Insights from Live Talk with Robert G. Courteau, President SAP North America
November 17th, 2011Hi everyone,
Last week, I attended my first live talks‘s event in Los Angeles.
Keith Ferrazzi, the world’s foremost expert in professional relationship development, interviewed Robert G. Courteau, President SAP North America.
SAP is the market and technology leader in business management software, solutions, and services for improving your business process.
The subject was Managing Innovation in the Information Age.
The ambiance and the participants reminded the time I was working at Business Objects, SAS and HP France.
Here are some insights for you:
• Every event is an opportunity to grow and do a better job.
• You have to be aggressive if you want to win and grow.
• Listening to your customers, employees and partners is fundamental to grow and innovate.
• Don’t place safe in business. Take calculate risks.
• It’s important to spend time analyzing the things that don’t work. Don’t focus only on the victories.
• There are more and more opportunities with social media, analytics and cloud applications.
• Organizations embracing home offices and teams are more virtual (they are using tools, such as Cisco Telepresence).
• Companies must give employees opportunities to become accountable, compete and responsible for the business.
• Define who are and focus are critical in business.
• Companies must create an environment where people are happy, which includes allowing them to bring their own device to use social media. Engagement and relationships are keys.
Advices to build a professional career: go for as many as experiences you can, develop your professional network, help people, be genuine, develop relationships, volunteer in your community, build a brand that is liable and has a culture, be relevant, be specific and an expert in your niche, be approachable and people oriented.
• Companies need a strong foundation to innovate. There is not foundation without people.
• Interested in working at SAP, here are some of their focuses : shopping list, analytics and social media, consumer royalty / branding, create experiences for their customers, cloud applications.
I found out that he is from Montreal, Canada. Then, we talked a little bit in French.
We briefly talked about my experience at Business Objects and foreign students’ concerns.
Here are his suggestions for international students who want to become the best executives.
While the congress is working on the immigration policy, students must:
• Come to the USA to get higher education
• Build their professional networks
• Build their personal brands
• And look for ways to get professional experiences
According to Robert, the Americans college students who want to become the best executives must go to Asia first.
During his interview with Keith Ferrazzi, I leaned that one of his top executives is from India. Prior to working at SAP, that person came to the USA as an international student.
Hope you will find this insightful.
Best,
Jean-Marc
Here’s the video of the Live Talks Business Forum with Robert Courteau, President of SAP North America in conversation with Keith Ferrazzi
Robert Courteau in conversation with Keith Ferrazzi from Ted Habte-Gabr on Vimeo.
Give to the Max Day
November 16th, 2011There are more than 6,500 homeless individuals living on the streets of Washington, DC on any given night. Of those, more than 2,000 are considered chronically homeless–meaning they are living with a physical or mental disability and have been homeless for at least one year, or multiple times over the past few years. These individuals often live with severe mental illness, chronic substance abuse and/or severe health problems. Their quality of life is diminished and their life expectancy is cut short. They are struggling to survive.
These are the men and women Miriam’s Kitchen serves.
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011
November 14th, 2011Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What contribution would like to make to the world? Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 kicks off today in 123 Countries.
Starting today, in 123 countries around the world, millions of current and aspiring entrepreneurs will kick off the third-annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2011, Nov. 14-20. More than 25,000 partner organizations will host 40,000 events in a week-long celebration that will drive awareness and adoption for the world’s key economic driver — entrepreneurship.
“For one week each November, students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and government officials come together to pursue one cause — to spread the power of entrepreneurship,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “It’s during this time that we celebrate the innovators who bring ideas to life, drive economic growth, and expand human welfare.”
An initiative of the Kauffman Foundation, the world’s largest foundation dedicated to entrepreneurship, GEW connects people through activities that create a platform to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem. There are no requirements to take part. Anyone, anywhere can participate in wide-ranging activities that include virtual and face-to-face events, competitions, and intimate networking gatherings.
Get involved here
God Saved My Life
November 13th, 2011I wanted to take some to share this personal note with you.
This morning, when I woke up, I thanked God for having saved my life.
It all happened last year. On November 13, 2010, a car struck me while I was crossing the street on a crosswalk. I had several injuries, which include my left arm broken in half and several ligaments torn in my left keen.
With the help of some people I have been working hard to get back to normal and become a better person. I am truly grateful what they have done for me.
I am not a 100%, but I refuse to complain.
As Maya Angelou said, “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
I believe that I am still standing on this planet to accomplish a mission.
I was called to help people discover, see and experience what inspires them so that they all can live out their dreams.
I am not hoping that you would comment or click “like” about this note.
Instead, I would like to inspire all of us, including myself, to add the following to our new resolutions:
- Volunteer your time this holiday season to help the people in need.
- Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Mother Teresa.
- Be genuinely interested in others.
- Be more genuine.
- Help and inspire others.
- Be more generous.
- Be nice to people.
- Meet and Talk to people. (When they are gone, it will be too late.)
- Learn how to forgive.
- Don’t be afraid!
- Learn about other cultures.
- Don’t live in fear of what people will say or do.
- Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Mother Theresa
- Think differently and creatively.
- Ask yourself the right questions.
- Be a creative problem solver.
- Stop complaining and do something.
- Be grateful.
- Learn how to focus and be more specific.
- Research your “Why” or purpose and go after the things that inspire you. Do what you love.
I am wishing you to have a blessed and happy holiday season.
Merci,
Jean-Marc
Happy Veterans Day
November 10th, 2011
World War II hero, Olympic runner and USC alumnus Louis Zamperini visited adjunct journalism professor Jeff Fellenzer’s JOUR 380 class to discuss his story of survival, perseverance and forgiveness.
“When the power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, the World will know Peace.” Jimi Hendrix.
How to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters?
November 8th, 2011The recent earthquake in Oklahoma is a good reminder to brush up on safety tips. How to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters? Ready.gov is your MUST go to resource. Check it out here
The site is available on Android and Apple too.
How Your Body Language Affects What You Say
November 7th, 2011Dr. Nick Morgan, author of Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma, explains how you can harness the power of your unconscious mind to communicate more effectively. Read more from Nick Morgan about verbal and non-verbal communication in the November 2011 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Click here
Stanford Graduate School of Business Launches Institute to Alleviate Poverty with $150 Million Gift
November 4th, 2011The Stanford Graduate School of Business has established the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies with a $150 million gift from Dorothy and Robert King, MBA ’60. The gift is among the largest ever to Stanford University. The Institute’s aim is to stimulate, develop, and disseminate research and innovations that enable entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders to alleviate poverty in developing economies. The Institute’s work is based on the belief that a critical route for economic growth is through the creation of new entrepreneurial ventures and by scaling existing enterprises. “Entrepreneurship, innovation, and improved management are powerful ways to help alleviate poverty,” said Stanford University President John L. Hennessy. “With tremendous foresight and compassion, the Kings have made a seminal gift that leverages Stanford’s knowledge, resources, and human capital to make a real difference in the world for many years to come.”More here
Seth Godin Challenges You To Fail
November 3rd, 2011Seth Godin talks about the idea that we must be willing to fail in order to succeed.
Seth Godin is a bestselling author, world renowned speaker, one of the world’s most popular bloggers, entrepreneur and agent of change. His latest book, ‘Poke The Box’, is a call to action about the initiative you’re taking – in your job or in your life.