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Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP SE, spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22nd. [Photo/Agencies] |
The software giant will continue to grow in China with local support, the company's top executive says.
Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP SE, the world's largest business applications company, is surprisingly philosophical about the accident that left him blind in one eye.
“Vision is not what you see, it's also what you feel and how you make others feel,” the 54-year-old says, speaking on topics ranging from China's economic slowdown to the next one. He told China Daily in an exclusive interview. NBA Champion.
“I have a lot of self-confidence and the resilience that comes from being knocked down and getting back up again,” said a tinted McDermott.
The accident occurred while he was on vacation at his brother's house. In the darkness of the night, he stumbled on an unfamiliar staircase and fell heavily.
His fighting spirit got him through. It was the same spirit that helped him rise from a humble beginning to lead a multinational conglomerate that generated more than $22.5 billion in revenue last year.
He was instilled with a work ethic from an early age. Mr. McDermott, who grew up on Long Island, New York, opened a delicatessen in his teens. The restaurant was so successful that he was able to use the profits to pay for college. He became the first American CEO of Germany-based SAP in 2014 after he worked at a number of top companies such as Xerox and Gartner.
SAP's China business, including its newly introduced cloud business, posted strong growth that exceeded expectations and the economic slowdown. Below are edited excerpts.
You were building your own startup business before you were 20 years old. What advice would you give to young Chinese entrepreneurs who want to emulate you?
You have to start by having a dream. No country knows this better than China. You have to have a dream to make your dream come true. Young people need to take more time to think about this rather than continue to be forced into a life that someone else has chosen for them.
They need to think a little more independently about what really excites them and makes them happy. And think big. That's my advice.
China's GDP growth rate in 2015 was 6.9%, the lowest in more than 20 years. Will there be an impact on SAP's business?
Whenever I hear concerns about China slowing down, China always surprises everyone with its upswing, and I think it will happen again.
If there was a traffic jam in China, you wouldn't know it while driving on the streets of Beijing. Even if China slows down somewhat, it would be natural for the growth of large economies to slow down on a higher basis.
So I don't think we're worried about this. As far as I know, large, globally active and successful companies aren't as worried about this as the headlines suggest.
What do you think about the company's China operations last year?
This year was SAP's biggest year since entering China. I think SAP will continue to thrive in China. We have very good relationships with state-owned enterprises, and we have only scratched the surface of the possibilities, not only with state-owned enterprises but also with their subsidiaries.
We have a great product for small businesses called SAP Anywhere. It was innovated in China for China and the rest of the world. I think it's a great statement for China.
So I think small businesses can do very well. This will be a huge success for SAP in China this year.
China is placing more emphasis on information security issues for foreign products. Will this hinder your business in the country?
We've spent just under 45 years inventing, reinventing, and securing what we believe is the most capable and secure business software on the planet. Therefore, there are no security concerns. On the contrary, we've learned a lot about security, whether it's serving the military, government, or special operations for highly important large corporations, or managing data the way our customers want their data managed. think.
What do you think about SAP's relationship with the Chinese government?
that's great. One of the things that I really admire about China is the attitude of not only the people but the government. The government is very thoughtful, thoughtful, strategic and has long-term thinking in its planning process.
I am very impressed by President Xi Jinping's ideas regarding Internet Plus. All captivated within a digital framework. It is a role model for the world.
What are some examples of how SAP is changing the way traditional enterprises manage their business?
What's interesting about SAP is that it's in the market in 25 different industries.
If you look at our performance, it was very strong across all industries. This is one of our big advantages, you don't have to belong to one industry or the other.
When you're in retail, you need to rethink your retail value chain and drive an e-commerce strategy in addition to your in-store strategy.
If you are an inventor and have developed a great product, you need to think about how to offer it directly to consumers wholesale or retail. You'll need a whole system to do that.
SAP products are used in many industries, from banking to machinery. Which sectors will drive revenue the most in 2016?
It's hard to say. When I think about industries, it's like choosing my favorite child, I love them all. Even the oil and gas industry, with its low oil prices, turned out to be a very attractive industry for SAP.
Companies need to increase efficiency and do more with less to maintain healthy margins. Systems will need to do the work traditionally done by humans, and humans will need to do the work that creates more value. We have seen many cases like this.
I think SAP is in a good position in a difficult situation as it needs to improve efficiency and digitize processes.
A booming industry requires people to step out of their comfort zone in order to grow. They're going to double down on SAP because we can help them get more funding. You can play in either case.
Did the accident change you as a person?
What's interesting in that sense is that I too have benefited in my own way. Because vision is not just what you see, it's also what you feel and how you make others feel. In that sense, I think I learned a lot. I think being there has given me a greater appreciation for what is possible. I think there is a higher purpose. If you think anything about Bill McDermott, you probably think he's a good competitor.
Now you're looking at a guy who got off the mat and not only lived to tell the tale, but got back into the game and hopefully helped people figure out what it was like to be able to bounce back from adversity. . Even when you are knocked down, you can get back up again and appreciate each day as it is now.
We know you are a basketball fan. Which team do you support?
My son loves the Lakers, so I would have to say Lakers. He actually liked basketball since he was little because his grandfather was a basketball player. We like playing more than watching. The Knicks, Celtics, and Lakers are my favorite teams, but I decided to join the Pistons because they were one of the teams my grandfather played for during his greatest years.
Want to predict who will be this year's NBA Champion?
I'm on the board of directors for Under Armor, and Stephen Curry is part of Under Armor, so I support the Warriors. So I think they will be champions again.
How do you spend your free time?
I love spending quality time with my family. I don't think businessmen are perfect people. And I love fishing with my sons. I love the sea. The sea brings great peace to people.
Moreover, we are always connected. Some people ask, “Can I have it amputated?” No, I don't want to disconnect. This is because staying connected prevents work from piling up and helps the company move forward quickly.
Is there a book you want to read?
I would like to read the sequel to the book I'm currently writing, “Winners Dream: A Journey from Corner Store to Corner Office.” After my injury, I think a lot of people got something from my story, so it inspired me a lot.
I feel like there are a lot of people, especially young people, who need a dream or think they are incompetent. I want to help them focus on their work with purpose and belief that they can make a difference in the world.
resume
Age: 54 years old
Place of birth: Queens, New York
Education: Dowling College of Business Administration
Northwestern University, MBA
Career at SAP:
2002: Joined SAP as US CEO
2008-10: Executive Committee Member
2010-14: SAP Co-CEO
2014: SAP CEO
Family structure: Married, 2 children