Diversity at 麻豆原创 Archives | 麻豆原创 News Center /tags/diversity-at-sap/ Company & Customer Stories | 麻豆原创 Room Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:36:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Elevating Diversity & Inclusion: Key Tactics for Success /2024/06/elevating-diversity-inclusion-bwn-key-tactics/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:15:00 +0000 /?p=226592 In today’s corporate landscape, promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I) is not just about meeting quotas 鈥 it is about harnessing the full potential of every individual. The Business Women’s Network (BWN) from 麻豆原创 exemplifies this rationale, employing a multifaceted approach leveraging the power 麻豆原创 technologies to drive tangible results.

Here are five key focus areas and tactics that support the success of BWN’s D&I program.

Empower Employee Engagement

Organizations can promote employee engagement to advance their D&I strategies by cultivating a culture of inclusivity and belonging, providing opportunities for employee input and participation in decision-making processes, offering D&I training and education, and creating affinity groups or employee resource groups to support underrepresented voices. Additionally, organizations can establish mentorship programs, career development opportunities, and leadership roles for diverse employees to promote their growth and advancement within the company.

Central to BWN’s mission is building and maintaining a vibrant community of engaged members. Through a diverse array of chapter events and initiatives, highlighted in its , BWN facilitates networking, knowledge sharing, and skills development opportunities. By organizing over 543 chapter events globally in 2023, BWN has successfully engaged over 19,000 members, driving robust engagement across the organization. This effort not only amplifies the voices of women and our allies but also cultivates a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. This is highly valued by Supriya Jha, chief diversity & inclusion officer at 麻豆原创: 鈥淭he Business Women鈥檚 Network has accelerated 麻豆原创鈥檚 journey toward its gender parity goal, which is a high priority within our overarching diversity and inclusion strategy. What makes BWN鈥檚 contributions to gender equality so impactful is its focus on business outcomes and elevation of 麻豆原创 as a responsible organization that drives positive change and opportunities for all.鈥

Leverage 麻豆原创 Technology to Achieve KPIs

麻豆原创 can help organizations advance their D&I strategies by providing tools and applications that can enable organizations to track and measure diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, such as employee demographics and compensation data. Our solutions also help identify areas for improvement, create inclusive workplace cultures, and promote awareness and education on D&I topics. Additionally, 麻豆原创 solutions can help organizations develop and implement D&I policies and initiatives, as well as build a listening program that collects feedback from employees in the flow of work, enabling them to monitor progress and report on their D&I goals and outcomes.

It’s time to run a world where our differences are celebrated, equity is fostered, and everyone belongs

BWN strategically utilizes 麻豆原创 solutions to help streamline operations and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs). Leveraging , BWN can simplify the membership onboarding process, helping to ensure a seamless experience for new members. enables the creation of a robust analytics dashboard, providing valuable insights into member engagement and program effectiveness. With , BWN gains access to comprehensive member data, facilitating targeted career development initiatives. Moreover, empowers BWN to understand key drivers of employee engagement, including D&I, to improve employee experience through data-driven insights and action planning.

Promote Career Development

To truly make opportunities meaningful for everyone, employees need to be skilled and ready for increasingly demanding roles and growth. That is why an organization鈥檚 D&I programs must include targeted programs to support the advancement of skills, especially for underrepresented groups, as well as create a culture that values and supports diversity in leadership positions. To enable this reality, organizations must implement inclusive recruitment and promotion practices, set diversity goals, and provide resources for employees to learn about distinct cultures and perspectives.

BWN鈥檚 efforts are an outstanding illustration of this commitment, as it strives to advance the careers of its members through mentorship and professional development initiatives. With over 55% of members participating in mentorship programs, BWN empowers individuals to reach their full potential. By providing access to role-specific data and development plans through , BWN facilitates personalized career growth opportunities, contributing to a more diverse and skilled workforce.

Foster Allyship and Partnerships

To achieve gender parity, we must view it as a collective effort. Organizations play a crucial role in encouraging allyship and forming partnerships to advance D&I strategies. Leveraging online platforms and communication tools can bridge geographical gaps, connecting employees and facilitating open dialogues about diversity and inclusion. Training and resources on allyship, unconscious bias, and inclusive leadership allow employees to gain a deeper understanding of D&I issues. Equally vital is the need for organizations to learn from peers and other industries players鈥 best practices related to D&I.

