Channelling the power of difference to grow stronger for the future

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Sandrine Pons
Regional Vice President, Head of Solutions Sales & Innovation, SAP MidMarket EMEA North
Enda Kilroy
Senior Business Development Specialist
Automatic Summary

Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in Business: An Interview with a Veteran Leader

With three decades of leadership in the business world under her belt, one insightful and inspiring business leader shared the valuable lessons she has learned along the way, emphasizing the essential role of diversity and inclusion.

Understanding the Importance of Customer Diversity

"The customer needs to be at the heart of everything we do. We need to understand them, anticipate their needs, and respect our customers in all their diversity,” she shared. The leader explained that the modern world is a melting pot of cultures and perspectives. For businesses to create effective solutions for their diverse customers, they have to embed diversity into their thought processes and team makeup.

The Power of Diverse Perspectives

She strongly believes that diverse perspectives breed diverse solutions. "Without diverse perspectives, you lose diverse solutions," she reiterated. The leader revealed how she saw her male-dominated team transform into a more diverse group. Currently, 60% of her team are women, and they represent 18 different nationalities. She emphasized that every member of her team, regardless of their backgrounds, brings unique ideas and innovations.

Diversity: At the Core of Innovation and Success

Diversity and inclusion form the cornerstone of her team's success. To her, collective differences and intelligence make a proposition powerful. She further noted that it's impossible to fully understand customers without a team that mirrors them in some way. Strategies and solutions, she believes, are powerful regardless of their origin. "A solution is a solution no matter where its origin lies," she stressed.

Fostering an Inclusive and Diverse Working Environment

The leader strongly advocates for open dialogues and listening in creating an inclusive and diverse environment. She highlighted that ensuring every team member feels supported and is given an equal chance to reach their full potential is essential. Through leading by example, she pushes for diversity and inclusion right from the recruitment stage and plans to continue doing so.

Words of Wisdom for Business Leaders and Aspiring Business Women

For Current Leaders:

She encouraged leaders to embrace diversity of talents and promote the right people regardless of their gender. She said, "But if all other things are equal, I would probably choose the woman," due to the prevalence of male dominance in the business world.

For Aspiring Business Women:

"As a woman, you learn from a very young age to do many things at the same time and adapt to change, use that super power and go where you want to go," she advised, "No dream is too big."

Summing It All Up

Looking back on her career, she appreciates how much she has learned and grown in the fast-paced tech industry. Diversity, inclusion, and sustainability have been her guiding lights, leading her to push boundaries and create equitable opportunities for everyone. This female leader looks forward to continuing this journey and encourages others to embrace their identity, and never limit themselves. Diversity, in her eyes, is a strength, not a weakness.


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