes, enabling it to grow and drive sustainability and social impact.

鈥淧articipating in the 51风流Social Sabbatical program was transformative for Looptex. We鈥檙e usually immersed in doing and building, but this program gave us the rare chance to pause, get outside expertise, map our processes, analyze stakeholders and flows, and strengthen our resilience,鈥� Erikas Marcinkevi膷ius, innovation project manager at Looptex, said. 鈥淔or an organization like ours, bringing something new to the market as a circular fashion platform, it was a huge boost to structure ourselves better at this early stage of the startup.鈥�

OSMOS

is a non-profit think-and-do tank that aims to become the leading hub for mutually-beneficial international partnerships in the Baltic States. Its Digital Explorers program fosters ICT talent exchange and cooperation activities between the Baltics and like-minded countries. Founded in 2015 as an Africa-oriented non-profit, OSMOS is now looking to bring its exchange expertise to other continents and countries. Working with the 51风流Social Sabbatical team, OSMOS was able to explore its options to scale its positive impact.

“Working together with [the 51风流Social Sabbatical team], we found the time to sit down and sketch out our future service portfolio aimed at the private sector,鈥� 沤ilvinas 艩vedkauskas, managing director at OSMOS, said. 鈥淎s a non-profit, we are used to complex grant writing and implementing projects with competing objectives. The 51风流Social Sabbatical pushed us to think in a stricter way and clarify what are the main private sector demands we ought to target transitioning to a social venture, diversifying our revenue streams, and continuing connecting IT companies and talents from emerging markets at a greater scale.”

Ukreate Hub

is a Vilnius-based initiative dedicated to displaced Ukrainians in Lithuania, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, networks, and tools they need to unlock their potential for the future of sovereign, democratic Ukraine. The community strengthens the concept that Ukrainians abroad are not passive recipients of aid, rather agents of change who are building communities, strengthening resilience, and shaping democratic futures even while displaced. After two years of functioning under and being funded by a larger NGO (Open Lithuania Foundation), Ukreate Hub is on a journey to become a fully independent, community-based NGO and scale its vital work for the Ukrainian community in Lithuania. The 51风流Social Sabbatical team helped Ukreate Hub develop a road map to accomplish just that.

鈥淭he 51风流Social Sabbatical gave us the time and support to deeply rethink our mission and strategic direction. Over the course of four weeks, the program became not only a period of transformation for Ukreate Hub, but also a powerful experience of personal growth. It allowed us to pause, reflect, find new sources of inspiration, and develop a clear plan for transforming Ukreate Hub into an independent organization鈥攁 step that will strengthen our capacity and long-term impact in Lithuania,鈥� Oleksandra Cherednichenko, project manager at Ukreate Hub, said. 鈥淲e also found wonderful friends and like-minded partners within the 51风流team. It was inspiring to combine business tools and approaches with the mindset of the non-profit sector鈥攁 true synergy of two worlds that opened new perspectives for collaboration and learning. We believe this experience will help us better support and empower the Ukrainian community in Lithuania, creating more opportunities for their growth and integration.鈥�

Women Go Tech

What began in 2017 as a mentorship program for women in Lithuania has grown into a non-profit organization on a mission to help women in the CEE region navigate towards careers in tech. offers courses and mentorship opportunities to its community of 29,000 women鈥攚hich only continues to grow. With the guidance provided by the pro-bono consultants as part of the 51风流Social Sabbatical initiative, Women Go Tech audited all its internal processes to identify opportunities for simplification and automation.

鈥淭his program gave us a much needed outside perspective that helped us see how we could work better together, share knowledge more openly, and solve problems faster,鈥� Liucija Pa啪arausk臈, operations manager at Women Go Tech, said. 鈥淭he experts confirmed things we already knew but also brought fresh, actionable recommendations with practical tools we can actually use. We realize it won鈥檛 be a quick fix鈥攊t will take 6 to 12 months to fully implement鈥攂ut we鈥檙e starting with small wins and building from there.鈥�

Cross-cultural exchange via skills-based volunteering

The 51风流Social Sabbatical program not only has clear benefits for the impact businesses, but for the 51风流employees involved as well. Long-term career impact, influence on personal life, growth of skills and knowledge, increased community engagement, and an improved sense of purpose are all reported consequences participants have shared.

According to the , 99% of participants agree that the program helped them learn valuable things about themselves personally, and 92% agree that the program prompted them to search for other ways to get engaged in local or international communities.

鈥淧articipating in the 51风流Social Sabbatical program was a transformative experience that challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and realize the power of collaboration and unlocking people鈥檚 hidden potential,鈥� reflected Anita Fava, part of the Lithuania team and a senior product learning specialist at SAP. 鈥淭his journey taught me that real growth comes when we dare to embrace uncertainty and lift each other up. It鈥檚 not just about helping or giving back鈥攊t’s about active listening, learning, growing together, and discovering new perspectives that shape not only our careers but our lives. By setting aside our egos, we open doors to possibilities far greater than ourselves, creating a wave of impact that reaches beyond what we could have imagined. I am deeply inspired and grateful for the privilege of being alive and contributing to something truly meaningful.鈥�

Gillian Hixson is an integrated communications specialist for 51风流News.

Top photo courtesy of Gillian Hixson

The challenges facing businesses today demand fresh ideas, digital fluency, and bold thinking. These are the qualities youth leaders bring in spades. For more than 20 years, WAFF, co-founded by music legend Nile Rodgers and his lifelong partner Nancy Hunt, has mentored young leaders from more than 100 countries. Over the past decade, WAFF and 51风流have partnered to deepen that global impact, moving youth voices from symbolic gestures to central drivers of innovation.

From roundtables where teenagers challenge senior executives, to shaping initiatives at the UN Climate Change Conferences and the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, WAFF and 51风流have developed a blueprint for embedding youth-led ideas into corporate strategy, supply chains, and culture while delivering measurable business and societal impact.

Here are five lessons from the collaboration on how intergenerational partnerships unlock value for both business and society.

1. Problems that span generations require leadership that does too

Traditional business models silo generations: executives design the strategy, then hand it down for others to execute. In today鈥檚 world, that handoff wastes momentum and risks irrelevance.

WAFF鈥檚 2024 global study, , found that when senior leaders and young changemakers co-create from the start, ideas are stress-tested in real time. This results in strategies that are bolder, more resilient, and more adaptable to fast-moving challenges.

In short, instead of passing the baton on the final leg, build your strategies together from the starting line.

2. Intergenerational collaboration is a smart strategy

Youth leaders aren鈥檛 just 鈥渇uture leaders.鈥� They already bring expertise that legacy teams lack. Digital natives understand platforms, trends, and user behavior instinctively. They also bring the urgency of living through the climate crisis and global inequality.

Take WAFF Youth Leader , who uses AI to track plastic debris and apply data-driven models to malnutrition. Her work bridges grassroots innovation with scalable solutions, which is exactly the kind of thinking that can de-risk corporate strategies and ensure relevance from day one.

For companies, including youth voices isn鈥檛 an act of goodwill; it鈥檚 strategic de-risking.

3. Where business, policy, and community align, impact follows

Global challenges cannot be solved in silos. The biggest breakthroughs happen when companies, policymakers, and social entrepreneurs collaborate.

One example is Mozamel Aman, a young Afghan impact entrepreneur and immigrant in Germany, who built to create inclusive employment pathways. In 2023, he began a partnership with 51风流Germany connecting women to the opportunity for tech jobs in the 51风流ecosystem, blending corporate support with government stipends. His organization leverages government stipends from the Bundesagentur f眉r Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) to train unemployed individuals and connect them with job opportunities. 

Germany鈥檚 technical is nearly the same size as its refugee population. Partnerships like this solve social challenges while closing critical business gaps in talent and innovation.

4. Purpose, profit, and the power of inclusion

Authentic inclusion of young experts, especially Gen-Zs, builds credibility, trust, and stronger business performance.

Employees notice:

• Engagement: of U.S. employees were engaged in 2024, the lowest level in a decade.
• Retention risk: Employees who feel with their company鈥檚 mission and values are much more likely to stay, while misalignment drives turnover.
• Business impact: Highly engaged employees drive higher profitability.

WAFF’s global study findings underscore these statistics, indicating that young people see inclusivity and accountability as non-negotiable factors. By authentically including youth, organizations set a standard of purpose that fuels stronger engagement, deeper loyalty, and, ultimately, higher profitability.

5. Strategic procurement for social good

The most powerful financial corporate tool for change isn鈥檛 in giving, but perhaps in spending.

51风流Business Network facilitates in annual commerce. Compare that to an average corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget of among FTSE 100 companies, and the potential is clear: redirecting even a fraction of procurement spend toward youth-led, sustainable enterprises can transform impact at scale.

Watson Institute, with leadership from former WAFF alumni, James Okina, has recently published a new research report on the opportunity for young social entrepreneurs in impact-led procurement. The found that young, impact-driven entrepreneurs who succeed in selling to corporations report an average revenue increase of $170,187.50, while those who fail to secure deals lose between $7,000 and $300,000 in potential revenue. Okina offers that he “doesn鈥檛 understand why youth involvement in business is still so controversial.” 51风流and WAFF agree. By integrating expert impact entrepreneurs who happen to be young into procurement pipelines, for example, companies embrace innovation and align with corporate goals and values while maintaining quality, price, and performance. It is a smarter, systemic approach than writing philanthropic checks.

A blueprint for the next decade

Over the past decade, 51风流and WAFF have shown that partnering with young impact leaders creates a true competitive edge.

Companies that co-create with the next generation design strategies that are bolder, more relevant, and more sustainable. They build workforces that are engaged, trusted, and innovative. They align business goals with societal needs in ways that deliver measurable results鈥攁nd, across generations, they operate on longer runways to implement lasting solutions.

Businesses that win in the next decade won鈥檛 just listen to youth; they will build with them. And that鈥檚 smart business.

Jennifer Beason is global director of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP. Annie Greene and Jamie Roach are global program leads at We Are Family Foundation.

That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e launching the Global Career Discovery Initiative, a new global partnership between 51风流and JA Worldwide that will reach tens of thousands of young people aged 17 to 24 in more than 30 countries. 

鈥淵oung people are entering a world of work that鈥檚 being reshaped by technology, automation, and artificial intelligence,鈥� says Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide. 鈥淭his partnership ensures that youth鈥攅specially those from underserved communities鈥攄on鈥檛 just learn about the future of work but learn how to shape it.鈥�

From local impact to global scale 

Over the past 20 years, 51风流has partnered with JA through dozens of local and regional programs, from workshops in Colombia to mentoring sessions in Vietnam. These efforts have created a meaningful impact, but we recognized the opportunity to amplify our work by aligning globally. This unified partnership enables us to scale what works, streamline volunteer engagement, and ensure more consistent access to high-quality learning experiences for young people everywhere. 

JA Worldwide already delivers more than 19 million student learning experiences annually in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health, powered by a network of over 700,000 teachers and business volunteers. This scale and experience make JA an ideal partner to help build a brighter future for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. 

Together, we鈥檙e combining JA鈥檚 proven curriculum with SAP鈥檚 global network of employee volunteers to create a structured, scalable experience that helps young people build in-demand skills, discover career pathways, and connect directly with mentors and role models. In its first year, the initiative aims to reach more than 85,000 students across six continents, engaging 800 51风流volunteers of all ages as mentors and role models. 

Why this matters now 

The world of work is evolving faster than many education systems can adapt. We believe the future belongs to young people who combine essential human skills鈥攍ike creativity, resilience, and collaboration鈥攚ith digital confidence. JA鈥檚 curriculum delivers exactly that, and through this global initiative 51风流is proud to help bring these vital skills to youth at scale. 

For many of us at SAP, this work is deeply personal. Like countless colleagues, we know from experience how early exposure to mentors and practical skills can change a life. 

鈥淚 joined JA as a student 25 years ago. Those early experiences shaped my journey. They equipped me with the tools and skills I needed to grow in the business world and helped me believe, at a very young age, that with knowledge, grit, and humility, anything was possible,鈥� says Sam Masri, global chief sales officer, SAP. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly proud that 51风流will now bring that same opportunity to thousands of youth around the world!鈥�

Building future skills, together 

Our collaboration goes beyond volunteering; it鈥檚 a long-term alignment focused on skills development, equity, and innovation. We鈥檙e committed to creating a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for all young people, regardless of geography or background. We鈥檙e proud to be part of this effort and excited about the impact ahead. 

The Global Career Discovery Initiative is one way we鈥檙e putting into action. Around the world, millions of young people are not in education, employment, or training, while employers struggle to find skilled talent. We believe building future skills is essential to empower the next generation and ensure a fair, sustainable transition from education to employment or entrepreneurship.听

To do this, we focus on three areas: 

• Ecosystem development: Building partnerships to align skills with job market needs and open career pathways听
• Education: Supporting innovative programs that equip youth with relevant skills for the digital and green economies and spark youth entrepreneurship
• Employee engagement: Empowering our people to share their knowledge and time through mentoring, coaching, and pro bono consulting

CSR can鈥檛 be a tick-box exercise. It must be a strategic approach that tackles social and environmental challenges and creates shared value for businesses and communities alike. Our purpose at SAP鈥攖o help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives鈥攊s brought to life every day through our products, services, and the dedication of our people.听

This partnership with JA builds on two decades of collaboration, from workshops in Colombia to classrooms in Vietnam. Now, we鈥檙e aligning and scaling that local impact globally, so that more young people, especially those from underserved communities, can see what鈥檚 possible and have the support they need to shape the future of work. 

Hemang Desai is interim global head of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

At SAP, we believe real change begins with deep connection: between companies and communities, between bold ideas and practical infrastructure, and between those willing to take risks and those who benefit from them. That鈥檚 the thread running through every initiative in this year鈥檚 eBook. 

Transforming supply chains into engines of impact 

One of our most powerful levers? Impact-led procurement. Through , which processes over US$6.2 trillion in commerce annually, we鈥檙e bringing social enterprises into global supply chains. These are businesses solving real-world challenges and, thanks to initiatives like the , delivered in partnership with and , and the co-led by and SAP, more than 4,400 verified impact businesses are now visible to corporate buyers. What鈥檚 particularly exciting is the infrastructure that underpins it, from verification and funding to the policies that support systemic change. Through roundtables and cross-sector alliances, 51风流is helping redefine procurement as a driver of both business and social value. 

Supporting the builders 

We also support impact businesses through shared expertise. In 2024, 51风流employees contributed over 47,000 hours of strategic pro bono consulting to more than 160 nonprofits and social enterprises around the world. Programs include the 51风流Social Sabbatical initiative and Pro Bono for Economic Equity, in partnership with and the Acceleration Collective, which allows employees to engage with the run by . Whether 51风流teams help a circular economy startup in India optimize operations or support a tech nonprofit in Mexico to scale its services, these high-impact engagements can offer mutual benefit. In fact, 96% of our partner organizations report long-term benefits, and employees can build skills while solving real-world problems.  

Building future-ready skills and solutions 

The future of work demands skills and fair access to labor markets. That鈥檚 why programs like 51风流Educate to Employ, now active in eight countries, are so critical. In 2024, nearly 1,800 learners earned micro-credentials aligned with real 51风流job roles, with many continuing to full certification and job placement. This is part of our growing public-private partnership launched by , which has already reached 64 million young people in 50 countries. Together, we鈥檙e helping to connect education and skilling systems with employment opportunities, delivering scalable, market-relevant solutions that can meet people where they are. Together, we鈥檙e connecting skilling systems with real income opportunities鈥攆lexible, demand-based, localized, and ready to scale. 

What鈥檚 clear to us at 51风流is that impact doesn鈥檛 scale through vision alone. It scales through ecosystems, through standards that build trust, and through partnerships that unlock lasting value. I invite you to explore our 2024 51风流CSR eBook, and see for yourself what鈥檚 possible when we all collaborate and when we choose to help make the world run better, together. 

.

Hemang Desai is head of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

Consider this: What if the scarf you gifted your friend helped provide fair wages to artisans in underserved regions? Or if the chocolates you gifted to a colleague supported sustainable farming practices and reduced carbon emissions? With the 2024 51风流community holiday gift guide, these scenarios aren鈥檛 just possibilities 鈥� they鈥檙e realities.