Recognizing the importance of allyship and collaboration, BWN actively engages male allies, partners, and customers to drive meaningful change. With 13.5% of its membership comprising of men 鈥 a 4% increase since 2022 鈥 BWN cultivates a culture of inclusivity and mutual support. Moreover, through collaborative events with other Employee Network Groups and internal 麻豆原创 groups, BWN promotes intersectionality and solidarity within the organization, amplifying its impact beyond borders.

Use AI to Break Bias

Recognizing the inherent biases that can impede progress, organizations must . AI offers numerous avenues for breaking bias within organizations. A notable example is the implementation of AI-driven recruitment and promotion processes, which minimize unconscious biases, allowing talent to shine irrespective of gender or background. It is also possible to standardize the interview process, reducing bias by providing structured questions and evaluation criteria. Anonymized decision-making, facilitated by AI, removes identifying information from candidate profiles, preventing unconscious biases from influencing outcomes. Through the responsible and ethical use of AI technology, organizations can leverage its capabilities to create fairer and more equitable workplaces where diversity thrives. This approach not only promotes inclusivity but also enhances the quality of decision-making, leading to a more diverse and innovative workforce.

By embracing these key focus areas and tactics, BWN continues to inspire change, create opportunities, and thrive together, driving 麻豆原创’s success and building a more equitable future for all. This is supported by its recent awards, including the prestigious , which is a testament to the exceptional efforts and contributions made by BWN in advancing gender equality and promoting women’s leadership within 麻豆原创, and the , which recognizes the outstanding contributions and influence of employee resource groups (ERGs) in driving positive organizational change and promoting an inclusive workplace culture.

BWN’s commitment to diversity and inclusion sets a benchmark for excellence in the corporate world. Together, we elevate possibilities and inspire realities, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future.


Mayara Alves Tabone is global product marketing specialist at 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors and BWN global communications director.

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AHA! Moments in D&I: 鈥淥n the Trail, You Are Open to All People鈥 /2023/11/aha-moments-in-di-peter-lengler/ Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:15:00 +0000 /?p=214081 Peter Lengler, member of the 麻豆原创 Supervisory Board, People and Culture Committee, talks about the process of learning to see the barriers that others face.

In the latest episode of the AHA! Moments in Diversity & Inclusion video series, 麻豆原创 Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Supriya Jha and Lengler discuss what inclusion awareness means to him.

As part of the , the People and Culture Committee is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, performance, diversity, organizational design, and integrity. It also maintains 麻豆原创鈥檚 network to universities and other stakeholders to support the company’s people strategy.

On the Trail

The World Economic Forum estimates that more than 150 million people are homeless globally and, for Lengler, meeting one of them further cemented his passion for diversity and inclusion.

During his 162 days on the Appalachian Trail, Lengler discovered that another hiker he met had been homeless for more than 10 years. Initially, he was a little apprehensive about this fact 鈥 and the hiker. However, he quickly discovered that sharing a common goal 鈥 in this case to complete the trail 鈥 meant that any preconceptions or concerns about this formerly homeless individual ceased to be relevant. They were to spend the next four weeks hiking the trail together.

鈥淥n the trail,鈥 Lengler explains, 鈥測ou have the same goal, and you are open to all people there.鈥

Unlearning Ingrained Behavior Patterns

Lengler reflects on those groups of individuals he refers to as 鈥渙ld white men clubs鈥 who have never consciously suffered exclusion and have no understanding of the barriers that others face. Identifying unconscious biases and unlearning ingrained behavior patterns is critical to sustaining the success of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

For Lengler, the important aspect of inclusion is not just to increase the number of employees from diverse backgrounds but to create a culture of true inclusion. Passionately, he explains that for him true inclusion means 100% acceptance for all team members, regardless of their backgrounds. Only team members who are 100% accepted and truly included in all aspects of team life will be able to bring their best selves to work and can be 鈥渙pen in their voice and their mind.鈥 

