For the past few months, companies around the world have focused on overcoming the hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As it has become apparent that these hurdles are unlikely to disappear in the near future, technology leaders have turned their focus back to achieving key business outcomes, as they always have, though this time in an uncertain environment. 

The July 2020 ASUG Executive Exchange Virtual Summit: Partners in Leadership focused on how organizations and their leaders are addressing core business challenges ranging from the employee experience, to digital transformation, to the customer experience. The event featured a lineup of company leaders discussing topics including the need to build diversity and inclusion strategies, ways to leverage automation during your migration to SAP S/4HANA, and internal programs to improve IT practices. Between two general session panels and four break out tracks, attendees heard from decision-makers who shared their insights on how to drive continuous improvements through the technology organization.

The Value of Diversity and Inclusion Programs

The event kicked off with a panel presented by ASUG Women Connect focused on building strategic diversity and inclusion programs. Sharon Rehana, managing editor of digital content at ASUG, was joined by Lori Plate, senior director of MIS at Johnsonville Sausage; Melinda Lawrence, CFO of Worksoft; Margot Goodson, North American diversity and inclusion lead at SAP; and Hernán García González, vice president of talent and experience at Tec de Monterrey. Each of the panelists represented companies that were at various stages of implementing their diversity and inclusion programs.