The 51风流community holiday gift guide has become a meaningful way to connect holiday traditions with SAP鈥檚 mission to help the world run better and improve people’s lives鈥�. This year鈥檚 guide features over 200 purpose-driven businesses from around the world. These businesses offer unique, high-quality goods and services while reinvesting in their communities and ecosystems, creating a virtuous cycle of positive change.

The world is grappling with urgent challenges, from climate change to growing inequality. As consumers, we hold immense power to influence how businesses operate through our purchasing choices. Every item in this year鈥檚 guide represents an opportunity to support a business that aligns with these values 鈥� companies that ensure ethical supply chains, foster inclusivity, and reduce their environmental footprint.

Take for example. It produces handcrafted paper goods, and its mission is to engage women from marginalized communities to co-create, providing a new path to financial independence. By choosing its products, you鈥檙e not just buying a gift, you鈥檙e becoming a part of a bigger story of resilience and innovation.

Exploring the 51风流community holiday gift guide is simple, but its impact can be profound. Every purchase you make sends a clear message: that you value businesses that act sustainably and prioritize the greater impact.

We encourage you to:

• Share the guide with your networks and inspire others to rethink their holiday shopping.
• Use the hashtag #SAP4Good to amplify the stories of businesses making a difference.
• Reflect on how small, intentional choices can lead to a better future for everyone.

This holiday season, let鈥檚 redefine what it means to give. Together, we can transform holiday traditions into acts of purpose and hope. Let鈥檚 spark joy, not just for those receiving our gifts but also for the communities and ecosystems that benefit from them.

Explore the  and join us in making this season brighter for all.

The global skills and opportunity gap is a recurring topic at landmark events such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and UN General Assembly and Climate Week in New York. This is no different at the current UN Conference of the Parties () in Baku, Azerbaijan.

That鈥檚 because today’s youth are the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. However, as these gaps remain, it’s important to accelerate active engagement and enhance collaboration across sectors. Ensuring that young people are adequately prepared to enter and excel in the workforce is an investment in their future and a strategic imperative for businesses and societies worldwide. Without adequate learning pathways, young people risk unemployment and businesses may struggle to compete in the burgeoning green and digital economies due to a widening talent shortage.

Human Capital and Youth Day

For this reason, November 18 has been designated as the COP29 theme day for Human Capital Development for Climate Resilience. The initiative underscores that addressing climate change requires a holistic approach supported by healthier, better educated, and adequately skilled young people.

The Human Capital Day serves as a reminder that tackling climate change requires societal transformation 鈥� and there is no better time than now. A key component of this shift is ensuring access to quality education and skill development opportunities for youth that lead to tangible employment opportunities. According to the  (ILO), global youth unemployment was 13% in 2023, with many young people facing limited prospects for stable and decent work. At the same time, the  found that 44% of businesses report difficulties in finding talent with the right skills to fill jobs.

At SAP, we believe in our responsibility to support the next generation of professionals and users with our best-in-class digital learning. We fully support the COP29 agenda for human capital and are actively involved with the global community of governments, financial institutions, and private sector entities.

51风流Education and Employment Programs

51风流has several programs and partnerships to help tackle the deepening mismatch between the supply of young job seekers and the demand for skilled talent. These initiatives focus on human capital development and provide valuable educational opportunities for youth:

• 51风流and UNICEF鈥檚 partnership in support of Generation Unlimited develops innovative solutions to global skilling challenges to help young people transition to earning. The goal is to generate inclusive opportunities for underserved young people worldwide, preparing them for decent work with the skills needed in the market. The program helps equip youth with essential skills and builds on UNICEF鈥檚 Generation Unlimited (GenU) signature program, the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a platform developed by young Africans to tackle labor market challenges. To date, the partnership reached more than 600,000 youth with foundational and digital skills that help young people unlock opportunities in the changing global economy.
• 51风流Educate to Employ is one of the learn-to-earn pathways on YOMA designed by 51风流to equip youth with essential competencies for the digital economy. Implemented by a local social enterprise in South Africa called UMUZI, the free program focuses on developing skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values to help prepare and bring candidates into employment within the 51风流ecosystem. More than 1,000 learners completed one or more foundational skills courses, while 165 learners completed over 550 hours of critical skills development training and earned an 51风流technology consultant professional certificate. The next step is to secure meaningful employment opportunities within the 51风流ecosystem and beyond.
• The 51风流University Alliances program includes over 2,700 members in more than 100 countries. It enables academia to educate the next generation on using intelligent AI-enabled technology, engage at 51风流events, build industry partnerships, and prepare graduates for the 51风流ecosystem. 51风流University Alliances initiatives aim to empower youth to work in digitized enterprises, shape their futures, and have a meaningful impact on the world. During COP29, 51风流will engage with students and faculty members from local university partners in Baku. Planned activities include an on-campus, gamified learning experience with a focus on sustainability, dialogue on learning and skills for sustainable youth development, and student visits to SAP鈥檚 booth in the Green Zone.

To further amplify youth empowerment, 51风流actively collaborates with leading youth organizations. Through these partnerships, 51风流brings young voices to the forefront of decision-making, fostering intergenerational collaboration and innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.

• We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is a non-profit organization that empowers youth and brings them to decision-making tables to share ideas and innovative solutions for global problems. For instance, at COP29, WAFF, in partnership with Care About Climate and Groundswell, launched the Universal NDC Youth Clause campaign 鈥� a global call to action for governments to integrate youth voices into their updated climate plans due in February 2025. By adopting this clause, governments pledge to work collaboratively with young people to achieve ambitious climate goals.
• The 51风流and World Scouting partnership examines the critical role that youth-led initiatives play in advancing environmental sustainability. It provides opportunities to share insights on successful youth-driven projects and discuss challenges and the support needed to scale efforts. The engagement is based on the premise that young people are at the forefront of environmental activism and are leveraging technology, creativity, and community engagement to make tangible impacts amid unprecedented environmental challenges.

As the world grapples with urgent challenges like climate change and digital transformation, 51风流believes that investing in youth and human development has never been more crucial. SAP鈥檚 contribution to building a sustainable future through initiatives that equip young people with job-ready skills underscores the importance of a whole-of-society approach.

By collaborating with global multistakeholder partners and empowering the next generation, we can help bridge the talent gap, foster climate resilience, and ensure that today鈥檚 youth are prepared to lead us into a more sustainable and inclusive future.

As these cohorts collectively account for , it is imperative today that businesses integrate these insights into their retention strategies.

In 2021, 51风流launched the Pro Bono for Economic Equity program, a collaborative effort with that supports historically under-resourced businesses and social enterprises across North America through employees participating as pro bono consultants, addressing systemic and critical strategic business challenges. Over these last three years, 51风流employees have dedicated over 22,000 hours to providing pro bono consulting to more than 70 Black and Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada and the United States.

The Pro Bono for Economic Equity program is a testament to the value of integrating pro bono work into corporate development strategies. Ninety-five percent of participating business expressed confidence that the involvement in the program helped them feel more prepared to address future challenges for their organization. The exceptionally high Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 92 further underscores the program’s effectiveness and the participant satisfaction.

Anthony Wingham, co-founder of Nuez Acres, said that one of the most impressive aspects of the program was the openness and honesty from the beginning: 鈥淎s an Indigenous person, I鈥檓 used to conversations about business that either come with a price tag or feel exploitative, where ideas might be taken without genuine support. However, from the start, the discussions were transparent and collaborative. We were able to share our unique strategies and delve into areas where we needed real support.鈥濃��

Marsha Guerrier, CEO and founder of HerSuiteSpot, shared about the impact of the participants and the work they did together on her business: 鈥淭he people that are volunteering in these programs come with a level of expertise that when we鈥檙e so small we simply can鈥檛 afford. The team that 51风流gave me to support my challenges and needs was dynamite. They really went all out for me. It felt good to meet with the team.鈥�

The program doesn鈥檛 just benefit participant businesses, but also 51风流employee participants.

Pro Bono as a Leadership Development Tool 

鈥淧ro bono work provides a platform to upskill employees and grow the company鈥檚 leaders,鈥� said Katie Booth, head of North America Corporate Social Responsibility for SAP. 鈥淓mployees report significant gains in critical areas like teamwork, intercultural sensitivity, and strategic planning, which are core competencies that drive business success in a globalized economy.鈥濃��

While this initiative forms part of the company鈥檚 corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, it also invests in employee development that pays dividends in human capital and business acumen.鈥�

In fact, 98% of 51风流employees involved in the Pro Bono for Economic Equity program have reported acquiring or refining essential skills.

Verena Lommatzsch, head of Technical Services for 51风流Business Technology Platform at SAP, reflected that stepping out of her comfort zone and collaborating with people from diverse cultural backgrounds was incredibly enriching: 鈥淚t sharpened my ability to navigate complex, multicultural business environments.鈥濃��

鈥淥n a personal level, the program prompted me to rethink my approach to new challenges, reminding me that success isn’t solely about maximizing profit,鈥� she added. 鈥淧rofessionally, it was incredibly valuable as well. As a global leader, I am often distanced from day-to-day business activities. Being hands-on and working directly with two colleagues I hadn’t met before was a great opportunity to challenge myself and learn new skills. I also gained a new perspective on what it means to be an entrepreneur, including using software to establish an online store and managing wholesale connections.鈥濃��

This intersection of personal growth and professional development is where the Pro Bono for Economic Equity program truly shines. Participants are not only building their own capabilities but are also contributing to the resilience and adaptability of the businesses they support.

51风流employee Rahaf Assaleh shared that the program provided a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures and their unique business practices: 鈥淚t taught me to think creatively and resourcefully with the limited resources that Indigenous business owners often have, helping me to explore innovative ways to achieve business goals and foster growth.鈥濃��

The program鈥檚 impact extends beyond individual development with 74% of participants reporting that their involvement has prompted them to engage more deeply with local, historically-marginalized communities. This increased engagement enriches employees’ lives and strengthens SAP鈥檚 commitment to breaking down unconscious bias and continuing support for the social justice movement, alongside its focus on social responsibility.

鈥淎t SAP, we believe in the power of shared growth,鈥� Booth said. 鈥淭he program exemplifies how pro bono initiatives can drive innovation, enhance employee satisfaction, and contribute to economic equity. It鈥檚 a win-win that benefits our employees, the businesses we support, and society at large.鈥濃��

Companies that prioritize aligning employee development with social impact initiatives are not only investing in the future of their workforce but are also positioning themselves, and the impact businesses they work with for long-term success.

The time is now to rethink corporate strategies and ensure that they reflect the values of today鈥檚 purpose-driven workforce.

Megan Smith is head of Human Resources for 51风流North America.

The world today is grappling with a polycrisis 鈥� a complex set of interconnected global challenges that impact economies, industries, and job markets simultaneously. From climate change and geopolitical tensions to technological disruptions and economic instability, these crises are reshaping the landscape of work, especially for young people. While youth unemployment remains high, employers worldwide are also struggling to fill critical roles, highlighting a significant skills gap.

According to the (ILO), global youth unemployment was 13% in 2023, with many young people facing limited prospects for stable and decent work. On the flip side, the (WEF) found that 44% of businesses report difficulties in finding talent with the right skills to fill jobs. This contrast reflects a deepening mismatch between the supply of young job seekers and the demand for skilled talent, which, if left unaddressed, will exacerbate both unemployment and the talent shortage.

To tackle this challenge, we must take a comprehensive, systems-based approach, focusing on five interconnected elements: economy, education, employability, equality, and the ecosystem. Together, these factors can help close the skills gap, reduce youth unemployment, and create pathways to decent work for all.

Economy: Growing Jobs and Funding

Economic growth remains a critical driver of job creation, but the quality and inclusivity of that growth matter. In many parts of the world, jobless growth has become a pressing concern, as economies expand without generating enough formal employment opportunities for young people. Youth unemployment continues to rise even in nations with positive GDP growth, indicating that inclusive economic policies and investment in key sectors are lacking (ILO, 2024).

Moreover, the alignment between economic growth and investment in education is critical. The highlights that national budgets for education often fall short of the recommended 4%-6% of GDP that UNESCO advocates. Without adequate financial support, education systems cannot provide the skills and competencies needed to prepare young people for modern job markets, leaving many young workers without the necessary tools to succeed.

Education: Providing the Foundation for Lifelong Learning

Education systems need to evolve to meet the changing demands of the workforce. The emphasizes the importance of embedding skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values into education systems to ensure that young people are prepared for lifelong learning. In particular, stackable credentials 鈥� modular qualifications that allow learners to build expertise over time 鈥� are becoming an essential component of successful education-to-employment transitions.

Despite the need for adaptable learning pathways, many education systems remain rigid and slow to adopt these models. However, countries that have embraced flexible learning, such as Germany with its robust vocational education and training (VET) programs, have been able to reduce youth unemployment significantly. The integration of industry-specialized learning and competency-based education is critical for preparing young people to thrive in an evolving workforce, particularly in sectors like technology and sustainability.

Employability: Training the Right Skills for Employment or Entrepreneurial Success

One of the most significant barriers to reducing youth unemployment is the skills mismatch 鈥� the gap between what young people learn and what employers need. The projects that 50% of employees will need reskilling by 2025 due to rapid technological advancements. Yet, traditional education systems are often not aligned with industry needs, leaving many young workers without the skills required for high-growth sectors.

Governments and businesses must collaborate to ensure that training programs are directly linked to market demand. Public-private partnerships, such as apprenticeship programs and industry-led training initiatives, can play a pivotal role in closing the skills gap. For example, in Switzerland, where education and training are tightly integrated with the labor market, youth unemployment is among the in the world. Building a system that continually adapts to changing workforce needs is essential for improving youth employability.

Recent trends show that many young people increasingly prefer entrepreneurship over traditional employment, driven by the desire for independence and the ability to create change. A 2019 study by Deloitte found that 76% of millennials view entrepreneurship as a key vehicle for driving social impact. However, research highlights the need for robust support systems to help these young entrepreneurs succeed. emphasizes that access to entrepreneurial education, mentorship, and skill development is critical for youth to thrive in their ventures.

Equality: Ensuring an Inclusive and Diverse Talent Pipeline

Any strategy to reduce youth unemployment must prioritize equality, ensuring that opportunities are equally accessible to all young people, regardless of their background, gender, or location. Despite advances in education, women and marginalized communities continue to face barriers to entry in high-growth industries, particularly in STEM fields. According to , only 35% of STEM graduates are women, highlighting the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Programs that specifically target underrepresented groups 鈥� such as mentorships and women-in-tech initiatives 鈥� can help diversify the talent pipeline. Furthermore, companies that emphasize inclusive hiring practices, gender parity, and equity in leadership are not only contributing to social justice but also benefiting from a more innovative and dynamic workforce. The is clear: promoting diversity is a strategic advantage in the modern economy.

Ecosystem: Aligning Stakeholders for Maximum Impact

A thriving job market requires more than just a functioning economy and well-prepared workers 鈥� it needs a cohesive ecosystem where governments, businesses, educational institutions, and civil society work together efficiently. The underscores the importance of synergy across the value chain, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned toward the goal of reducing unemployment and fostering decent work.

Successful models of ecosystem collaboration, like those seen in Singapore, offer valuable lessons for other nations. In these countries, the government plays a central role in orchestrating cooperation between educational institutions and industries to ensure that young people are being trained in fields that are projected to grow. Such synergies foster an environment where young people can transition smoothly from education to employment and where employers can easily find the talent they need.

As respective leaders, 51风流and UNICEF join forces to create innovative solutions to global skilling and workforce challenges with an aim to help young people transition to earning. Together, we鈥檙e generating inclusive opportunities for underserved young people worldwide, preparing them for decent work with the skills that employers need.

We expanded our partnership in 2022, with a three-year investment focused on impacting youth in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa through a new program that supports learning to earning pathways in growing digital and green economies. The program helps equip youth with the essential skills they need to flourish 鈥� wherever they may see their future. Further, it builds on UNICEF鈥檚 Generation Unlimited (GenU) signature program, Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a platform developed by young Africans to tackle labor market challenges and increase youth agency across the globe. By the end of the first year, 51风流and UNICEF鈥檚 GenU reached more than 600,000 youth, granting them access to foundational and digital skills opportunities that help young people unlock opportunities in the changing global economy.