The AHA! Moment

On the Appalachian Trail, Lengler experienced first-hand how a common goal and common hardship can bring people together. Above all else, someone who has different life experience or is in some way different from the rest of the team will bring another point of view and, says Lengler, 鈥渨ill look at the same problem in a different manner,鈥 crystallizing his conviction that when you share your goal, 鈥測ou can reach it together more easily instead of making it alone.鈥

It’s time to run a world where our differences are celebrated, equity is fostered, and everyone belongs

Diversity and Inclusion at 麻豆原创

In its , 麻豆原创 states its mission to become 鈥渢he most inclusive company in the world.鈥 In the U.S., for example, more than 40% of employees are from underrepresented groups. 麻豆原创 is on track to achieve long-term gender goals and has a five-generation workforce. 

One of the initiatives that the Global Diversity and Inclusion Office has launched to help further 麻豆原创鈥檚 progress towards becoming the most inclusive company in the world is the Inclusive Mindset Challenge. This challenge allows employees to learn about inclusion topics and the importance of becoming an ally for marginalized groups at their own pace. The challenge comprises a broad range of micro-learnings, such as menopause, transphobia, or sexism to name a few. In 2022, more than 11,000 employees completed this challenge. New challenges are added regularly; recent additions include indigenous inclusion and infuse D&I with AI.

麻豆原创 Inclusion Month

麻豆原创 has designated October 2023 as 麻豆原创 Inclusion Month. All employees are invited to join the inclusion journey and to get involved in an Employee Network Group (ENG) journey, allyship journey, and, for leaders, the intentional inclusion journey.

With more that 40,000 employees, ENGs are voluntary, employee-led diversity and inclusion initiatives representing groups such as visually impaired employees, caregivers, or Latinos.

With the allyship inclusion journey, employees are invited to use their privilege and power to support marginalized groups. With the intentional inclusion journey, leaders learn about intentional inclusion practices that can help further advance 麻豆原创鈥檚 journey to become a truly inclusive workplace.


Top photo courtesy of 麻豆原创 employee Celia Carillo.

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Making an Impact with Verify /2023/07/making-an-impact-with-verify/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:15:06 +0000 /?p=206210 Artificial intelligence (AI) has received mixed reviews. On the one hand, its ability to automate tasks, process vast amounts of data, and interact with users has been proven to create efficiencies and enhance productivity. But on the other hand, there are concerns about AI replacing humans and taking away jobs.

At 麻豆原创 Concur, AI technology underpins our core travel, expense, and invoice solutions. It鈥檚 also what powers Verify, our self-serve audit service within Concur Expense that can automatically check 100% of expense reports to help identify potential compliance issues. It uses AI and machine learning from 麻豆原创 Concur to tap decades of expense user data that helps identify hard-to-detect spend issues and anomalies.

Verify is a great example of how humans remain an important part of today鈥檚 workforce and of how humans plus AI technology can deliver better results than either could independently. Even the most advanced AI systems have gaps. For those, at 麻豆原创 Concur, we augment the technology with a 24/7 team of human auditors to keep accuracy high and false positives low.

Verify Auditors

In the past year, Verify performed over 38 million audit checks on expense reports submitted through Concur Expense. Each month, on average, one-third of expense reports analyzed by Verify are flagged for organizations to review potential errors and policy violations.

Before errors are flagged to organizations, the AI results are validated by a team of Verify auditors. The team represents a special part of our workforce because most of them have some form of hearing loss. Not only has AI created their roles, but as technology becomes more and more accessible, it鈥檚 provided valuable career opportunities to the deaf community. We rely on these workers to help 麻豆原创 Concur drive a strategic part of our innovation strategy to help make auditing easier for Concur Expense customers.

鈥淭he Verify auditors are very special to us,鈥 said Tom Olsen, VP of Managed Business Services at 麻豆原创 Concur, who works directly with the team. 鈥淲e partner with Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) to create a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace that includes a sign language interpreter to develop training and work materials, even down to fire safety and emergency plans.鈥

New Audit Checks

We鈥檙e thankful for our team of Verify auditors as well as our customers, whose feedback makes us run our best. As we continue to learn from Verify customers, we鈥檝e recently added 10 checks that can alert customers of potential issues prior to reports being paid. Scenarios include duplicate receipts 鈥 even across employees 鈥 old dates, personal use of a company card, unreasonable amount, improper merchant category, and more.

