Conversation Starters.

Conversation Starters.

By African SAP User GroupTechnology
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Conversation Starters. episodes

  • A Journey of Ambition, Humility, and Innovation with SAP Africa's Trailblazer

    In this sixth episode of Conversation Starters, we’re joined by Kholiwe Makhohliso, Managing Director of SAP Southern Africa. Kholiwe takes us through her incredible career journey, from growing up in Mount Ayliff village to holding leadership positions at Accenture, Oracle, Software AG, and SAP. She shares her passion for mentorship, skills development, and the transformation of the African workforce through innovative SAP programs like the Young Professional Program and Educate to Employ. Throughout the conversation, Kholiwe emphasizes the importance of building a digital skills hub in Africa and SAP's commitment to empowering the next generation of professionals.

    The episode touches on Kholiwe’s personal interests, including her love for cycling and adventure, offering a holistic view of a leader who balances professional ambition with personal passion.
    Timestamps:
    0:07 – Introduction and Sponsorship
    0:24 – Guest Introduction and Career Overview
    2:10 – Career Progression from Auditor to SAP
    4:47 – Understanding Customer Needs and Value Selling
    6:53 – Impact of Audit Background on Technology and Risk
    8:01 – SAP's Role in Transformation and Skills Development
    12:12 – Opportunities for Young Professionals and Entrepreneurship
    14:22 – Mentorship and Coaching for Young Professionals
    15:21 – Engagement with Gen Z and Millennials
    16:47 – Upskilling Workforce for AI and Future Skills
    17:47 – SAP Southern Africa’s Role in the EMEA Region
    20:51 – Cloud Acceleration and Customer Engagement
    23:38 – Skills Development and Digital Skills Hub
    24:19 – Future Opportunities and Partnerships
    27:52 – Personal Interests and Hobbies
    31:16 – Conclusion and Future Engagement
    Follow Kholiwe Makhohliso - https://rb.gy/dw2vhe
    Follow Louise Steenekamp - https://rb.gy/53byr6
    Sponsored by:
    AFSUG – Unifying Africa's SAP Community for a Digital Future

    34 min
  • Marco-Polo-ing the New World of Work: Charting the Course for Digital Transformation & Youth Empowerment

    Join host Louise Steenekamp as she interviews Aveena

    Mothilall, CIO at Engen, in this insightful episode of Conversation Starters. They discuss digital transformation, the evolving role of CIOs, skills development in IT, and Engen's successful SAP implementation. The conversation also highlights women in tech leadership, the future of work with a focus on diversity, and the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. Key takeaways include the need for mentorship, support for women in tech, and the potential of hybrid working models.

    00:07 - Introduction and Sponsorship

    00:22 - Guest Introduction (Aveena Mothilall, CIO of Engen)

    01:42 - Digital Transformation

    06:57 - SAP Functional Consultant of the Future

    10:22 - Data Conversation

    14:54 - Community and Collaboration within the African SAPUser Group

    17:19 - Innovation and Influence on Technology Roadmaps

    18:05 - Skills Development and Education

    27:18 - SAP Implementation Success Stories

    33:24 - Challenges in Digital and Data Focus

    35:01 - Role of Women in IT Leadership

    41:06 - Diversity in the Workforce

    45:26 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks

    ---

    Discover how programmes like the Data Analytics for Student Success (DASS) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) bring together academia and corporates to collaborate on real-life student learning projects.

    https://rb.gy/3hukde | https://rb.gy/6ro0s3  

    Follow Aveena Mothilall  
    LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/fifzha  


    Follow Louise Steenekamp:
    LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/kp7ewq   

     

    Sponsored By:
    AFSUG – https://afsug.com/
    ONE VOICE Unifying Africa's SAP Community for a Digital Future

    47 min
  • AI Magic and Myth. Beyond the Hype and Focussing on the Business Case

    In the fourth episode of Conversation Starters, we welcome Nadine Hoffmann, Global AI Product Manager at SAP. She shares insights on her transition from banking to AI, the evolution of product management, and practical AI applications. The episode covers generative AI, large language models, and announces a collaboration between SAP’s Joule and Microsoft's Copilot. It concludes with updates on the German SAP user group and plans for further AI integration.