One of the learn to earn pathways on YOMA is the 51风流Educate to Employ initiative designed by 51风流to help equip beneficiaries with essential competencies for the digital economy. The free initiative, implemented by the local non-profit UMUZI, focuses on developing skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values to help prepare candidates for employment. It also aims to assist employers in accessing diverse and certified talent, thereby accelerating digital transformation in each country through a skilled talent pipeline. More than 1,000 learners completed one or more foundational skills courses, while 165 learners completed over 400 hours of critical skills development training and achieved an 51风流certification for technology consultant beginners. Additionally, 100 learners have completed their intermediate training on the 51风流Learning site and are preparing for SAP-certified associate exams.

This multistakeholder approach underscores the power of partnership in addressing complex social challenges. By pooling expertise and resources, SAP, UNICEF鈥檚 GenU, and UMUZI are collectively ensuring that youth not only gain relevant skills but also access meaningful pathways to employment. These partnerships exemplify the collaborative frameworks needed to drive sustainable impact on a global scale. As digital and green economies continue to reshape the future of work, partnerships that unite private, public, and civil society actors will remain crucial in ensuring that marginalized youth are not left behind.

A Path Forward

The polycrisis we face today demands multidimensional solutions that address both the supply and demand sides of the labor market. By focusing on the interconnected elements of economy, education, employability, equality, and ecosystem, we can create a comprehensive strategy to reduce youth unemployment and foster decent work for all.

Policymakers, business leaders, and educators must come together to close the skills gap, promote inclusive growth, and build resilient labor markets. The challenges are great, but so are the opportunities. With coordinated effort and sustained investment, we can build a future where young people have the skills, opportunities, and support they need to thrive in the global economy.

For more information on how 51风流is helping the world run better and improving people鈥檚 lives all year round, visit .

It’s easy to pour funds into the next big idea, but without a robust ecosystem to support these innovations even the most groundbreaking social enterprises struggle to scale their impact. That’s why at 51风流we’re putting our money where others won’t 鈥� into unrestricted funding for organizations such as the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, Catalyst2030, or the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF). These organizations are the backbone of social innovation yet often operate on shoestring budgets and tight resources. It’s high time we all recognize that building ecosystems isn’t an overhead, but essential infrastructure.

Ecosystem development isn鈥檛 just another way of funding organizations. Think of it as creating interconnected pathways that enable social enterprises to thrive. Over the years, we’ve discovered three critical areas where focused efforts can make a transformative difference: integrating social enterprises into supply chains, fostering radical collaboration, and empowering social entrepreneurs worldwide, especially the next generation.

Integration into Supply Chains: A Game Changer and the Biggest Lever

Integrating social enterprises into mainstream supply chains is our biggest lever. Through 51风流Business Network, 51风流runs the world’s largest B2B marketplace, where more than US$5.3 trillion in annual commerce is transacted across 190 countries. If 51风流can help its customers shift a small percentage of that spending to impact business suppliers, we can create a significant financial investment in sustainable development.

As of November 2023, 51风流Business Network recognizes verified social enterprises, and in less than a year the number of verified social enterprises on 51风流Business Network has surged from 1,200 to over 4,400. Beyond the numbers, this growth is about creating real opportunities for businesses that prioritize social and environmental impact. By enabling these enterprises to identify themselves as potential sellers, we provide them with access to B2B opportunities, allowing them to scale their operations and increase their influence on global supply chains. In addition, we support a unified standard for social enterprises called the 鈥淧eople and Planet First Verification鈥� in partnership with the Social Enterprise World Forum, which reaches social enterprise suppliers in more than 120 countries.

Frankly, this is not an altruistic move, but fulfills the clich茅 of a win-win situation. We鈥檝e learned that by opening doors for impact-driven businesses to compete on a level playing field, we’re enriching the entire supply chain with innovation, sustainability, and social value. To help prepare markets for these kinds of trading relationships, we are hosting social procurement roundtables in multi-stakeholder settings and are also integrating social procurement into more customer-facing events and campaigns, helping to ensure our customers have the tools and resources to prioritize sustainability in their purchasing decisions.

Ultimately, when social enterprises succeed, we all win. Integrating them into supply chains transforms their businesses and ours, fundamentally changing the procurement system.

The Urgent Need for Radical Collaboration

Integrating social enterprises into supply chains is just one piece of the puzzle. Today, offerings to social enterprises are too fragmented. Non-profits, private sector initiatives, and governmental programs often operate in silos, duplicating efforts and diluting impact. Radical collaboration is something that鈥檚 needed on all ends.

That’s why, for example, we collaborate with Unilever, EY, and MovingWorlds to run the TRANSFORM Support Hub 鈥� an on-demand acceleration platform that provides personalized guidance, access to consultants, mentors, and coaches, and introductions to sales and partnership opportunities. We’re collecting and summarizing the offerings, breaking down barriers, and creating a location for unified support.

Just last year, 120 51风流employees completed 51 projects via the TRANSFORM Support Hub, providing pro-bono consulting to social enterprises and generating an in-kind contribution of $458,835. One of these employees was David Elliott, a senior user assistance developer who collaborated with Faces Up Uganda, a youth development NGO that uses arts and crafts education to help young people overcome psychosocial challenges and develop essential personal and professional skills. He leveraged his expertise to review the organization鈥檚 website and strategic plan, enhancing the communication of its vision, mission, and values, and wrote grant applications to help secure funding.

But collaboration must go beyond platforms. It requires a collective shift in mindset. It’s time we stop asking, “What new thing can I create?” and start asking “What can we achieve together?” and 鈥淲hat is already out there?”

To sum it up with a fact: 70.6% of young social entrepreneurs believe access to relevant global connections is critical to their work while 94.1% believe increasing collaboration with other organizations is important. So, corporations should start to open their networks and resources to connect industry experts with social entrepreneurs to foster the entire social innovation ecosystem.

Empowering the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs

While we are already talking about young social entrepreneurs, let鈥檚 not overlook them, as they are the future of this movement. They face unique barriers 鈥� limited access to funding, mentorship, and networks 鈥� that can stifle their potential before it even takes root.

We’re investing in programs that provide tailored support to young innovators. Through mentorship opportunities, capacity-building workshops, and access to our global networks, we’re leveling the playing field. Collaborations with organizations like Social Impact Award, We Are Family Foundation, and initiatives like Africa Forward can ensure that the next generation doesn’t just have a seat at the table, but is helping to set the agenda.

Let’s talk about Africa Forward, a critical step in our strategy to empower the next generation of African social entrepreneurs. Co-created by African members of Catalyst2030, this initiative is designed to advance progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and address the continent’s most pressing challenges through a partnership-driven approach.

This is about investing in long-term solutions by building a Pan-African data platform, promoting policy reform, and facilitating leadership training. Africa Forward is helping to create an ecosystem where social businesses can thrive. The goal is to enable a new wave of innovators, giving them the tools and opportunities they need to scale their impact. By focusing on capacity-building, youth training, and financial development, we’re laying a foundation for lasting change in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A Call to Action

So, after 14 years, what’s our biggest takeaway? Real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we invest in the connective tissue 鈥� the ecosystems 鈥� that empower social enterprises to scale and succeed. I鈥檓 challenging corporations, investors, and policymakers to rethink their approach. Don’t just fund the next shiny project; invest in the infrastructure that supports them all.

Why are so few willing to invest in ecosystem development? Perhaps it’s not as immediately gratifying as funding a new app or launching a big campaign to reach a big number of people. But if we truly want to tackle systemic issues 鈥� poverty, inequality, climate change 鈥� we need to dig deeper. We need to build the foundations that allow solutions to grow sustainably.

We鈥檇 like to invite you to join us. Let’s pool our resources, break down the silos, and build an ecosystem that accelerates social impact on a global scale. Together, we can transform not just businesses but entire industries.

So, here’s the question: Are you ready to invest where it counts? Are you ready to invest in social entrepreneurship ecosystems?

In our effort to align with the to build a 鈥減eaceful, sustainable, and promising future for all,鈥� we look to the following priorities to influence our decision-making and inspire others to take action in incorporating positive economic, social, and environmental impact into their end-to-end businesses.

1. The Benefits of Ecosystem Building

At the crux of gatherings like UNGA 79 and Climate Week is bringing the top minds and leaders in government, private, social, and academic sectors together to discuss collaborative solutions to pressing issues. Understanding the value of working together to create networks of resources enables sharing knowledge, funding, or diverse perspectives with each other to achieve your goals.

Multilateral partner ecosystems offer an opportunity to play to each other鈥檚 strengths. For example, 51风流is not the expert in creating social and environmental impact; that expertise resides within the social sector. However, 51风流understands the critical role technology can play in creating promising results in addressing issues like climate change and creating a more . At the same time, governments set the guidelines for policies that influence climate action. Each of us has a role to play and it is important to understand how we can best work together to deliver results and accelerate change.

When participating in conversations on key global issues, like climate change, remember that collaboration between government, private, and social sectors is paramount in catalyzing a positive shift in business to make progress on the .

2. The Importance of Education

Education is a fundamental human right and a key driver in economic development. Next to partnership, prioritizing education and skills development is necessary to remain resilient in a rapidly changing world and help bridge the digital divide in under-resourced communities. Yet, it is not often a topic of conversation at convenings like Climate Week.

Climate disasters disrupt the education of nearly and continues to increase. The skills gap is growing. More than half the workforce have jobs that do not match their education level or help citizens adapt to climate change and the green transition. Universal education has an impact on climate change. Financing education can significantly reduce carbon emissions, up to 51.48 gigatons by 2050 in low and lower-middle income countries. Young impact entrepreneurs known as also see climate action as one of the most important issues they face and use education as a tool 鈥淸鈥 for reducing inequalities and creating change.鈥�

During Climate Week conversations with partners like UNICEF鈥檚 , 51风流is hoping to collaborate across sectors and embrace innovative strategies to educate and foster a new generation of environmentally skilled workforces. By building cross-sector collaboration in areas like education, we gain access to new perspectives in social innovation and a wider talent pool as we work toward a more fair, sustainable world.

Advocating for education initiatives and partnerships within climate conversations is important. Education underpins the vitality of the broader business ecosystem, nurtures the next generation of talent, and creates a pathway to environmental progress.

3. The Opportunity of Intergenerational Leadership

When discussing ecosystem building and education, we cannot forget young voices. Young people are at the frontline of issues like climate change, but often fail to appear in key decision-making spaces. 51风流embraces the idea of intergenerational collaboration, bringing together diverse perspectives across the business. For example, , with support in part from SAP, conducted a in which 96% of respondents believed intergenerational collaboration holds significant value and can generate positive change when faced with global challenges.

Youth offer intersectional voices that hold a unique moral authority over issues like climate justice. In addition, they bring innovative and tech-driven approaches as digital natives in an everchanging world. When private, public, and social sector organizations tap into the potential of young experts, business and the world as a whole benefit.

With more than half the world under the age of 30, it鈥檚 imperative to ensure equitable representation of youth voices during the upcoming convenings, like and .

For more information on how 51风流is helping the world run better and improving people鈥檚 lives all year round, visit .

Selina Henn is a strategy and operations associate for Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

51风流is also committed to finding solutions to climate change and working across generations to make it happen. As the world鈥檚 largest provider of enterprise application software, 51风流plays a complementary role to organizations like UNICEF. With a unique ability to help the world鈥檚 largest companies achieve more across their value chains and drive sustainability at their core, there is enormous potential to use 51风流technology for good. Coupled with its , there is also a long-standing commitment to accelerate solutions by connecting corporate financial and nonfinancial resources with the .

Air pollution is a complicating factor of climate change. On , the world looks at this issue that is not locked within borders, making it difficult to address. It warms the global climate, exacerbating natural disasters and risking the health of millions of underserved people living in vulnerable areas.

In Mongolia, air pollution is particularly problematic as the country deals with rapid urbanization and a harsh climate. The country has a strong reliance on burning coal because it is inexpensive and readily available. Coal represents 90% of the energy used and is a huge economic export, creating jobs and wealth in a high-need country. Even though coal was banned in Mongolia鈥檚 capital city in 2019, coal use has led to enormous levels of smog and mounting for thousands of citizens. In a country known as the 鈥淟and of the Eternal Blue Sky,鈥� local youth like are not willing to accept this reality.

Enkhuun was just 17 when she co-founded , an organization leveraging data and technology as a differentiator in solving pollution. With family members affected, she had deeply personal reasons to create tangible action. She quickly understood the value of leveraging technology to scale solutions to the masses and built a centralized source of air quality data for Mongolian communities. 鈥淭hese are all tech-based tools that we use to reach more audiences and more people than we could otherwise,鈥� she said. Today, with information available in English and Mongolian, Breathe Mongolia has become a go-to source for air quality data in the region.

With on the horizon, taking place during the annual , 51风流will step forward to represent the value of working with young innovators like Enkhuun with GenU. GenU was founded in 2018 as part of UNICEF aiming to equip youth with the necessary skills and resources to participate in key conversations around pressing global issues.

When given the opportunity, youth bring an impressive passion for creating impact, coupled with a , that allows decision-makers to channel new solutions. Breathe Mongolia is one of the millions of impact organizations operating globally and putting people and planet first. 51风流wants to ensure its success and that of the more than operating globally, many led by young people. Together with leading youth social impact partners like , , and (WAFF), 51风流is hoping to close the opportunity gap and ensure that youth have the resources they need to innovate and fulfill their potential. This commitment for youth inclusion extends beyond Climate Week and UNGA. Throughout the year, 51风流and its leadership team lead by example, involving expert young leaders in the company鈥檚 innovation strategy and sustainability programs, opening doors that provide them with a seat at the table.

Whether you are attending Climate Week or participating virtually from home, every sector and individual has a role to play to combat issues like climate change. To better understand the challenges that youth face and the potential to incorporate youth voices in challenging projects, leverage The Possibilists on young changemakers and WAFF鈥檚 on intergenerational collaboration.

If you are a young climate innovator based in North America or Sub-Saharan Africa, we also encourage you to check out resource support through .

Selina Henn is a strategy and operations associate for Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

With the world in a state of polycrisis 鈥� a term describing the simultaneous occurrence of several catastrophic events such as conflict, poverty, unemployment, and climate change 鈥� social enterprises are more critical than ever. These organizations, like Faces Up Uganda, Elli Cares, Key Farmers Cameroon, and Alexa Goodman Consulting, are a powerful force for change, and although it may seem like a recent trend, that social enterprises have been around for over 600 years.

However, despite their growing impact, . Limited access to financing, lack of public awareness and recognition, lack of government support, inadequate legal or fiscal frameworks, and restricted access to procurement processes can all hinder their ability to thrive.

At SAP, we actively support social enterprises through our comprehensive corporate social responsibility strategy, which includes knowledge and skills transfer from employees and social procurement. Through this strategy, we facilitate pro bono consulting, mentorships, and coaching opportunities to help support social enterprises to scale their businesses, as well as connect them with new B2B markets like 51风流Business Network. This approach can empower social enterprises to overcome business challenges, scale their impact, and achieve their ever-important missions.

Pro Bono Consulting: A Win-Win for Social Enterprises and 51风流Employees

Building on more than a decade of experience executing pro bono consulting programs, 51风流introduced a new way for more employees to share their expertise and experience with social enterprises through the initiative. The initiative is hosted on the TRANSFORM Support Hub, a global platform launched in partnership with MovingWorlds, Unilever, and the TRANSFORM program as a resource for social enterprises to access free, ongoing, bespoke support to scale their business.

Last year alone, 120 51风流employees leveraged their expertise on the platform, completing 51 projects and generating an in-kind contribution of $458,835. This initiative can not only offer growth for the social enterprises but can also foster 51风流employees鈥� development through valuable experiential learning.