These additional checks, inspired by the companies using Verify, help increase the amount of policy variation that can be enforced by the service. It can also help improve the speed to reimbursement by allowing common issues to be identified early in the workflow. Additionally, it can create efficiency for auditors by reducing the need to manually check reports for noncompliance.

That鈥檚 not all that鈥檚 new. Verify is now generally available for enterprise customers as well.


Tim Lebel is vice president and head of Spend Products at 麻豆原创 Concur.

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Pride@麻豆原创: Empowering Change and Championing Diversity and Inclusion Since 2001 /2023/07/pridesap-championing-diversity-inclusion/ Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:15:38 +0000 /?p=205793 Every year, Pride Day is celebrated on June 28 in the U.S., marking the culmination of Pride month celebrations throughout the month of June.

The Global Acceptance Index, a survey conducted in 2020 across 167 countries, revealed that acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals has been steadily increasing. The global average acceptance score increased from 44% in 2017 to 52% in 2020. Pride month serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made in advancing equality for the LGBTQIA+ community while also highlighting the ongoing challenges that still need to be addressed.

At 麻豆原创, Pride is a commitment to our employees, partners, and customers. Around the world, LGBTQIA+ leaders, colleagues, and allies champion equality, shine bright, and achieve success no matter who they are. Diversity and inclusion are business priorities, and, as a brand, we are proud to stand up for LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Celebrating Pride Month at 麻豆原创

Pride@麻豆原创 kicked off Pride month celebrations with an insightful discussion on the topic of intersectional allyship with , the premier organization working exclusively on LGBTQIA+ workplace equality. Julia White, chief marketing and solutions officer, member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE, and sponsor of Pride@麻豆原创, Supriya Jha, chief diversity and inclusion officer at 麻豆原创, and the global leadership of Pride@麻豆原创 explored the strength of embracing diverse identities, understanding intersectionality, and expanding our capacity for allyship. The audience gained insights into the impact of discrimination on individuals and organizations while developing vital skills to foster diversity and inclusion from Rebecca York, manager, Leadership, Learning & Development, Out and Equal.

This engaging event set the tone for a series of global and regional activities that spanned over 15 locations. On June 21, the team hosted Chris Rollins, founder & CEO, Ripple Effect Leadership, in an internal event on strengthening our path to allyship using small moments of vulnerability, kindness, empathy, curiosity, and humility to create ripple effects on your team, no matter where you sit in the organization, and impact your efforts toward inclusion.

From Pride parades to community festivals and networking, these events offered opportunities for employees, partners, and allies to come together, celebrate diversity, and foster a sense of unity.

Pride@麻豆原创: Building Breakthroughs Since 2001

Pride@麻豆原创, the first Employee Network Group (ENG) established by 麻豆原创, was founded on June 1, 2001, with the mission of representing the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. Over the course of 22 years, this group has experienced remarkable growth, evolving into a truly global network boasting more than 7,500 members across 45 chapters worldwide. With the unwavering support of 麻豆原创 executives, community members, and allies, Pride@麻豆原创 serves as a volunteer network that actively encourages colleagues to raise their voices in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

At 麻豆原创, the employees themselves shape the company culture, ensuring that no one is left behind in the face of intolerance. The group is proudly sponsored by White and benefits from the guidance of an Executive Advisory Council comprising eight of 麻豆原创鈥檚 top leaders.

Here are some of Pride@麻豆原创鈥檚 accomplishments:

  • 2010: 麻豆原创 is included on Corporate Equality Index (CEI)
  • 2012: 麻豆原创 participates in the project
  • 2015: 麻豆原创 walks Pride parade and signs
  • 2016: 麻豆原创 becomes and is listed on
  • 2017: 麻豆原创 signs fighting LGBT+ discrimination
  • 2018: 麻豆原创 supports with leadership programs for LGBT+
  • 2018/19/20: 麻豆原创 is on
  • 2018/19/20: 麻豆原创 is named Top Global Employer for LGBT inclusion by Stonewall
  • 2018/19/20: 麻豆原创 is selected for Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
  • 2019/20: 麻豆原创 is recognized as No.1 Top Employer in
  • 2020: 麻豆原创 is called LGBT+ Diversity Champion
  • 2022: 麻豆原创 is selected as HRC鈥檚
  • 2022/23: 麻豆原创 becomes an Partner

At 麻豆原创, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace where all our employees feel valued and respected.