    0:23 – Introduction to Guest (Nadine Hoffman)
    1:10 - Career Background and Evolution of Technology in Payments

    2:09 - Role at SAP and Business AI

    3:14 – Evolution of the role over time

    4:07- Delivering Business Value and Real Business Value

    5:01 - Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology

    5:20 - Hype Cycles and Technology Trends

    6:58 – Idea to Improve the Process

    8:05 - Multidimensional Aspects of Technology and Business

    Value

    9:11 - Data Security and Ethical Aspects

    10:37 – Future Tools and Inclusiveness in Tech

    14:27 – Networks and Innovation

    15:34 – Mindset Shift and Open-mindedness in Technology

    17:26 – Agility and Customer/Partner Exchanges

    19:37 – Experience Garage teams & Hackathons

    20:50 – AI Technology and Large Language Models

    23:42 – Chatbots and Digital Assistants

    27:10 – Latest Announcements and Key Topics from Sapphire

    32:30 – Partner Collaborations and Compliance Topics

    34:33 - User Group Exchange and Learning Together

    42:27 - Building Code with AI

    44:53 - Skills and Learning in Technology

    48:22 - Opportunities for Experienced Professionals

    49:54 - Conclusion and Future Conversations


    Follow Nadine Hoffmann:
    LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/qt0zz0  


    Follow Louise Steenekamp:
    LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/kp7ewq   

     

    Sponsored By:
    AFSUG – https://afsug.com/
    ONE VOICE Unifying Africa's SAP Community for a Digital Future

    51 min
  • Untangling Cloud ERP (GROW & RISE)

    In the third episode of AFSUG Conversation Starters, we are joined by David Yawalkar, product marketing leader at SAP in Waldorf. He discusses SAP Environments, maintenance timelines, and transitioning to the Cloud.


    Show Notes:

    0:25 - Introduction to David Yawalkar and his role at SAP
    1:12 – Timelines for ECC Customers
    4:20 – GROW with SAP and RISE with SAP
    9:22 – RISE with SAP and Business One Customers
    11:38 – Ads
    13:19 – ECC Customer Scenario
    16:54 – Clean Core Strategy
    20:31 – Enterprise Architecture
    23:15 – SAP's Innovation Roadmap
    27:03 – Ads
    27:13 – Upcoming SAP Solutions
    29:28 – Signavio’s Role
    31:17 – Upgrade Cycles and New Releases
    32:29 - BTP: What skills do I need?
    34:29 – Customer Concerns, Privacy, and Cloud Offerings
    37:36 – Closing Remarks

    RISE with SAP Resource Links:

    • Announcement: Transform with confidence using RISE with SAP Methodology
    • Blog #1: Jumpstart your cloud ERP journey with guided enablement in RISE with SAP Methodology
    • Blog #2: ‘Clean core’ focused success plan, runbook, and quality checks
    • Web content: Migration from SAP ERP AND Transition from SAP S/4HANA
    • Partner Blog: Expert Insights for Partners: RISE with SAP Methodology

      • Follow David:
      LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/fbhfpe

       

      Follow Louise:
      LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/kp7ewq   

       

      Sponsored By:
      AFSUG – https://afsug.com/

      ONE VOICE Unifying Africa's SAP Community for a Digital Future

      40 min
    • Pearls of Wisdom: from a life in IT, from then till AI
      David Cohn is a seasoned CIO with over 30 years of experience in the retail industry, currently heading the technology development for Africa's largest food retailer, Shoprite. With a deep understanding of the role of technology and data in transforming organisations, David has driven large-scale projects and ensured stable services as CIO. His passion for innovation has kept Shoprite at the forefront of global technology trends. Under his leadership, the company has won prestigious awards, including the SAP Africa Business Transformation Award (2018) and the 2020 Africa PMO of the Year.
      00:00 – Intro
      01:20 – David's career journey
      03:11 – The field of IT Then vs. Now
      04:30 – The rise of the Internet, home computing, and high-speed telecom networks
      06:45 – From Sci-Fi to real innovation
      08:26 – LLMs built into ERP
      10:25 – David's early career
      12:30 – Word of advice to Young Professionals
      17:05 – Ads
      17:16 – Reflecting on behaviour in the workplace
      19:06 – Doing what it takes (There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch)
      22:05 – David’s speaks on his favourite tech
      24:03 – An old story about old tech
      25:04 – Serving the communities we operate in
      27:21 – Impactful Tech: Checkers Sixty60
      32:10 – What you know now and not then
      34:30 – David's reflection on approaching retirement
      39:10 – Ads
      39:20 – Mentorships and humbling experiences
      41:48 – AI's impact on us in the near future
      43:30 – Article reference: https://www.ghostmail.co.za/what-tiny-pineapples-can-tell-us-about-our-future/
      Follow David: LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/hq29cp
      Follow Louise:
      LinkedIn - https://rb.gy/kp7ewq   
      Sponsored By: AFSUG – https://afsug.com/ ONE VOICE Unifying Africa's SAP Community for a Digital Future
      52 min

    About Conversation Starters.

    From the publisher's feed

    Discover Conversation Starters, the African SAP User Group's groundbreaking podcast series, designed to spark innovation and collaboration among SAP professionals worldwide. Tune in for exclusive sessions with industry leaders, thought pioneers, and technology enthusiasts, exploring the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies shaping the SAP landscape. Join the movement and elevate your SAP knowledge with Conversation Starters.