Employees Creating Change and Being Changed

51风流employees tap into skills from their day-to-day role and harness this expertise to create a solution to a real business challenge their social enterprise client is experiencing. Through this collaboration, employees contribute to the social enterprise鈥檚 mission while given the opportunity to flex and grow valuable leadership skills like cross-cultural collaboration, active listening, and a greater understanding of the challenges that small businesses face. To bring that to life, here are a few inspiring stories from employee participants of Acceleration Collective:

Collaborating with a Youth Art Education Organization on Its Strategic and Funding Plans

David Elliott, a senior user assistance developer at SAP, collaborated with , a youth development NGO supporting young people from vulnerable backgrounds. The organization uses arts and crafts education to help young people overcome psychosocial challenges and develop essential personal and professional skills.

Elliott reviewed the organization鈥檚 website and strategic plan, enhancing the communication of its vision, mission, and values, and wrote grant applications to help secure funding. His work included regular meetings with the organization鈥檚 founder, Ssekitto Kalule Emmanuel, who praised Elliott for making 鈥渆very word count鈥� and inspiring the team.

鈥淢y experience with Faces Up revealed the potential of my skill set,鈥� Elliott added. 鈥淐larifying grammatical rules and style taught me about the impact of language in specific contexts, which has influenced my role at SAP. Seeing my work’s impact and receiving gratitude has motivated me to donate many hours to these projects.”

Partnering for Growing an App Supporting Independence for People Living with Dementia

A team of 51风流employees from across the Asia, Pacific, and Japan (APJ) region 鈥� Binh Pham, senior value advisor; Sandra Chang, senior commercial business partner; and Summer Zeng, delivery manager, Product Engineering 鈥� worked alongside , a startup focused on supporting people with cognitive impairments. The team brainstormed with the founder, offering insights and recommendations on scaling and growing to take the business to the next level.

Pham found the experience fun, insightful, and humbling, as the team learned the challenges that startups like Elli Cares face and provided recommendations and solutions. 鈥淚 was pleasantly surprised that my skill sets from my day-to-day job were transferrable and applicable to the case of this organization,鈥� Pham said.

Enhancing the Funding Strategy for an Organization Empowering Rural Agricultural Communities

A Germany-based pro bono team 鈥� Fabio Westphal, solution advisor; Cansu G眉nay, enterprise customer success partner; Charlie Vu, specialist solution advisor; and Lilly Selzer, customer success partner 鈥� focused on strengthening investor and donor outreach. This enterprise empowers rural communities through sustainable agriculture and vocational training. The 51风流team refined the organization鈥檚 pitch deck and social media presence, enhancing its chances of securing funding. Westphal highlighted that he learned the importance of clear, trustful communication and concise storytelling in conveying complex ideas.

Scaling the Online Presence of a Consulting Firm Dedicated to Addressing Environmental Challenges with Creative Scientific Communication

Jaime Atilano, digital solution advisor, and Mallory Rioux, Customer Success, used their expertise in technology, brand building, and customer success to assist . Founded by scientist and environmental activist Alexa Goodman, the firm offers services in environmental education, science communication, professional development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and team building.

The 51风流team optimized the organization’s website SEO to drive traffic and grow its online presence. 鈥淭his experience was eye-opening. It鈥檚 one thing to learn about moving from empathy to action, but this opportunity allowed empathy to thrive,鈥� Atilano shared. 鈥淚 learned new skills, collaborated with a great team, and supported an entrepreneur working to save our oceans and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. It brought 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility to life and confirmed that there is good in this world, and we can be part of it.鈥�

Looking Ahead

The challenges we face in today鈥檚 world may be vast, but the potential for change that is created when social enterprises and professionals come together is even greater. As we move toward solutions, social enterprises have emerged as a springboard to a more just and sustainable future. Through collaboration and the power of collective action, we can further enable these changemakers to create innovative solutions to some of the world鈥檚 biggest challenges, all while bolstering the skills and expanding the perspectives of our own employees.

Are you inspired to utilize your skills for good and join the pro bono consulting movement? 51风流employees and alumni can find more information through the , and professionals from other organizations as well as social enterprises can learn more through .

Hemang Desai is global program director of the Pro Bono Consulting Portfolio for Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

In a new 2024 global study on the power of intergenerational collaboration published by (WAFF) in partnership with The Possibilists and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, 87% of respondents cited believe youth have ideas and solutions that can improve or solve global issues. Yet, only 19% agree that youth are currently given enough opportunities to lead and contribute. We need young people to help rethink, reshape, challenge, and collaborate alongside today鈥檚 decision-makers as we solve the world’s unprecedented problems.

No single generation has all the answers. 51风流embraces this methodology of intergenerational collaboration, bringing dynamic perspectives together across its business in hopes that young experts can work alongside today鈥檚 leaders to shape the future of both business and our world. As evidenced by , here are some additional insights as to why this strategy is one you should consider too.

Youth Are Digital Natives in a Tech-Driven Era

Technology can help address the most profound environmental, economic, and social challenges of our time. Software and analytics can help predict and prevent disasters, make cities smarter, and foster equity in workplaces. In this era of rapid technological evolution, leaders of all generations have valuable perspective and expertise to augment the power of technology as well.

WAFF鈥檚 global study reminds us that Gen Z are digital natives who grew up online and 鈥渉ave adapted to learn, grow, and build skills in an entirely new and accelerated ways.鈥� The study goes on to remind leaders that by investing in young people now, global leaders and corporations alike can sooner harness their technological expertise and unique lived experiences.

SAP, for example, is curating partnerships and opportunities that invest in the expertise of young social entrepreneurs, like 19-year-old Sneha Revanur, CEO and founder of and one of Time鈥檚 100 Most Influential People in AI 2023. At World Economic Forum鈥檚 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this January, Revanur sat alongside Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE Juergen Mueller, hosting a powerful conversation on the future of AI and the opportunity to bring youth to the table. 鈥淚n spaces rife with credentialism, young people can offer perspectives that are rooted in lived experience,鈥� Revanur shares.

Mueller affirms this approach: 鈥淚 strongly believe in the power of intergenerational leadership 鈥� involving young talents in decision-making processes helps to bring the best in innovation to market. For instance, I have an early talent board in my organization who I regularly exchange with and get valuable guidance from. I also had the opportunity to meet with several young changemakers at events like the World Economic Forum in the last years and could learn a lot from them. Giving young leaders a seat at the table brings the right connections, mindsets, and energy together to create innovative and responsible solutions.鈥�

Youth Demand Accountability

The tech industry and young people are united by a common cause: ensuring responsible data use and harnessing its power for good. Data allows us to generate accurate and actionable insights to transform the way the world works. When companies and governments have access to data-driven information, they can use those insights to achieve their vision 鈥� be it to clean the ocean, transform industries, or redefine the future of work. Effective solutions and responsible technology require collaboration, however. Data provides a foundation, but real change occurs when the public, private, and social sectors work together to create solutions.

This collaborative spirit echoes the work of Revanur and Encode Justice to leverage the power of data to shape the future. Encode Justice launched an intergenerational and multisector . 鈥淩ecent breakthroughs are transforming social, political, and economic realities, but they have not come without unanticipated risks鈥s AI grows more and more capable, harms will only proliferate. Our shared future is more precarious now than ever before. It is young people who have the most to gain 鈥� and the most to lose,鈥� Encode Justice鈥檚 website reads.

Finding the Tipping Point

SAP鈥檚 Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Alexandra van der Ploeg points out that 51风流has been working alongside organizations like We Are Family Foundation and The Possibilists to unlock and scale the power of young social innovators for nearly a decade. 鈥淭ransformative change takes ages, but this is not something that we can afford to take ages on. 2030 is around the corner. We must identify the levers and find the tipping point as a community to move from data and evidence to solutions that work for the world,鈥� van der Ploeg acknowledges.

Leveraging the is a great place to start when considering how to create a more sustainable future. It offers case studies and recommendations for meaningful intergenerational collaboration that any organization can act on, including co-creating projects alongside young experts.

鈥淎 new generation of young leaders has emerged 鈥� well-informed, resolutely committed, and emboldened by the challenges they face firsthand,鈥� says Annie Greene, director of Programs at We Are Family Foundation. 鈥淏y investing in these young leaders today, we benefit from their unique insights and extend their runway to help us solve our most pressing problems.鈥�

To advance solutions for humanity, we must change the dynamics in rooms of power. Given the opportunity to collaborate with the leaders of tomorrow on today’s challenges, why wouldn鈥檛 we?

Jennifer Beason is global director for Impact Entrepreneurship at SAP.

The initiative aims to activate procurement spend as a means to support Ukrainian suppliers in rebuilding their businesses. Beyond sourcing for quality goods and services, 51风流has a focus on integrating ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles into decision-making as is standard with its procurement policy.

It highlights SAP’s commitment not only to sourcing products from Ukraine, but also to promoting social change.

Built-In Sustainability 

In implementing the initiative to attract more suppliers from Ukraine, 51风流initially focused on the IT sector and conducted a rigorous selection process. So far, suppliers, including industry leaders like Softserve, Unicsoft, and Luxoft, have been selected. SAP’s commitment extends beyond services to include product areas, where notable Ukrainian companies producing innovative environmentally sustainable products have been discovered.

At 51风流Spend Connect Live in Vienna, Austria, held in October 2023, Ukrainian manufacturers Rekava, Mol鈥檉ar Tea, and Releaf Paper showcased their sustainable and innovative products. Rekava, for example, specializes in producing biodegradable candles made from recycled coffee grounds, while Mol’far focuses on minimalism and ethical environmental practices in tea production. Releaf Paper is the world’s first manufacturer of paper made from fallen leaves, promoting sustainable products such as paper bags. By supporting these unique Ukrainian companies, 51风流is not only contributing to the economic reconstruction of the country, but also sustainability efforts.

One of SAP’s tier one suppliers, ABC Premium, has taken an important step by offering Rekava candles within its purchasing catalog, available to 51风流employees on the 51风流Ariba Buying solution.

Strong Alliances for Reconstruction

At the outset of the project, the NGO Impact Ukraine helped 51风流connect with Ukrainian suppliers. It focuses on microfinance, procurement, and recruitment from Ukraine. The collaboration is facilitated by the voluntary engagement of professionals from the technology, healthcare, and finance sectors. With Impact Ukraine鈥檚 support, 51风流and other organizations can further advance their goals regarding procurement from Ukraine.

SAP鈥檚 commitment to promoting innovation, sustainability, and economic growth through partnerships with Ukrainian companies not only fulfills its aspirations for procurement with purpose, but also contributes to making the world a better place.

Helping the World Run Better 

The 鈥淪ource from Ukraine鈥� initiative builds on global efforts to integrate social enterprises and diverse suppliers into 51风流purchasing opportunities. Beyond SAP鈥檚 own internal purchasing efforts, the 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility (51风流CSR) team is also investing in social and sustainable procurement ecosystems alongside public, private, and social sector partners like the European Commission, Deloitte, World Economic Forum鈥檚 Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, and Social Enterprise World Forum鈥檚 People and Planet First verification.

Consider that US$5.3 trillion in annual commerce is transacted on . If we can help create a small shift in procurement spend to organizations prioritizing people and planet like Releaf Paper, we could collectively increase investment in sustainable development in a way that is not possible through corporate philanthropy alone. To join our efforts, please e-mail: csr-global@sap.com.

Elena Parker is chief revenue officer for Intelligent Spend and Business Network, MEE, at SAP.

It makes me proud to think about the 676 51风流colleagues who, in 2023, participated in our pro bono consulting programs, offering their expertise to these visionary social entrepreneurs. As in previous years, this collaboration has proven mutually beneficial, with 74% of our employees reporting a positive, lasting impact on their careers. Furthermore, 96% of the supported organizations and 77% of their beneficiaries have seen significant improvements. These numbers speak volumes about the shared value of our engagement.

But the 2023 SEWF wasn’t just a personal highlight; it marked the beginning of another significant milestone. We announced our investment in the Social Enterprise People and Planet First Verification with Good Market and SEWF. This initiative aims to set a global standard for recognizing organizations prioritizing social and environmental impacts. Social enterprises can now also identify themselves on 51风流Business Network, the world’s largest B2B commerce platform. This breakthrough can make it easier for these businesses to explore new business-to-business opportunities while also helping 51风流customers achieve their goals of being more environmentally and socially responsible. Saying it鈥檚 a win-win situation is a bit clich茅, but in this case it鈥檚 actually true.

Working with SEWF shows how much we believe in working together and driving towards collective impact. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we can’t do this by ourselves. Working with others is the key to driving the kind of systemic change our world needs. This idea is a big part of what we stand for at SAP, and is at the heart of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.

This idea of working together really comes to life in our collaboration with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited. In 2023 鈥� the fourth year of our partnership 鈥� we set out to make a real difference by not just developing the skills of young people but also finding jobs in the 51风流ecosystem. Launching the 51风流Educate to Employ program is a big step in that direction. Helping 25 young people get jobs with 51风流in each of our pilot countries 鈥� Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines 鈥� might not sound like a lot, but it’s a huge deal for each of those young people. For them, it’s a gateway to a sustainable livelihood, offering them not just gainful employment but a chance to build a career, achieve financial stability, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the broader world. It’s about unlocking their potential and enabling them to participate in the digital and green economy. By the end of the year, we saw amazing results. While more than 2,500 had already passed the aptitude test, over 1,000 young people in Africa finished our “Boost Your Career with 51风流Skills” course and more than 500 got through the first big part of their training.

But, what’s a year recap without some high-level numbers? Let’s dive into some impressive numbers from 2023. More than 20,000 of our 51风流colleagues volunteered over 140,000 hours. Our initiatives reached over 2.8 million young people 鈥� almost half girls 鈥� and supported over 41,000 teachers. Our partner network reached 1 billion people in over 140 countries. These stats are just the tip of the iceberg, showing our big reach and impact together with our partners.

Building on this, our signature partnerships with Africa Code Week, Meet and Code, and Latin Code Week have always been at the heart of our achievements. As we handed over these initiatives in 2023, we took a moment to reflect and evaluate Africa Code Week and Latin Code Week outcomes more deeply. For instance, by empowering 14.6 million participants with the education, knowledge, and ICT skills needed to participate in the digital future, Africa Code Week has increased the likelihood that beneficiaries will realize higher earnings during their working lives. Common Good Marketplace estimates that Africa Code Week catalyzed up to US$1 billion in social value for program participants between 2015 and 2022 based on future increased income.

As we close the chapter on 2023 and look ahead, the journey we’ve embarked upon at 51风流CSR is a testament to the power of collective action and shared vision. The stories, numbers, and outcomes shared in our eBook reflect our commitment to making a meaningful difference.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Your passion, dedication, and commitment are what drive us forward.

Alexandra van der Ploeg is global head of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

Let’s turn the spotlight to discover how this crisis can create new opportunities for companies and individuals. Here, Gitte Winther Bruhn, global head of Social Responsibility Solutions at SAP, Alexandra van der Ploeg, global head of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP, and Robert Richardson, HR tech strategy advisor, discuss the importance of . This transition will help us protect our planet, our environment, and the “safe space for humanity” 鈥� our society, our friends, and our families 鈥� for the next generations to come.

Q: 鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�媁hen we hear about the consequences of climate change, the social implications still don鈥檛 seem to surface in conversations as much 鈥� and certainly not as an opportunity. Can you offer some insight into what鈥檚 below the surface and why there is an important opportunity we should push above the horizon?

鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�媁inther Bruhn: When discussing climate change, we mainly address carbon emissions, not the impact on humans. We have an opportunity to address human inequality alongside climate actions through an inclusive green economy. Human talent will be crucial for the transition, as a greener economy requires new, green skills 鈥� both for emerging jobs and for existing jobs that are evolving. The green and critical transition will be impossible without a suitably trained workforce. forecast that by 2030 the global human talent shortage will be more than 85 million people, or roughly the same as the entire population of Germany. And 85% of these jobs have not even been invented yet. Demand for talent is outpacing supply and will impact society and businesses. This is a challenge, but it provides us with an unprecedented possibility of job creation.

For example, making a carbon neutrality commitment requires significant changes to business operations. Companies must measure emissions, create action plans, execute change, measure performance, report results, and iterate. We need to reimagine training and reskilling for the global workforce. To understand how green skills are applied in jobs, pinpoint where gaps arise and what actions we can take to bridge them. An inclusive green transition could in the next decade but requires significant investments in reskilling.