Transgender and nonbinary individuals have long faced social stigma and outright discrimination at work, and in the first half of 2023, 麻豆原创 launched the new 鈥減ronouns鈥 functionality, enabling all employees to define how they would like to be addressed at work. This feature is a key step for us to create a more inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace for gender diversity.

鈥淎llyship for Inclusion鈥 is another key initiative that marks 麻豆原创’s aspiration to be the most inclusive company in the world. With the support of Pride@麻豆原创 and 12 other ENGs, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Diversity and Inclusion Office launched this global initiative to amplify what allyship looks like in action, build a common language of inclusion, and share practical ways to apply allyship in our daily lives.

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, there鈥檚 no resting on one鈥檚 laurels. The fight for equality is crucial and still relevant. There is always more we can do, and we at 麻豆原创 are proud to amplify our efforts and continue driving positive change.

Learn more in our聽 or visit our .


Aparna Jairaj is a diversity & inclusion communication specialist for the 麻豆原创 Global Diversity & Inclusion Office.

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Proud at 麻豆原创: Interview with Robyn Arroyo /2023/06/proud-at-sap-robyn-arroyo/ Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:15:17 +0000 /?p=205604 In the latest episode of the AHA! Moments for Diversity & Inclusion video series, 麻豆原创 Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Supriya Jha and 麻豆原创 Concur Senior Compliance Lead Robyn Arroyo discuss how 麻豆原创 is a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ employees and how this empowered and encouraged Arroyo to openly transition in the workplace.

Arroyo uses she/her/hers pronouns, identifies as a woman, and regards being transgender as a process and not an identity. As a woman, a Latina, and a member of the security and compliance community at large, 麻豆原创 Concur, Intelligent Spend Management, and 麻豆原创, she discusses how intersectionality 鈥 the overlap of distinct identities 鈥 is key for understanding that LGBTQIA+ individuals are more than their sexual orientation or gender identity. At 麻豆原创, intersectionality is part of our culture and allows Arroyo to bring all these identities together and be her authentic self at work.

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Embracing LGBTQ+ Identity AHA! Moments in D&I

The AHA! Moments

For Arroyo, there was not one but two defining AHA! moments in her life when she realized that she can be her authentic self at work 鈥 the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court Bostock v. Clayton County ruling and reviewing the 麻豆原创 gender transition guidelines.

In June 2020, 19 years after the birth of Pride@麻豆原创 and nine years after 麻豆原创 pledged in its to prohibit 鈥渄iscrimination and harassment based on personal factors including but not limited to […] gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression,鈥 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was illegal to fire employees because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Prior to this ruling, employees could be fired for being gay, bisexual, or transgender in more than half the states in the U.S. 鈥淪eeing that ruling,鈥 recalls Arroyo, 鈥渨as very encouraging for me to come forth in the workplace to be myself.鈥

The 麻豆原创 gender transition guidelines also signaled clearly to her that 麻豆原创 is a safe place to transition.

For many transgender people, including Arroyo, there comes a point when they start to align their lives and physical identities to their gender identity, generally with the goal of living consistently in their gender identity full time. Employers are key to facilitating this process to make it as smooth as possible. For many 麻豆原创 employees, teams, and managers, working with a transitioning or transitioned colleague will be a new situation; there may be anxiety about expected behavior or questions and uncertainty about how to support a colleague during the gender transition process.

The Employee View

The 麻豆原创 gender transition guidelines set out clearly how an employee can start this process 鈥 from the notification of gender transition to clarification on appearance. All 麻豆原创 employees are bound to the 麻豆原创 dress code and have the right to express themselves according to their gender identity. Issues like restroom and health facilities access based on an employee鈥檚 gender identity are also, for example, addressed in the guidelines.

The HR and Manager View

The correct support of HR and the manager of the transitioning employee is a top priority to safeguard employee well-being.

The guidelines explain how HR designates a people relations partner to support the transgender or transitioning employee and explains the manager鈥檚 obligation to respect employee privacy. It also provides guidance on how a manager can address concerns of other team members as questions may arise. Managers are urged to be open, to listen, and to work closely with the people relations partner.

HR is also responsible for changing names and pronouns on all non-regulatory documentation such as e-mail, access badge, and so on.

No More Deadnaming

Deadnaming happens when a person鈥檚 previous name, which does not correspond to their gender identity, is used. Using this previous name stops others from seeing and getting a sense of the person鈥檚 true identity.

Arroyo explains that updating her name, pronouns, and gender marker in company applications, such as 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors solutions, e-mail, MS Teams, and other communication systems, was extremely important to convey to others who she is. Although this was not a simple process because of the coordination required between the IT and HR departments, these updates are crucial to successfully transitioning at 麻豆原创.

Updating her name to Robyn was a critical component in coming out at 麻豆原创. It allowed her to be her authentic self and, as she says with a broad smile, 鈥淲hen I saw my name, I saw myself. And when others see my name, they know who I am.鈥

The Crucial Role of Pride@麻豆原创

Employee Network Groups (ENGs) are voluntary, employee-led diversity and inclusion initiatives that are formally supported by 麻豆原创. Pride@麻豆原创 was the first one, founded more than 20 years ago in 2001.

Sponsored by Member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE and Chief Marketing & Solutions Officer Julia White, Pride@麻豆原创 is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. It operates in 40 chapters globally and plays a crucial role in delivering on 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.

In 2022, awards celebrating and acknowledging this unwavering and long-term commitment included:

  • 麻豆原创 America Inc: from the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index
  • 麻豆原创 Brazil: to build an inclusive workplace for LGBTQIA+ diversity and inclusion employers鈥 from the Human Rights Campaign and聽Mais Diversidade
  • 麻豆原创 Japan: from Work with Pride

Pride@麻豆原创 also drives LGBTQ+ education awareness programs as part of the inclusive mindset challenge 鈥 a set of bite-sized challenges dedicated to making 麻豆原创 a space of inclusion and belonging. To mark Pride month, mindset challenges on intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community, homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia are being released.

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Let鈥檚 Meet in the Middle: Autism Acceptance Month /2023/04/autism-acceptance-month-sascha-dietsch/ Mon, 03 Apr 2023 12:15:50 +0000 /?p=203914 An estimated 1% of the world鈥檚 population is on the autism spectrum 鈥 a term that refers to a diverse group of conditions meaning that people may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways different from the majority of other people. And Sascha Dietsch is one of them.

鈥淓veryone鈥檚 autism is slightly different,鈥 Dietsch explains. Before the terms neurodiversity and neurodivergent became common currency to describe these differences in brain functions and behavior, autism was often classified as a disability.

Today, most individuals on the autism spectrum reject the 鈥渄isability鈥 label. Neurodivergent means just that: different, not disabled.

More often than not, says Dietsch, neurotypical individuals who view neurodivergence 鈥渁s a disability and a hindrance鈥 are the ones applying a disability label to an autistic individual鈥檚 differences in behavior, interaction, or communication.

Unfortunately, these differences can sometimes make it difficult for autistic individuals to shine in conventional job interviews, contributing to the higher rates of unemployment or under-employment in this group.

To make recruiting practices fairer and to promote an autistic-inclusive workplace, 麻豆原创 founded the program in 2013.

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Working with Autism: AHA! Moments in D&I

Autism at Work Program

With a team dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace experience for autistic colleagues, the Autism at Work program offers tailored accommodations including, for example, the sharing of interview topics in advance and an Autism at Work buddy for new hires.

This global program not only signals a commitment to autism inclusion but provides robust tools and processes to deliver it. More than 215 colleagues have been hired in association with this program or have self-disclosed.

The program has been vital in hiring autistic employees who, in turn, often become role models and an inspiration to others.