Green skills are the building blocks of the green transition to unlock the human capital that will power it 鈥� in a just way that leaves no one behind. For example, the transition to a green economy remains the best hope for . It would create new jobs and bring more investment to Africa in the long term for the continent’s sustainable development. This is crucial for Africa with approximately 70% of the population below the age of 30 and new entrants joining the workforce every year. UNEP estimates that expanding solar and wind capacity in Senegal will create up to 30,000 additional jobs by 2035.

鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�媁e see three key players in this transition: government, employers, and individuals. What are the biggest challenges and tasks for employers in this transition?

鈥嬧赌嬧赌嬧赌嬧赌嬧赌嬧赌婻颈肠丑补谤诲蝉辞苍: It鈥檚 great to see the thousands of companies making carbon neutrality commitments. Most companies don鈥檛 yet have the requisite knowledge and skills to achieve their commitments though. , such as specialized data analysis focused on emissions and energy use, specialized hardware expertise focused on installing energy-monitoring modules, communicating and marketing with an understanding of how sustainability messaging is perceived in specific markets, and so on.

Three important focus areas for companies are:

• Good job design: Jobs should be designed with the right requirements in mind. Some roles will require deep sustainability specialization, but most will simply require some sustainable competencies to ensure the whole company is rowing in the same direction. Data scientists don鈥檛 necessarily need a sustainability degree. Product sourcing specialists don鈥檛 need five years of experience in a social responsibility department to purchase less carbon-intensive products and services. Good job design can reflect these requirements to encourage upskilling, attract talent, and allow for the assessment of candidate fit.
• Attracting talent: Attracting talent goes beyond publishing jobs. Candidates regularly review a company鈥檚 sustainability commitments when considering where to work. CHROs and talent acquisition leaders who ensure their recruiting brand brings sustainability messaging front and center will disproportionately win over these candidates. People want more than a check; they want to make a difference. But candidates are skeptical of greenwashing. So, prove it by engaging in good job design and touting sustainable commitments and achievements.
• Developing talent: Just as companies can conduct a job design audit of skills required to achieve sustainability goals, they can also audit their people skills. Knowing the skills you require 鈥� job design 鈥� and the skills you have 鈥� people skills 鈥� elucidates the gap an organization needs to fill to accomplish its objectives. Candidly, this can be daunting without sophisticated software and machine learning capabilities required to streamline the process. But it鈥檚 worth it. Knowing your skills gap is key to delivering effective, personalized upskilling and reskilling programs. Individualized learning, goals management, and performance management drive employee engagement, retention, and achievement of sustainability objectives.

Currently, green job growth is outpacing the labor market鈥檚 ability to keep up. Organizations focused on thoughtful job design, recruiting marketing, and personalized, data-driven talent development will have the best chance of achieving their sustainability goals.

鈥嬧�嬧�婲ow that we have talked about the employers鈥� opportunities and duties in their own company and operations, what is the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this?

van der Ploeg: In most companies, corporate social responsibility teams are responsible for overseeing and implementing a company’s social and environmental initiatives and, therefore, play an important role in supporting the green transition and addressing the skills gap and shortage challenge. The CSR strategy should acknowledge the interconnections of societal, environmental, and business challenges alike. So, CSR teams can set the stage for their own company and partner with others to reach joint sustainability goals. 51风流has already successfully done this by integrating social responsibility into its sustainability framework.

A company will not only be impacted by the talent shortage in its operations but also in its partner network. It鈥檚 relevant for all stakeholders in the economy and it鈥檚 evident that the talent crunch is driven by a shortage of skills, not people. Plenty of people are willing to learn. That鈥檚 why, in their own interest, corporations should bring all of their assets to support the provision of quality education. CSR teams and their networks have the expertise to run such strategic programs. Last year, for example, , focusing on employability. This year, 51风流and Generation Unlimited will pilot a program to support 鈥榣earning to earning鈥� pathways for underserved young people in the digital and green economy. They鈥檒l learn the hard and soft skills needed to become employable.

The consequences of climate change and other global developments such as the COVID-19 pandemic, often affect the world’s poorest. Any detrimental impact on economic or ecological systems will damage the social systems and disproportionately affect generally marginalized communities. That鈥檚 why our pilot focuses on marginalized youth in Nigeria, the Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa 鈥� with the goal of reaching more than 500,000 young people in the first year. They will get foundational knowledge and 51风流skills to open a pathway to a successful career in the 51风流ecosystem, along with on-the-job experience, coaching, and mentorship to help them launch their careers. This truly will be a win for the program, as 51风流will see skilled young people in the ecosystem helping our partners and customers in their digital transformations and on their path to achieving their sustainability goals while providing the young talents better possibilities to have a career, earn a living wage, and live a decent life.

鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�媁hat responsibilities and opportunities do you see for governments in this transformation?

鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�媁inther Bruhn: The transition is a unique opportunity to mature functional labor markets with sophisticated, educational, and inclusive social protection systems and a future-proof workforce. Today, many commitments to international agreements are made without reference to the implications on labor markets and skills and training needs. to link employment to action to address climate change and provide a significant driver for green job creation. To succeed, good coordination of policies and actions across government ministries and the private sector, including employers and workers, is needed to prevent and reduce skills mismatches.

I want to briefly mention one last key player, ourselves. Our actions do matter, as they collectively can lead to political change. We all need to embrace the change and the opportunities that come with the transition to a greener economy. We need to make choices on home heating systems, how cars should run, and reflect on our diet to avoid high-emission foods. We need to be proactive, take ownership of our own skill set, and embrace career flexibility. We need to internalize a mindset of lifelong learning.

To conclude, it is essential for all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and workers, to collaborate on a new social contract and ensure we move forward together 鈥� toward a future that works for everyone.

Simone Maienfisch is part of New Business & Industry Strategy at SAP.

In 2022, 51风流launched EmpowerU, a signature talent program across the 51风流Product Engineering Board area. Its purpose was to widen the participants鈥� aperture, foster relationships, and break down silos while building, engaging, and retaining a diverse, sustainable leadership and expert pipeline across the organization. Working towards this purpose, the program鈥檚 organizers, Kevin Welty and John Millea of the 51风流Intelligent Spend and Business Network People & Culture team, worked closely with 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility (51风流CSR) to try something new. Together, they devised a unique initiative, embracing the power of pro bono consulting to develop the next generation of 51风流engineering leaders and to expedite world-changing solutions in the process.

This program helps connect employees and social enterprise clients across the world through the , a global pro bono consulting platform powered by social enterprise MovingWorlds. Pro bono consulting offers an opportunity for EmpowerU participants to grow as leaders by leveraging their technical skills for good. Four small teams of employees with diverse skill sets ranging from engineering to project management were paired with clients in need of technical support to solve strategic business challenges. Each team offered their dedicated time and expertise over the course of three months to deliver quality solutions. In the end, these teams had the unique opportunity to use their skills to support , , , and more.

Welty believes this hands-on, thoughtful approach to leadership skill-building is paramount. 鈥淟eadership is taking responsibility for how you show up in the world and the impact that it has,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hinking about how you make a difference in the world and how you impact others is what I think of as leadership. It doesn鈥檛 have anything to do with your job title or your experience.鈥� One powerful outcome of connecting EmpowerU with the is that it gives participants the opportunity to explore how they are showing up at work, in their personal life, and for the world.

Through this experience, participants are exemplifying the leadership qualities that the EmpowerU program aims to highlight in unique ways. 鈥淭hat was probably my big takeaway,鈥� shared Chris Roethler, who supported , a refugee aid platform, during the 2022 EmpowerU cohort. 鈥淚 have knowledge to share that is beneficial outside of my daily work. I have also grown a network of people who I otherwise would not have had the chance to work with. My strengths can have a powerful impact in the world and my career.鈥�

Beyond enabling the entrepreneurs to scale their work and impact, cohort participants are integrating innovative thinking sparked by their experiences working with their social enterprise clients into their roles at SAP. Through collaboration on these projects, employees are building networks across the company as well as with enterprises that are changing the way business works. They are becoming champions for sustainability, social impact, and personal fulfillment through purpose-focused work.

While connection is important, consistency is what truly creates change. Piloting technical pro bono consulting through EmpowerU has led to a multi-year, multi-program partnership between 51风流Product Engineering and 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility. In fact, the Intelligent Spent and Business Network line of business alone is more than doubling the number of employees and social enterprises participating in its initiatives in 2023.

The resulting impact for social enterprises is tangible, especially in the tech space. Social Entrepreneur, Founder of , and Technical Consultant for the EmpowerU program Angela Busheska noted, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have the same resources that a team at 51风流might have when working on a solution. Often entrepreneurs like me are working multiple jobs, going to school, and doing this work for free because we believe in what we do. When pro bono consultants understand the problems we face and help us prioritize solutions, that is extremely valuable.鈥�

Programs like EmpowerU are just the beginning of experiential learning and leadership development for 51风流Product Engineering. Every team at 51风流鈥� in every corporation even 鈥� can create a more connected, collaborative, and sustainable world through pro bono consulting. What started out as a curious pursuit to develop employees has turned into an opportunity to invest in sustainable development, social impact, and personal growth. By empowering employees to harness their skills for good, we are building capacity for innovative social enterprises around the world.

Join Us

With a engaging employees, SAP, together with EY, MovingWorlds, TRANSFORM, and Unilever, continue to work on the TRANSFORM Support Hub, connecting employees everywhere to social entrepreneurs anywhere through pro bono consulting, coaching, and more. If you feel inspired to build a more sustainable world, we invite you to .

Developed for SAP鈥檚 entire global ecosystem of staff, customers, and partners that played their part in helping the world run better, the theme couldn鈥檛 be more fitting as 51风流CSR announces that a staggering 5 million lives have been impacted throughout 2022, thanks to more than 20,000 51风流employees who spent 117,000 hours volunteering.

The third edition of our eBook brings 12 months of purpose-led work to our digital fingertips. It showcases flagship 51风流CSR initiatives, fruitful partnerships, and personal success stories from around the globe. For instance, you can read about our three-year partnership with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited (GenU) that enabled more than 7.6 million youth in India, T眉rkiye, and Vietnam to access critical digital and life skills training 鈥� significantly more than the original goal of 1.5 million.

鈥淚t鈥檚 evident that our massive strides are turning the company鈥檚 vision into reality,鈥� says Christian Klein, CEO and member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE.

鈥淎n imperative and strategic component for strengthening the business, 51风流CSR set clear 2022 priorities and directed attention under the three focus areas: accelerate social business, build future skills, and collaborate for sustainability. The third edition 51风流CSR eBook demonstrates that, together, we really can change the way the world operates and create a better environment for people and planet,鈥� adds Alexandra van der Ploeg, global head of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The key education initiatives featured in the eBook include SAP鈥檚 commitment to continuing its partnership with UNICEF from GenU. Based on the achievements of the past three years, 51风流will support GenU and the (Yoma), an online learning platform, to enable young people to find jobs in the digital and green economy. This will also include piloting a new program called 51风流Educate to Employ. The program supports 鈥榣earning-to-earning鈥� pathways in the digital and green economy for young people deprived of access to the skills they need. These youth can gain on-the-job experience and critical future-oriented skills while also benefiting from coaching and mentorship to help them launch their careers in the 51风流customer and partner ecosystem.

To accelerate social business, we launched the in partnership with Unilever and MovingWorlds, a global, one-stop, online shop for non-financial, free business support for social enterprises worldwide. Through the hub, these organizations can gain access to pro bono consultants, mentors, and coaches, personalized guidance, introductions to sales and partnership opportunities, and connections to potential funding prospects.

In 2022, we also worked with external partners to validate our intended social impact and business value for our pro bono consulting offering. In the last decade of our , more than 1,400 51风流employees provided business know-how to over 450 social enterprises. In addition to proven social impact for social enterprises, the program also created significant business value for SAP by contributing to our employees鈥� professional and personal growth, as well as their leadership development.

Following their participation, the majority of employees, social enterprises, and their beneficiaries reported a positive impact:

• 74% of the employees experienced a positive long-term career impact
• 96% of social enterprises enjoyed a positive long-term impact
• 77% of beneficiaries of social enterprises saw improvements in their quality of life

Van der Ploeg explains that SAP鈥檚 evolved CSR strategy powers equitable access to economic opportunity, education and employment, and the green and circular economy: 鈥淲e are continually striving to drive tangible and transformative social impact. Our work over the years has helped us to achieve a leading software industry score for Corporate Citizenship in the most recent听Dow Jones Sustainability Index.鈥�

鈥淟ooking ahead, with sustainability at the core of everything we do, 51风流CSR is well equipped for the future. In 2023, we will focus on driving social impact through radical collaboration in our multi-stakeholder partnerships and expanding our portfolio of pro bono consulting opportunities for our employees to support social enterprises to run at their best,鈥� she concludes.

. For further information about 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility, visit .

Maximilian Herrmann is part of Social Impact Measurement & Operations for Corporate Social Responsibility听at SAP.

With an understanding of this and as a testament to two of 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility鈥檚 focus areas 鈥� collaborate for sustainability and accelerate social business 鈥� 51风流launched a new program in partnership with the global nonprofit organization (CXC). ChangemakerXchange is an international community that connects more than 1,000 members in 130 countries around the world, providing safe, supportive, fun, and empowering spaces so that changemakers may create, sustain, and scale positive change.

CXC identifies a changemaker as a dedicated social entrepreneur, innovator, or activist, typically between the ages of 16 and 30. On a base level, CXC aims to create a community of supportive peers for the exchange of knowledge, tools, and resources to help prevent burnout and increase changemakers鈥� personal sustainability as they tackle the most pressing issues facing our planet. ChangemakerXchange primarily does this through hosting five-day summits that foster lasting connections, nurture well-being, and enable peer learning and meaningful connections.

51风流supported a North America-focused summit last month. Twenty women and gender-diverse climate changemakers participated in the Gender and Climate Action Summit in upstate New York to connect with one another and dive into sessions focused on human connection, well-being, peer learning, and collaboration. Nick McGirl, one of the co-founders of ChangemakerXchange, worked alongside 51风流CSR to curate this cohort of participants. He reinforced the significance of these customized meetups: 鈥淕ender inequality and the planetary crisis are deeply interwoven. Women and girls experience the greatest impact of climate change, which then amplifies existing gender injustices, even within the social entrepreneurship sector. SAP’s support has enabled us to connect and support some of the most promising women climate action changemakers from North America and Canada.鈥�

The changemakers spent nearly a week connecting with one another to share the various challenges and successes they鈥檝e had while developing their social businesses. study conducted in 2021 by an alliance of 16 of the world鈥檚 leading youth social innovation networks showed that 66% of young changemakers cannot cover their financial needs solely through the work from their initiative, meaning they have to look elsewhere for financial compensation and security. The sentiment that young changemakers are sacrificing their personal finances and well-being to make a change in the world was reinforced among participants at the North American summit. The participants also echoed that their greatest needs included access to funding, networking, and collaboration, highlighting the need for the ChangemakerXchange community. I had the privilege of attending this summit to witness firsthand the power of collective action and meet some of the young women leading the charge to leave a better planet than the one they inherited.

is a leader at , which seeks to empower educators as changemakers who transform and inspire students to create a more sustainable world by providing systems thinking training and tools. She described the most impactful part of the summit as the 鈥渙pportunity to reflect on my 鈥榳hy鈥� for this work, in both formal and informal spaces鈥earing our concurrent journeys to how we got to where we are and what we鈥檙e passionate about is really inspiring and grounding.”

Mikellena Nettos of highlighted the importance of 鈥渕eeting like-minded women that are doing their best to take on climate action on all scales, learning, and growing with them.鈥� Georgia Scott is the co-founder and co-executive director of , which bridges the gap between intersectional environmentalism and sustainable action through international fellowships and educational platforms. She also found tremendous value in connecting with other like-minded changemakers, both professionally and personally.

In sessions such as Changemaking River and Open Space Technology, participants and facilitators led conversations around topics ranging from fundraising to environmental racism, boundaries and mental health, and leadership. The final day included a Truth Mandela, where participants were able to share their fears and the anger they have related to the climate crisis, as well as the passion and hopes they have to create positive change. 鈥淚 felt so empowered to be surrounded by many other young women in the climate and biodiversity space鈥 loved the raw and real emotion and supportive community we built through the Truth Mandela,鈥� one participant conveyed.