The AHA! Moment: The Role Model

Dietsch recalls very clearly the moment when he realized that 麻豆原创 could be the right fit for him and a workplace where he could thrive.

At an Autism at Work event in 2018, Dietsch met someone on the autism spectrum working in cybersecurity at 麻豆原创. Seeing this positive role model made him believe in himself and that he, too, could work in cybersecurity. He felt inspired to apply.

With a hiring format designed to set him up for success 鈥 no open questions, no group tasks, no relying on eye contact, for example 鈥 Dietsch secured an internship at 麻豆原创 before applying to his current permanent position.

鈥淚 Do Not Have to Mask Myself鈥

Only 5% of disabled and neurodivergent employees choose to disclose. A culture that makes employees feel uncomfortable or vulnerable about being their true selves puts great pressure on the individual, increases the chances that employees will not reach their full potential, and increases the chances that companies will lose out on valuable talent.

By the time Dietsch joined 麻豆原创, he had experienced firsthand the strength of 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to welcome neurodivergent employees. He had first heard of Autism at Work in 2013, attended another Autism at Work event in 2016, and experienced a life-changing moment in 2018 when, at another Autism at Work event, he met the colleague who worked at 麻豆原创 in cybersecurity.

By 2019, Dietsch had also experienced the Autism at Work hiring process that played to his strengths and had secured an internship.

Disclosing his neurodivergence was not an issue 鈥 there was no risk. 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to autism inclusion was already clear to him. He could be his true self with no need to adapt his behavior or endure the mental strain of trying to be someone else to fit in. He felt included and had a clear sense of belonging.

A Culture of Autism Inclusion

麻豆原创 has two important pillars for fostering inclusion of individuals on the autism spectrum:

  • Autism at Work: This program was Dietsch鈥檚 initial touchpoints with 麻豆原创. It acts as the external-facing arm focused on hiring and onboarding autistic employees as well as creating an inclusive workplace.
  • Autism Inclusion Network (AIN): This is an Employee Network Group from 麻豆原创 with Chief Technology Officer and Executive Board Member Juergen Mueller as the sponsor. AIN acts as the internal platform promoting belonging for 麻豆原创 employees and driving workplace diversity and inclusion.

Workplace diversity focuses on the professional growth of autistic employees, supporting the Global Diversity and Inclusion Office to systemize inclusive hiring practices as well as create the conversation internally, colleague-to-colleague, about diversity. Workplace inclusion organizes internal events for autism inclusion, fosters engagements of belonging and leadership for autistic employees, and drives the colleague-to-colleague network.

Working with Our Strengths

Dietsch is clear about the strengths of autistic colleagues. For example, if you are looking for a frank, honest opinion, then your autistic colleagues will give you one each and every time 鈥 especially at 麻豆原创, where autistic colleagues are empowered to be their true selves. The important thing to remember, says Dietsch, is that even when the honesty feels brutal, it鈥檚 not personal.

Leave out the irony, the sayings, and any form of communication that requires 鈥渞eading between the lines鈥 to get the best out of your interactions with autistic colleagues. It is, says Dietsch, quite simple: 鈥淟et鈥檚 meet in the middle.鈥

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Celebrating Hispanic Heroes: Honoring Leaders and Trailblazers of Hispanic Heritage /2020/09/sap-celebrates-heroes-hispanic-heritage-month/ Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:15:43 +0000 /?p=178331 Hispanic heroes have shaped and informed the world we live in today and continue to serve as a powerful and unified multi-generational force for good across sectors and industries.

However, Hispanic 鈥渟tars鈥 often do not receive the recognition they deserve. Their stories are not universally taught in schools and their impact and achievements are underrepresented. These amazing men and women deserve wider appreciation and celebration. Now is the time to commemorate the contributions of the Hispanic community and foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs September 15 to October 15, 麻豆原创 is working with the on the 鈥淗ispanic Star Journey鈥 for a fun and safe competition that brings people together and celebrates the myriad ways that Hispanic Americans have positively influenced U.S. culture and history.

The hands-on, interactive virtual reality game challenges participants to follow clues on social media linked to a weekly Hispanic 鈥渟tar.鈥 Play along to learn more about past and present achievements and at the end of the week, take a picture in front of the 鈥淗ispanic Star Cyber Statue.鈥 Participants who share a Cyber Statue selfie will have the opportunity to win exciting prizes.

鈥淲e are so excited to have 麻豆原创鈥檚 support and participation in the 鈥楬ispanic Star Journey鈥 as we bring attention to the incredible stories of Hispanic heroes and foster compassion and connection that unites us on the mission for diversity and inclusion through an innovative gaming experience,鈥 said Claudia Romo Edelman, founder of We Are All Human Foundation.

Advancing and Empowering Hispanics in the Workplace and the World

鈥淚 am proud that 麻豆原创 was one of the first 50 companies to sign the Hispanic Promise in early 2019, demonstrating our ongoing and steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion that truly enables us to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives,鈥 Alicia Tillman, global chief marketing officer of 麻豆原创, shared. 鈥淗ispanic Heritage Month offers a time for us to celebrate and reflect up on the many contributions this vibrant community has made to our country. In addition, we must look toward the future with the buying power of the Hispanic community in mind and always strive to have Latinx voices present at our tables.鈥

With Hispanics making up , they hold considerable influence. Yet, according to a , 74 percent of respondents stated that they cannot be themselves at work and 77 percent reported that they were unaware of recent achievements made by the Hispanic community.

This reinforces the importance of ensuring that Hispanics feel heard and valued by acknowledging their accomplishments and creating a safe space for them 鈥 both in the workplace and in our communities at large. 麻豆原创 is committed to fostering a , so that we can thrive as an intelligent enterprise and empower our ecosystem to do the same.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, we are taking specific actions toward social justice and equality including increasing diversity within our ranks and ensuring that women, people of color and other underrepresented groups have access to development opportunities,鈥 said Judith Michelle Williams, chief diversity and inclusion officer and head of People Sustainability at 麻豆原创. 鈥淭his will not only be good for business, it will allow us to build a more diverse, more equitable, more inclusive, and better future for all.鈥

Play Along During Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic 鈥渟tars鈥 of the past and present by participating in the 鈥淗ispanic Star Cyber Statues鈥 virtual game and contribute to building a better future for all by advocating for diversity and inclusion in your workplaces and communities.


Janis Fratamico is global head of Brand Experience at 麻豆原创.
Thamara Ramirez-Walker is global senior director of Purpose & Brand Experience at 麻豆原创 and leads Latinos@麻豆原创.

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Making the Software Industry a Little More Inclusive /2020/09/inclusive-language-more-inclusive-software-industry/ Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:45:29 +0000 /?p=178274 In the software industry, for years we have thoughtlessly used terminology such as 鈥渕aster and slave鈥 and 鈥渨hitelist and blacklist鈥 to define processes and classify data. Some might say that these terms have no significance since they aren鈥檛 describing people, and hence there is no racist intent.

But has a huge impact on values and cultural norms. Language expresses and reinforces culture. Language encourages us to develop behavioral .

As part of our commitment to social justice and equality, we acknowledge and take action toward offensive and insensitive language used in the software industry. Unconscious bias, such as using certain terminology, contributes to everyday discrimination and indignities and leads to negative emotions and psychological stress for Black people and other people of color. Therefore, we have decided to replace insensitive terms with inclusive language that is free from expressions or words that reflect prejudice.

It was important for us to take a holistic approach to this project. The new terminology we are introducing today is not an exercise in word-for-word replacements, but rather a thoughtful discussion based on research and best practices at 麻豆原创 and across the industry. We looked carefully at the use of the terms in English and German across our entire product portfolio, as sensitive and mindful terminology does not always transfer. Moving forward, thanks to a true cross-company effort, we will not only have a technically accurate nomenclature, but terminology that is inclusive and descriptive.

The new terms — with guidance from 麻豆原创 terminology experts, as well as applicable references in German — are .

Addressing insensitive language is only one aspect of inclusion. We must all understand the important role each of us plays in fighting discrimination, including taking a stand against racism to drive change inside and outside of our organizations.

Together we can ensure that equality becomes a reality.


is chief technology officer and member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE, leading the Technology and Innovation board area.
is a member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE, leading the 麻豆原创 Product Engineering board area.

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