Having experienced the summit in person, I can attest to the importance of such a collaborative, unique space. It is easy to feel overwhelmed as an individual when you consider the mounting challenges facing our climate, our communities, and subsequently our families. It is easy to feel like your actions alone will not make a significant difference. Above all, it can be easy to lose hope. The young women I met in New York inspired a newfound confidence in the promise of our planet鈥檚 future. Most of their organizations focus on galvanizing their peers to increase awareness and prioritize sustainable practices. There is a growing movement with promising leaders at the forefront that gives me optimism regarding climate action.

I walked away from the summit with an appreciation for the framework that organizations like ChangemakerXchange provide to guide activists on their changemaking paths. This summit was the first of its kind in North America and 51风流is excited to grow this partnership globally in 2023 and beyond 鈥� helping to remove some of the obstacles that our brightest, young changemakers face on their journeys to do good on a local and global scale. We look forward to offering employee engagement opportunities as part of these summits for those interested in getting involved.

Logan Applewhite is part of North America Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

While some of us were working on our sourdough starter, it seems that others were digging in on their big idea.

One such entrepreneur is Anastasia Kiku, COO and co-founder of , a packaging-as-a-service company launched in 2020. Looking around and seeing a city that had become desensitized to its single-use plastic addiction, Kiku and her business partner set out to flip the script on single-use plastic.

But where does one start?

This is the question facing many innovators when they are ready to take the leap on their business idea. For Kiku, the answer came knocking through , a long-time partner of 51风流and leading social entrepreneurship accelerator program focused on providing game-changing resources and experiences for young people, ultimately helping to amplify their impact on their entrepreneurship journeys.

鈥淲hat no one tells you is that, first, it can be really lonely. And second, it will be hard to show up each day and keep going,鈥� says Kiku.

This is where the network of support and mentorship became invaluable to fuel momentum and get their idea off the ground, as the experienced professionals participating in the program 鈥渒now that the road to entrepreneurship is not perfect, so even though they are advisors, mentees can be candid and feel that their mentors have their best interests in mind.”

At SAP, employees invest their time in mentoring early ventures like to help scale their businesses. Externally, this investment also takes place through partnerships with organizations such as , & , and .

We sat down with Kiku to learn more about her League of Innovators mentorship experience. Hear from Kiku in this interview for a deep-dive on what it takes to get your idea off the ground and what no one tells you about launching your startup.

Thinking outside the box often means thinking differently from within your organization.

51风流has its very own startup accelerator program, , which has helped over 450 external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of 51风流customers to access innovation. As part of this program, 51风流Labs Canada recently launched True North Ventures Startup School, which leads employees through the basics of entrepreneurship from pitch to product.

Whether you are launching your startup solo or leveraging entrepreneurial support internally, 51风流knows when we help cultivate fresh ideas, innovators are empowered to take the leap.

Cindy Fagen is managing director of 51风流Labs Canada.

Yet, a pressing question remains: are people being left behind? that the rate of bachelor鈥檚 degree attainment among the U.S. White non-Hispanic population to be 42%. Meanwhile, for the Black and Hispanic population, this is at 28% and 20.6%. More specifically, looking at among science and engineering shows that Hispanic and Black rates are at 15% and 8.5% compared to 58% for the White non-Hispanic population.

The Pathways

51风流not only acknowledged this gap a decade ago but took action, establishing the Early College High School program in 2013. Since its inception, this program has supported over 2,000 students from under-resourced and historically marginalized communities across North America. The goal of the program is to empower public schools to curate distinct educational programs centered around inclusion in STEM, postsecondary readiness, and workforce skill development.

What鈥檚 more, the program鈥檚 flexibility meets schools and educators where they are at. Currently implemented in four schools within the U.S. and Canada, the program is seen within a wide range of STEM and technical skills pathways, from Skyline High School in Oakland, California, which focuses on the arts and visual media, to the hands-on STEM incubator for students at Templeton High School in Vancouver, British Columbia. Specificity and customizability are some of the unique aspects of this larger umbrella of programs.

We鈥檝e shared stories of the program鈥檚 impact on individuals, but are these one-off examples or are these programs truly impactful for the students? To find out, we worked with , a nonprofit focused on building equity through education and research, engaging current students, educators, and community members. Together, we set out to foster reconnection and survey alumni from the participating high schools.

The survey, , was completed by 128 program alumni, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the graduating cohorts that the early college high schools decided to survey. It examined topics relating to alumni demographics, educational attainment, high school experiences and impact, and career intentions. Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all program or survey, 51风流and Digital Promise consistently worked to meet the varied and changing needs of the partnering schools.

The Findings

While it鈥檚 important to keep in mind that not all alumni responded to the survey, the results were incredibly promising and exceeded our expectations. Of the alumni who responded to the survey, 85% completed or are pursuing post-secondary degrees and 63% are in STEM-related degree programs. This contrasts starkly with the U.S. national average, where only had received post-secondary education and just pursue STEM-related degrees.

This reveals significantly higher numbers of STEM majors within the program and an increased likelihood that students would pursue STEM and technical careers after graduation. Impressively, program alumni report expected careers in fields such as IT, engineering, computer science, healthcare, arts and design, and business and financial operations.

The Impact

In the survey, alumni highlighted the benefits of the program in preparing them for college and giving them access to early college credits, especially in STEM. One alumnus from Charlestown High School in Charlestown, Massachusetts, recounted that the program 鈥済ave me a taste of what college courses would be like if I took them, and it challenged me intellectually.鈥� Likewise, at Business Technology Early College High School (or BTECH) in Queens, New York, alumni highlighted the benefits of the program preparing them for college, giving them access to college credits, communication skills, guides, mentors, and belonging. One former BTECH student explained that 鈥淭aking college classes early in high school has helped me bypass several classes in my bachelor’s degree program. The program鈥hallenged me a lot and helped me improve my writing and communication skills. I loved this early college program and wouldn’t choose anything else if I had to go back again.鈥�

These programs gave many students unprecedented access to sophisticated STEM educational pathways and opportunities for experiential learning in science and technology. At Templeton Secondary School, the program serves as an incubator for early STEM and tech talent by giving students hands-on experience with science experiments, lab work, and creative problem-solving. One Templeton alumni highlighted the sophistication of Templeton鈥檚 STEM preparedness programs, stating, 鈥淸In college] I am often the only one that has used tools and machines and worked in a self-taught environment, and it鈥檚 helped me get into design teams, do well in project courses, and get jobs.鈥�

Similarly, students at Skyline High School echoed the aforementioned benefits of college credits, career exposure, and even coding. In addition to providing pathways to STEM and professional development, Skyline鈥檚 program focuses on preparing students for careers in film and media. Alumni from this unique program spoke to the value of training in multimedia, professional software, and project management experience, explaining that 鈥淲orking on a professional film set opened my eyes to the possibilities for my future career.鈥�

The Future

As we work towards a more equitable society, connecting students and early talent with opportunity is essential. Our results reveal a wide range of diverse benefits from our Early College High School program. 51风流hopes to continue working with Digital Promise to build out an alumni database for the program, expand survey offerings, and help other programs reconnect with their alumni. As our workforce continues to evolve, there is an ever-growing need to create inclusive educational pathways for all students to develop future skills, and gain access to a higher education. It is incumbent upon all of us to make sure all students are empowered and supported as they decide their path to the future.

Chelsey Lerdahl is part of 51风流North America Corporate Social Responsibility.

Almost 700 people who attended workforce development or entrepreneurship programs provided feedback to the survey. Participants were predominantly disadvantaged or disabled youth who averaged 28 years old and were evenly split between genders. What they all shared was the desire for a better life, whether they struck out on their own or worked for an organization in pretty much any industry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to measure the impact of volunteerism unless you actually talk with the beneficiaries. Unlike traditional post-project research that can take years to get results, our remote data collection and analysis approach surfaces project impact in weeks, making it actionable faster for corporate sponsors like 51风流and their social enterprise partners and the communities they serve,鈥� said Sasha Dichter, cofounder and CEO at 60 Decibels. 鈥淲ith near real-time information from beneficiaries, organizations can hold themselves accountable, quickly comparing results from different geographies and using the data to improve offerings based on participant feedback.鈥�

Having participated in the 51风流Social Sabbatical program, I can attest to the deeply satisfying and motivational experience of providing hands-on support to my in-country partners at . To date, the global, pro-bono consulting program run in partnership with has helped over 450 nonprofits and social enterprises address business challenges using the skills and knowledge of 51风流employees like me. But what really matters is how these social enterprise programs make a difference in the lives of the people in the communities they serve, reducing inequalities and supporting underserved populations. Accurate metrics on program results prove the efficacy of these programs and become the foundation of future deep impact plans.

Metrics Reveal Long-Lasting Improvements

Seventy-seven percent of respondents to the 60 Decibels survey said that their quality of life had improved. People in the entrepreneurship programs cited gains in skills and knowledge, along with positive changes in their perspectives, business expansion, and, tellingly, higher customer satisfaction. Professional, financial, and personal growth were the top three positive outcomes for beneficiaries who participated in workforce development programs. When asked to rate skills gained through their participation in one social enterprise program, beneficiaries ranked computer skills highest (70%), followed by communication (45%), better time management (40%), ability to navigate teamwork (32%), and enhanced professional skills (32%).

Notably, almost 60% of beneficiaries in both programs reported an upswing in their business revenue or income. Results ran the gamut from the ability to save money to strengthened leadership, networking, and other business strategies.

Measurable results went beyond business fundamentals. Almost 70% of beneficiaries reported a significant uptick in their self-confidence, having increased their skills so they could become more independent and 鈥渁ct on a vision鈥� for the future. Forty-five percent said they garnered greater respect from household members after attending the program. Breaking free of parental support was a benefit for many people, allowing them to make a more valuable contribution to their home. Numerous people credited their newfound professional maturity to their experience in workforce development programs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to measure the 360-degree view of program impact,鈥� said Dichter. 鈥淕etting a job and increasing your income is immediate, but there鈥檚 also the lasting experiential results that someone carries into their family life and throughout their career.鈥�

Triple Impact of Social Enterprise Programs

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the 51风流Social Sabbatical program, and I talked with Hemang Desai, global program director of 51风流Social Sabbatical, who saw the results of the study as validation of its success.

鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to delivering triple impact for long-term, sustainable benefits to social sector organizations and the people and communities they serve, as well as the personal and professional growth of 51风流employees,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur program is continuously evolving to address global challenges aligned with SAP鈥檚 corporate social responsibility strategy, Most recently, that includes increased collaboration with nonprofits and social enterprises to meet sustainability objectives such as climate action and circular economy. We鈥檙e focused on scaling our efforts, using what we鈥檝e learned to expand pro-bono services to social enterprises supporting economic equity and social justice.鈥�

As global calls for sustainability grow louder, social enterprises that educate and train disadvantaged people for fulfilling careers that address these challenges are a potent force for positive change. In fact, I鈥檓 actively involved in SAP鈥檚 newly-launched virtual social entrepreneurship support program, Acceleration Collective. I鈥檓 providing communications coaching and consulting to , a Nigerian-based social enterprise that educates women in rural communities to become self-sufficient, turning local waste into a sustainable livelihood. Climate change negatively impacts the most disadvantaged populations, offering social enterprise programs another opportunity for meaningful community impact.

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Operating in a socially responsible way strengthens an organization鈥檚 brand reputation. Job seekers and consumers today want to support organizations that stand for something important and that are making positive impacts on society at large. Investors are putting more emphasis on sustainable development goals with a significant increase of focus on social impact. Human rights and environmental regulations are increasing rapidly. All of this demands a more sustainable approach from CEOs and business leaders.

People, Planet, and Prosperity

When you hear the word sustainability, the first thing you may think of is recycling or environmental sustainability, but sustainability is about so much more than eliminating single-use water bottles and reducing fossil fuel consumption. A holistic approach to sustainability incorporates social, environmental, and economic sustainability 鈥� or people, planet, and prosperity.

Organizations are increasingly recognizing the need to be as focused on social, or people, sustainability as they have been on economic and environmental sustainability 鈥� all three together support and drive business sustainability. People make up society, impact the environment, and power the economy. People are at the heart of any strategy to make progress on sustainability goals. In today鈥檚 workplace, HR has both the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that people are at the center of work by creating an environment in which the workforce, and the organization, can thrive.

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Defining People Sustainability

People sustainability focuses on treating people 鈥� those within an organization鈥檚 workforce, across their supply chains, and in the communities in which they operate 鈥� ethically and fairly.

Just as environmental and economic sustainability require careful preservation and use of natural and financial resources, people sustainability requires treating people and human potential as precious resources that must be supported and valued to drive resilience, agility, and achievement of sustainability goals.

Companies that prioritize people sustainability, by creating social impact and building a more diverse and inclusive culture, are able to boost employee engagement and productivity. They鈥檙e also better positioned to attract and retain talent. Penny Stoker, global talent leader at EY, unpacks how .

Unpacking the Six People Sustainability Pillars

The 51风流SuccessFactors HR Research team has identified six distinct areas, or pillars, that comprise people sustainability. Although the areas are distinct, it is also clear that there is overlap between these pillars. At the center of them all, of course, is culture 鈥� as it drives so much behavior both within and outside an organization. Let鈥檚 unpack these areas a bit in the context of HR and people processes.

Health and Safety
At a minimum, you need to ensure the workforce is safe from physical health and safety hazards and has access to basic necessities. Does your onboarding process provide new hires with appropriate safety training and equipment from day one? Do you have visibility into your total workforce, including their locations? Knowing who and where your workforce is at all times allows you to react quickly in times of crisis and provide support where needed.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Here the focus is on treating each individual, regardless of social identity group or belief system, fairly and equitably and ensuring they feel a sense of true belonging. Are you able to attract and engage job seekers from diverse backgrounds? Do you have a standardized selection and interview process? Do you provide pay transparency? Are you measuring and tracking diversity, equity, and inclusion goals?

Well-Being and Balance
Beyond basic health and safety, this area focuses on ensuring employees鈥� holistic well-being 鈥� psychological, social, financial, and career 鈥� is prioritized and supported with the necessary tools and resources. Do you offer a comprehensive benefits package with compelling options? Do your employees feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work? Have you fostered a culture of continuous dialogue between managers and their reports?

Trust and Transparency
The focus here is on employees having a voice, understanding how key decisions impacting them are made, and trusting their organization to act in ethical ways. Do you regularly listen to your employees and act on the feedback they provide? Have you established policies and processes for the ethical use of intelligent technologies and data privacy and protection? Do you publicly publish diversity metrics?

Empowerment and Growth
Here employees are provided the clarity, support, and tools needed to grow their skills and are empowered to influence their career trajectory. Are you offering inclusive learning options to meet the needs and learning preferences of a diverse workforce? Do you ensure managers provide equitable and actionable feedback to their teams? Are you providing equitable access to development opportunities?

Organizational Purpose and CSR
In this final pillar, the organization is actively working towards giving back and making a positive impact on the world; employees are encouraged to participate and feel energized by the organization鈥檚 mission and values. Do you ensure individual goals are aligned to company objectives to increase sense of purpose and meaning in work? Are you providing your workforce the space to pursue their passions?

What Can Organizations Do to Drive People Sustainability?

In most organizations today, different parts of the business lead these efforts with minimal awareness of or collaboration with each other鈥檚 strategies. However, we have to start somewhere. The most logical first step is to understand where you are today. Do you have a unified strategy 鈥� at least across some of these pillars? Start the conversations and begin to break down organizational silos.

Prioritize people, and planet and prosperity will follow. This is what it means to be a resilient, results-driven, and people-first organization. One that鈥檚 not only equipped to meet the business needs of today, but one that adapts to the business needs of tomorrow.

To learn more, watch a replay of the SuccessConnect keynote, .

Kim Lessley is global director of Solution Marketing at 51风流SuccessFactors.

Hemang Desai, global program director of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP, says that over the past 10 years, the benefits of the program have become clear, and he urges other companies to consider offering these types of programs to their employees. 鈥淭his is because it improves various business and soft skills, builds leadership, promotes entrepreneurial thinking, and allows employees 鈥� and in turn the company 鈥� to make a difference in the lives of other people and client organizations.鈥�

His sentiment is reflected by participants of the most recent 51风流Social Sabbatical who said that, through their experience, they were able to embrace the passion and energy of social enterprises, learn how business-driven companies can create sustainable social impact, and recognize the importance of ensuring that teams are empowered, engaged, and motivated to produce successful work.

Referring to a survey conducted among previous participants over the past 10 years, Desai outlines the top five benefits of :

1. Long-Term Career Impact

Seventy-four percent of employees reported that, as a result of the program, they have experienced a wide variety of outcomes that have benefited their careers. Among these were the ability to think differently, increased confidence, and improved networking. Additionally, nearly half attributed their career growth to program participation. 鈥淭he 51风流Social Sabbatical program empowered me. It made me step outside my comfort zone and helped me realize all the things I鈥檓 capable of. This program gave me the confidence to aim for more and obtain the leadership role I now have,鈥� said a participant from Argentina.

2. Influence on Personal Life

Eighty-eight percent of participants shared that the program led to positive, long-term changes in their personal lives. The top three self-reported changes included heightened social awareness, the formation of networks across the globe, and being reminded of what is truly important. 鈥�51风流Social Sabbatical has made me a more open-minded, globally fluent person. I can safely say that my experience has made me a better person with a stronger focus on equality and opportunity for everyone,鈥� shared a U.S. participant.

3. Acquisition of Skills and Knowledge

Teamwork and collaboration emerged as the top skills employees acquired from the program, followed by cultural awareness, adaptability, and resilience. These skills continue to be applied regularly in the participants鈥� personal and professional lives. For instance, 86% reported that following the program, their ability to collaborate with global and diverse colleagues improved, as did the ability of 78% to work within a team. A participant from India revealed, 鈥淭he skills that we acquired through 51风流Social Sabbatical have given me the confidence to take up new projects without fear, knowing that I will find a way to make the project successful. It taught me resilience and adaptability.鈥�

4. Increased Community Engagement

Fifty-one percent of employees shared that they are now better engaged with their communities since their participation in the 51风流Social Sabbatical program. When participants were asked how the program improved their engagement, two out of three participants鈥� top responses were that they have a strengthened intent for creating a positive impact for their communities, have increased engagement through volunteering, and have experienced greater social awareness. 鈥淚 have always been one to engage in my community, but I always think of my 51风流Social Sabbatical when engaging now and the cultural awareness it gave me. I engage in a more empathetic way,鈥� noted one participant.

5. Improved Sense of Purpose

Seventy-nine percent of employees say their sense of purpose has been impacted for the better following the program. Through immersion into a new culture and working hand in hand with the community to make a real social impact, new perspective and purpose is inherent. Another participant shared, 鈥淭hese programs give me more purpose and make me want to drive change in my own community. I have been able to become an ambassador for other causes I feel strongly towards, such as Shatterproof and NAMI Philadelphia. These are things I likely wouldn’t have done before or may have attempted to do but not followed through all the way.鈥�

Desai says that, ultimately, employees crave purpose, with the desire to make a difference being the primary motivator for the majority of participants to apply to the 51风流Social Sabbatical program. 鈥淭his need has been accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis with now reflecting on their purpose in life and how this extends to . In fact, say that their sense of purpose is defined by their work.鈥�

He concludes by saying that the world is currently faced with a multitude of crises from climate change to mounting inequality, but that connecting employees鈥� skills with the needs of communities doing this work on the ground is where these big problems find solutions. 鈥淲hen we show business professionals the power and impact their skills can create to accelerate development in the world鈥檚 most under-resourced communities, it bridges the gap of tackling big real-world challenges and produces ripples of impact that听gets us closer to听a lasting, more sustainable world. 51风流Social Sabbatical provides a win-win situation for all.”

Feeling inspired? For more information about the 51风流Social Sabbatical program or to get involved, visit .

Julia Donovan is an 51风流Global Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist.

Retailers are also quickly approaching their own tipping point for sustainable action. In response to customer, stakeholder, and government expectations for 鈥済reen鈥� brands, they must take immediate sustainable action to not only improve their bottom line and respond to disruption with resilience, but also help ensure their future survival. Even retail brands with long-initiated sustainability programs to become eco-friendly and socially accountable need continuous reviews and adjustments of their activities.

Time is running short for achieving meaningful environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes. Retailers ultimately have a choice: rethink their sustainability strategy completely or face the risk of ceasing to exist. By integrating sustainability into their corporate DNA, retailers can better navigate their own fast-approaching tipping points while performing than those that do not.

Kick Off a New Era for Green Retailing

Retail companies focusing on sustainability and circular business models can tap into a US$4.5 trillion global market. By leaving behind the 鈥渢ake, make, and dispose鈥� attitude to embrace 鈥渢ake, make, and reuse鈥� business models, they can enter the circular economy as a promising alternative to refine current strategies.

In the fashion segment alone,听 revealed that 67% of consumers consider the use of sustainable materials as an important purchasing factor and 63% view a brand’s promotion of sustainability the same way. German and UK consumers also buy 听that last longer and consciously eat less meat and more sustainable food choices. And overall,听听of consumers prefer to purchase from companies that are transparent in their sourcing practices and employee equity and fairness.

Even if emissions and water consumption within stores and distribution channels are low compared to industries such as oil and gas and mining, retailers have a more profound impact on the entire value chain. reported that fashion brands contribute approximately 4% of all greenhouse gases worldwide while recycling less than 1% of discarded garments and sending 87% of materials to a landfill or to be burned. Other retail segments, including grocery, furniture, drugstores, and DIY, are also relying on natural resources and accelerating, for instance, the deforestation of the rainforest and the overexploitation of scarce raw materials.

Additionally, retailers worldwide must take further steps to demonstrate social responsibility within their workforce and the workers involved in their value chain. Based on SAP鈥檚 experience, the average number of employees involved in the early stages of a supply chain 鈥� for example, farming and production 鈥� are significantly higher than that in warehouses, transportation services, sales departments, or central headquarters.

The importance of social responsibility and associated regulatory requirements are only growing. The European Commission has even drafted a proposal for a , introducing new business obligations regarding human rights and existing and potential adverse environmental impacts.

Break Down a Massive Challenge with Key Goals

Sustainability is unquestionably a challenge that encompasses all areas of the retail business and requires the entire industry’s attention. However, the topic can be easier to approach with a strategy that breaks down all related activities into four critical goals:

1. Zero Emissions with Climate Action

With strategies that seek to decrease the environmental footprint of products offered and limit emissions along the value chain and core processes, retailers can take on initiatives that control their impact on the planet.

Retailers can control the CO₂ output of a specific product, finance rainforest reforestation, and prioritize the selection of green suppliers based on predefined ratings. The carbon footprint at the store and distribution level can be further reduced with initiatives that optimize production, transportation, and logistics operations.

2. Zero Waste with the Circular Economy

By setting up a circular economy model for all, or at least most, products sold, resources should, ideally, be conserved, recycled, and fed back into production and consumption cycles. These activities include designing reusable products, reducing packaging, avoiding waste during consumption, and opening production lines for recycled materials. And steadily, the resell and rental markets are gaining more interest as a major part of a sustainable business model, especially in the fashion industry.

Working toward zero waste provides considerable growth potential. This opportunity is particularly advantageous for , where between one-third and one-half of all goods produced is lost worldwide along the complete food chain. Suppliers, stores, and consumers waste 45% of fruits and vegetables, 35% of fish and seafood, 30% of cereals, and 20% of meat and dairy products annually.

3. Zero Inequality with Social Responsibility

Retail companies that take their social responsibility seriously initiate projects that promote gender equality and eliminate societal injustices in all aspects of their business. Such efforts may establish an equivalent share of female and male managers, close existing payment gaps, support the inclusion of disabled workers, and foster equal treatment of all employees regardless of origin and religious views.

On the operational level, zero inequality also means protecting the workforce in warehousing, transportation, and sales. Increasingly, retailers welcome the idea of extending their responsibility along the entire value chain 鈥� encouraging upstream and downstream suppliers and subcontractors to comply with globally and legally accepted social standards.

4. Holistic Steering and Reporting

Retailers can devise an aligned and executable sustainability strategy by understanding these dimensions. However, they must also measure their efforts effectively to steer and achieve expected outcomes.

A state-of-the-art 听can help businesses evaluate whether long-term projects are heading in the right direction and when predetermined goals are reached. The system provides the transparency necessary to grasp how sustainability initiatives are connected across operational, financial, social, and environmental implications. Even if environmental goals are honorable and meet societal and regulatory pressures, they must be financially viable in the end, too.

Infuse Sustainability along the Complete Value Chain

Using this strategy to observe, question, and act purposefully on the many dimensions of sustainability, leading retail companies are working closely together with 51风流to develop effective environmental approaches and practice them. They are aligning and executing their efforts in ways that positively change how they do business, remain competitive, and expand their impact transparently.

51风流customers have helped develop new solutions 鈥� such as the 51风流Intelligent Returns Management solution 鈥� and upgrade existing ones with new functionalities. And in some cases, they contributed their own ideas and help deliver co-innovations 鈥� for example, the solution. And such investments of time and ingenuity have proven to pay off: 91% of the greenest retailers in the world run 51风流solutions, according to .

Whether developing products or selling offerings from other vendors in physical or e-commerce stores, retailers have a wide variety of business areas that play a critical role in their journey to become sustainable enterprises, including:

• Merchandising and marketing: Introduce reselling and rental platforms that allow customers to take advantage of subscription, pay-for-use, or sharing models.
• 笔谤辞肠耻谤别尘别苍迟:听Track suppliers to help ensure materials are recyclable and sourced ethically without human rights violations, wasteful production practices, and damage to the environment.
• Manufacturing: Focus on efficient resource consumption and scale operations to support a make-to-order business model to meet demand while maintaining worker safety as a priority.
• Supply chain: Leverage demand-driven planning and intelligent forecasting to reduce loss prevention through less shelf waste and decrease emissions and costs with optimized transportation and logistics processes.
• Customer experience:听Make the carbon footprint and origin of products more visible to customers throughout the buying journey.
• Employee experience: Meet expectations for equal pay and fair jobs鈥� and foster skills for the future of work 鈥� all with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
• Financial compliance reporting鈥�: Visualize revenues and costs gained by improving the value chain’s sustainable behavior.
• Real estate management:听Consider how stores and distribution centers consume energy to maintain and preserve stock and choose technologies that can improve their practices.

It’s clear how the introduction of even just one new customer or business requirement requires various business functions to work hand in hand to achieve a sustainable and profitable outcome. Retailers need to stay up-to-date on how every organization 鈥� from design and production to product management 鈥� affects emissions, waste, and equality as pressure around sustainability and transparency grows stronger.

With solutions that support re-commerce planning, , and , they can leverage an overarching strategy based on the guiding principles of long-term success as green brands.

Find the Right Partner to Move Forward

This is not the time for retailers to invest in small, focused sustainability activities within a company. Just like the planet is reaching its own tipping point, retailers are facing their own, which calls for bold actions across their end-to-end value chain.

Achieving company-wide sustainability goals requires internal alignment between all business units as well as processes that are integrated, standardized, and automated. Although most organizations have a broad sustainability strategy to support this shift to a purpose-driven business model, they often have a significant disparity between strategy and execution.

To bridge this gap, the right partner can help simplify the journey to sustainability with advisory, assessment, and technology implementation. Retailers can get started quickly by defining their unique ambitions, use cases, and strategies and developing a detailed road map to execute them. Then, they can maximize usage and adoption by deploying solutions that drive thoughtful design, production, and curation of products and assortments through capabilities such as demand and replenishment planning and intelligent returns management.

51风流works to deliver on this promise of partnership by providing technologies, outcome-oriented services and support, and expert-led co-innovation. We work with our customers to help ensure key sustainability attributes 鈥� purpose, social responsibility, compliance, and efficiency 鈥� are embedded across all lines of business and processes, including:

• Design of recyclable and environmentally sustainable products
• Emissions reduction and ethical sourcing of materials
• Adherence to fair work practices and elimination of forced labor
• Compliance with trade regulations
• Production practices that minimize waste and environmental impact
• Sustainable product and service delivery
• Safe and efficient operations of equipment and other assets
• Predictive planning capabilities that detect and anticipate consumer expectations

Move Forward with Bold Action and Intelligence

Sustainability is no longer an embryonic concept; it is developing into a key contributor to a company鈥檚 performance. End-to-end green value chains and measurable sustainability performance are now critical to overcome the tipping point of not being ready to surf the next wave of global economic transformation.

While retailers, like all other businesses, are driven by profitability, they are also expected to establish a business strategy that brings profit and the health of our planet together. While sustainability can positively impact our planet and our communities, it can also contribute to the future growth and success of a retailer.听

Learn how to holistically manage your business鈥檚 sustainability performance and improve sustainability across your value chain with and .

Dirk Dreisbach is chief business enterprise consultant for BTS Consumer Products and Retail Industries at 51风流Germany.
Susanne-Kirsten Mueller is director of Sustainability and Supply Chain Innovations for the Retail industry Business Unit at 51风流Germany.

What if we could attribute a portion of that spend to organizations that are delivering quality goods and services alongside positive economic, social, and environmental impact? If you knew where to look would you change the way you spend for good?

51风流has spent more than a decade building capacity for and working alongside social businesses. In 2020 our commitment to the sector reached new heights by embracing the power of our own spend to accelerate these organizations鈥� positive global impact. With our social procurement initiative 5 & 5 by 鈥�25, we have committed to a shift of five percent in addressable procurement spend with social enterprises and diverse businesses by 2025. With the help of our incredible partners, buying social is something everyone can do. And together, our proven buying power is even more influential than any one company can be alone.

Individual purchasing decisions around the holidays, or any time through the year, play an important role in supporting social enterprises to continue their work in their respective communities. Whether an organization employs people from marginalized groups, like , or discovers new and creative ways to reduce waste streams, like 鈥� and everything in between! 鈥� your support makes a difference.

Our money has a greater impact when spent with a business that is centered around a higher purpose.

To help you on your journey to buy social this holiday season, we have compiled a list of social enterprises and social gifting guides from around the world 鈥� there is something for everyone here. While this is not an exhaustive collection of all the wonderful social enterprises where you can make purchases, here are a few places to start.

Social media is another great place to find businesses making an impact via searching hashtags like #buysocial, #sustainableliving, and #ecofriendly.

This list also provides some inspiration from businesses doing incredible work, many of which are part of the 51风流ecosystem.

If any social enterprises or gift guides you love are not listed here, tag @SAP4Good on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Let鈥檚 build a collective list of businesses to support that truly represent the meaning of the holiday spirit.

Global Reach

• products support the work of over 40 nonprofits and social enterprises in 19 states and 65 countries around the globe鈥攊n Africa, Asia, Central and South America, North America, & Europe.
• : An online marketplace and curated community platform for purpose driven businesses. Free to set up a profile for your social enterprise.
• For the U.S., Canada, and the UK, our partner UNICEF has created a , where every hand-crafted artisanal gift purchased send lifesaving supplies to children.

Africa

Kenya

• began by creating canvas bags using leftover tent fabric. They are driven by the Swahili proverb 鈥淗araka haraka haina baraka鈥�, meaning 鈥渉urry, hurry has no blessing鈥� or more directly 鈥渉aste makes waste鈥�. Today, bags are made from local, sustainable materials, and are sewn by people, not machines.
• makes art from foam flip flops collected from Kenyan beaches. Ocean Sole removes trash from the oceans, coastlines and makes art to support marine conservation, whilst creating employment opportunities in high-impact areas.

South Africa

• creates contemporary woven goods from tradition weaving methods. At Mungo, they center people, their livelihoods, and their vision at the heart of what they do.

Tanzania

• provides training and employment opportunities for over 120 people with disabilities in the Iringa region of Tanzania. It also aims to change negative attitudes towards people with disabilities in the local society. Products include home d茅cor and accessories.
• is a collection of artisan home d茅cor pieces and accessories made by local women. WomenCraft鈥檚 mission is to bring women together in the rural, post-conflict area from the tri-border region of Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania to create economic opportunity.
• is a marketplace that provide artisans from across Tanzania with a premium marketplace that they would not normally have access to, and connects artisans to technology and business networks.

Uganda

• is a clothing and accessory line that focuses on the environment by using recycled fabrics and creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Zambia

• employs local craftswomen and makes beautiful jewelry from snare wire that is recovered from poaching traps. Each purchase supports local conservation efforts to protect Zambia鈥檚 wildlife.

Asia

India

• is a community of over 2,000 artisans across rural India. They connect artisans with global consumers, which develops more sustainable livelihoods and continues the traditions of craftsmanship in India.

Lebanon

• Through handmade traditional embroidery, is provides employment opportunities for women in the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon.

Malaysia

• serves traditional artisans in underserved communities by supporting with market access and education in ethical business operations. This online marketplace sells artisan-made goods, ranging from jewelry and clothing to home accessories.

Singapore

• sells their signature blends online, as well as coffee subscriptions, accessories, and merch. Each purchase supports Bettr Coffee鈥檚 initiatives including running vocational programs for marginalized women and at-risk youth.
• showcases and supports the abilities of people with special needs, and features work from artists who are differently-abled. All products, such as water bottles and tote bags, feature illustrations of animals created by The Animal Project鈥檚 artists.
• offers a full range of lifestyle products designed to help consumers reduce waste, including, of course, bamboo straws.
• repurposes old tires to make high-quality footwear.
• sells handcrafted ceramic homeware and jewelry. They partner with ethical workshops and social enterprises who hire socially disadvantaged artisans.

Australia and New Zealand

• 膧kina has created a list of . 膧kina is a social enterprise that offer a range of consulting and business development services to support businesses in creating positive impact.
• offers essential oils, tees and totes. It is an organization that promotes and empowers women. 100% of profits from each sale is invested in mental health and wellbeing programs delivered for free to women experiencing crisis and vulnerabilities.
• is a clothing social impact business that creates new economic and creative opportunities for Aboriginal people around Australia, and provides a platform for people to connect, celebrate and learn from Aboriginal people, culture and stories.

Europe

Germany

• is a bag label in Germany, every purchase enables a vulnerable child in Africa to attend school for one year. The bags are created in Hamburg from fine leather returns and surpluses from designer houses.
• stands for design that changes society. The label produces sustainable and fair clothing and accessories in Hamburg with socially disadvantaged people as well as with refugees who have only recently come to Germany.
• offer sustainable glass drinking bottles for at home and on the go. The bottles are made in Berlin and consist of up to 80% recycled glass and zero plastic. For every bottle sold, Soulbottles donate 鈧� 1 to the organization and support e.g. the construction of wells all over the world.
• offers coffee and tea with social impact. OHANA builds a bridge between family-run coffee and tea farms and socially responsible companies. With purchase prices well above the world market and sustainable partnerships, they support the farmers and ensure long-term high quality for their customers.

UK

• Social Enterprise UK, a network of social enterprises throughout the UK, creates an annual gift shopping guide. The features over 70 businesses!
• is an online marketplace aimed at making ethical shopping accessible. They offer a range of products that put people and planet first.
• offer a variety of organic, fair-trade tea blends, and provides employment opportunities for refugees.

North America

Canada

• has an extensive database for you to find valuable connections in your community and make an impact by doing business with social enterprises.
• EWMA was launched in 2003 as a development initiative of Atira Women鈥檚 Resource Society. It has focused on supporting women in Vancouver鈥檚 Downtown Eastside to work together to develop an alternative form of business or employment that is grounded in their needs and realities.
• is a Social Enterprise of Building Futures Employment Society. The Futures Birds Team have been creating these unique custom pieces since 2013 in Lower Sackville. Buying a Futures Birds is not only purchasing a beautiful piece of folk art; it is buying social which supports the very important services we provide for their employees and participants.
• is a nonprofit society that creates opportunities for connection to community, through nature, bees and the culture of the hive. We foster self-worth and community pride through skills sharing and experiential learning, working with socially and economically vulnerable populations facing barriers to stability.
• is Canada鈥檚 first Indigenous Arts Hotel and has diligently worked to provide guests with first-class services and a platform to showcase local Indigenous art and culture. At the street level, the Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery features Indigenous artwork which includes original paintings, framed limited edition prints, jewelry, pottery, wood carvings, giftware and so much more, purchasing most of its original work from local artists.
• is a social enterprise operated by Queens Association for Supported Living – an organization that promotes the social and economic inclusion of people with diverse abilities. The Riverbank provides meaningful work-skills training and employment as well as a valuable service to the community.
• is a Dartmouth non-profit pet supply business operated by mental health consumers. We supply pet foods and various pet products. Coupled with your patronage, and their work experience, Petstuff on the Go helps mental health consumers become independent members of the community.
• is an employment and entrepreneurship training program for women (cis and trans) and gender diverse people who experience barriers to employment. Their goal is to help women and gender-diverse people reach financial stability through building career management skills, real work experience and developing their own business.

U.S.

• REDF invests in and advises high-impact social enterprises to employ and empower people overcoming barriers to work. We believe that individuals who are striving to overcome adversity, including those who have historically faced discrimination, deserve the opportunity to work and contribute their skills and talents to our country and our economy. You can find their Social Enterprise Gift Guide .
• has the biggest Selection of the Best Plants for a Good Cause. Their mission is to empower people impacted by mass incarceration and other social inequities with the skills and resources to cultivate food sovereignty, economic justice, and community healing.
• thoughtfully sources from purveyors are what make Packed with Purpose gifts unique and filled with impact. They have a large selection of curated, personal, and corporate gifts from Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, B-Corp, and BIPOC companies with products that are made in the U.S., Eco-Friendly, and Small Batch.
• is an online shopping guide platform and community resource celebrating all things social enterprise! Their mission is to empower purchasers to create change with your everyday actions. Through their social impact blog and seasonal gift guides, they have the product recommendations, information, and practical tips you need to start making an impact in your daily life.

South and Central America

Brazil

• makes chocolates sourced from a network of family farmers that produce organic cocoa in the Amazon floodplains. Alongside enabling family farmers to farm cocoa sustainably, 狈补鈥檏补耻 also works with communities to conserve the forest around them.

Mexico

• works with 180 artisans, 98% of whom are women. Through fair trade, Someone Somewhere contributes to artisans鈥� wellbeing, the development of small businesses, and preservation of traditional crafting techniques by providing secure incomes and community.
• is known for their hand-painted accessories. They support local artists by providing income and promoting Mexican art.

Today, we are furthering that commitment through a new program with Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab. The Newport News, Va.-based after-school instructional hub is dedicated to learning driven by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and grounded in team building and collaboration. At the lab, students of all ages, abilities, and disciplines learn valuable skills by designing creative solutions to real-world problems.

鈥淪AP鈥檚 support for Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab will not only boost a love for learning,鈥� said Mia Joe, the lab鈥檚 director, 鈥渋t will also make a generational impact on workforce development by providing more access to specialized educational resources and more opportunity for children during early and impressionable developmental stages.鈥�

The alliance is yet another logical outgrowth of , a community for youth all over the world who are passionate about innovation and technology 鈥� and who want to influence the way our digital world will take shape. 51风流works with colleagues, ambassadors, and a global network of diverse institutions to provide students with the opportunity to learn and practice their skills every day, all around the world.

At 鈥� the result of a collaboration among Newport News Shipbuilding, Old Dominion University, and the City of Newport News 鈥� SAP鈥檚 participation will lead to:

• Integration of 51风流Young Thinkers learning modules that encourage creative learning and social innovation
• Professionals from all participating organizations teaching workshops for K-12 and adult learners
• Increased collaboration on curriculum offerings and industry-led design thinking activities

The program officially got rolling with a kick-off event in Newport News last month, highlighting a day in the life of the lab鈥檚 students and allowing them to create a game that was presented to 51风流executives.

鈥淢eeting the instructor and the kids in this program was a powerful testament to the good that can be accomplished in our community,鈥� said 51风流Regulated Industries Chief Operating Officer Scott Thatcher. 鈥淭he night was energetic and engaging, and it was thrilling to see the kids so locked in.鈥�

This is only the beginning of the relationship between 51风流and Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab, but Thatcher is eagerly anticipating the children鈥檚 continued growth, whether it be in coding skills or social skills.

鈥淚t was incredible getting to meet the people directly involved in this initiative and to see those in the community show up and invest of themselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is going to have a real lifelong impact on these kids and their confidence, and I can鈥檛 wait to watch it happen.鈥�

While the above sentiments sound pessimistic, there is reason to feel encouraged. One thing that brings this to life is a growing trend, particularly among our two youngest generations 鈥� Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, and Generation Z born between 1997 and 2012.

Thankfully, these two generations have a different perception of business than previous generations. A survey of young activists from found that the main motivator of their work is to contribute to pressing global issues and do something for their community 鈥� with 80% of respondents saying that the COVID-19 pandemic increased their desire to make a positive impact. What鈥檚 more, both generations are entrepreneurial. In the , it was reported that 鈥渁bout 40% of students say they plan to start a business and/or invent something that will change the world.鈥�

Given this, it鈥檚 no wonder we鈥檙e seeing the social enterprise and social entrepreneurship sector gain more support globally 鈥� and here in Canada! This is immensely encouraging.

The Need for Social Enterprises and Entrepreneurs

There is a distinction between the two categories of 鈥榮ocial enterprise鈥� and 鈥榮ocial entrepreneur.鈥� However, each is focused on solving a social or environmental problem through a for-profit business model. For a full definition, further describes and differentiates the two.

Of course, these people and organizations cannot be expected to solve humanity鈥檚 greatest challenges alone. But they do have a significant role to play. Below are some organizations that have spotted a market opportunity and have capitalized on it. These organizations found a way to do business while also solving societal and environmental problems.

Call-to-Action for Millennials and Generation Z

Along with the Canadian government, 51风流is working with Social Shifters for the . At SAP, we have invested in the power of social entrepreneurs to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives for over a decade. Young people are a shining example of Social Shifters 鈥� they are changing the way we live and work, ensuring that economic, social, and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. The challenge is designed for young adults from across the globe, aged 18 to 30 years old, to take entrepreneurial action on social and environmental issues, with prizes of up $10,000. Additionally, finalists received global recognition and exposure at the earlier last week.

• The winner of the overall challenge, Elena H枚ge, is the founder of . H枚ge recognized the ability to harness the power of video games and utilized the platform to develop a startup game that creates meaningful entertainment that goes beyond digital. The simulator, Wholesome, inspires children and adults to go outside, connect with nature, and increase their sustainability practices.
• BioMec is unique in its intent to turn an environmental crisis into a social benefit and is the worthy recipient of the $5,000 Climate Action award. , founded by Marta V芒nia Uetela, collects abandoned fishing nets from the sea in Mozambique and transforms these harmful plastic residuals into high-performing prosthetics so that people can experience life with more possibilities and self-esteem.
• I am also thrilled to highlight Claire McLoughin, who represented the winning team from the Canadian category. Her social enterprise, , is a compost pickup and local product delivery service that she started after moving to a new neighborhood with no public composting options. The Friendly Composting community diverts approximately 3000 kilograms of food waste from the landfill each week.

Each participant has a commitment to supporting a community, improving lives, or helping the environment through an activity that generates revenue. As we鈥檝e seen, the idea of making money and doing good is no longer contradictory. Many young entrepreneurs today are turning this desire to give back into a sustainable business model.

Lastly, thank you to the hundreds of volunteers, including 75 51风流employees from around the world who served as judges in the opening round and professional mentors to finalists. Alexandra van der Ploeg, head of Global CSR at SAP, acted as a finalist judge. Explaining the importance of supporting young entrepreneurs and social enterprises, van der Ploeg said, 鈥淚n the context of their responsibility towards planet and people, businesses are challenged to do more than just doing no harm. You actually have to look for business opportunities to create positive social and environmental impact. And that鈥檚 where the social enterprise sector, in my opinion, comes in. Because, by partnering with the social enterprise sector, the private sector uses their own, as well as the planet鈥檚, limited resources productively and also contributes in the best possible way to a sustainable economy and a just society.鈥�

Our world has no shortage of competing priorities but this challenge and the young changemakers inspire me. It reinforces the importance of investment in future generations to support their fresh perspectives to help us, collectively, overcome these issues.

Cindy Fagen is managing director of 51风流Labs Canada.

Even at her young age, Victory is no stranger to publicity. Earlier this year, she was offered 19 full scholarships to study at North American universities (She ended up picking MIT). But hers is no rags-to-riches story. The eldest daughter of two smart parents, a university lecturer mother and a father who works in procurement and supply chain management, Victory has always pushed herself to the limit. 鈥淢y mother taught me how to hustle, and without this scholarship I could never have afforded to study in the U.S.,鈥� she points out.

Youth Ambassador and IT Role Model for Girls

Victory is looking forward to getting involved in this year鈥檚 , of which she is the official youth ambassador. Girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have traditionally lagged behind boys, which is why 51风流and Camden Education Trust, the founders of Africa Code Week, are on a mission to make a difference 鈥� one African community at a time. Now in its seventh year, the program was proud to report 47% female participation in 2020. The event, which includes the popular AfriCANCode Challenge, has an enormous reach of 54 countries, with millions of children and youth participating. Last year, the program completely shifted to the exciting online world due to COVID-19.

鈥淚 participate in digital youth skills initiatives like Africa Code Week because I am passionate about empowering young people in underserved communities,鈥� she says. Last year, she created an educational video encouraging children to learn computer programming with Scratch, MIT鈥檚 free online learning tool for coding. 鈥淪cratch is how I was introduced to coding,鈥� she says, mentioning all its various applications that make it fun for kids, from interactive stories and games to animations. Scratch forms an integral part of Africa Code Week, encouraging teachers and African governments to see how easy it is to get kids into coding and fast-track them to the 21^st century. To date, nine countries have adopted coding as a school subject thanks to the ongoing awareness, support, and contributions from the Africa Code Week program.

A proud, female code representative, Victory wears many hats and keeps herself busy with multiple projects. In addition to Africa Code Week, she is actively involved with , a nonprofit organization that promotes ICT development, youth innovation, and entrepreneurship across Africa.

鈥淢y first听introduction to Coderina was during the pandemic last year. I helped facilitate the Lifelong Learning听Program (LLP) sessions where young people were able to learn from a virtual听space about everything digital skills related, from coding to 3D printing. I also taught a class during this period on design thinking and innovation.听This year, I was a coach to the First Lego League (FLL) team comprising of a group of girls in secondary school in Nigeria. FLL is an exciting international robotics competition that is largely driven by Coderina.鈥�

Passionate About Finding Solutions

When asked what she likes about coding, Victory is unequivocal: she wants to find solutions. 鈥淚 love the challenge of being given a problem and using technology to find a way to solve it,鈥� she says. In 2019, she was part of the winning African team in the global mobile app building competition, Technovation. 鈥淭he problem we had to solve was double parking, which is common in Nigeria,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e developed an app that uses location sensors to enable your phone to pick up whenever another car parks you in, so you can step outside and speak to the owner or can communicate with the owner via instant messaging on the app.鈥�

It is this same passion for solving problems that has made her pursue a career in computer science and molecular biology. 鈥淭here are so many different applications of these novel, overlapping fields, from aspects of synthetic biology to RNA sequencing in bioinformatics,鈥� she says. Some of the questions that interest her are whether DNA can be used to store digital data and what machine learning tools can be used to model a vaccine to tackle the next variant of the coronavirus.

One thing she鈥檚 sure about is that she doesn鈥檛 want to be put in a box. 鈥淭oo many young people are fixated about their future career, wanting to become a doctor, engineer, or lawyer,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o many things are unconventional now. Rather than having a fixed profession, I want to say, 鈥業 do computational biology and it allows me to proffer solutions to this and that.鈥欌�� Having a problem-solving mindset will elevate young Africans to be the change they want to see in the world, she believes 鈥� with a little bit of help from technology, of course.

Adam Hunter is EMEA communications lead for 51风流CSR.