On Monday, Oct. 16, some 35 students from Charlestown High School’s (CHS) C-Town Tech Career Pathways Program got a once-in-a-lifetime visit from SAP Chief Executive Officer Bill McDermott.
McDermott spoke to CHS students about his life growing up in a working class family in Long Island, opening his first business as a teenager, and working his way up to CEO of the world’s business software market leader, SAP.
McDermott encouraged students to find what makes them happy and follow it, “Find the thing that makes you, you. Then trust it. Trust yourself.”
Students also had the opportunity to ask McDermott questions. In response to student Ricardo’s question about confidence, he said “You’re going to take the shots and get knocked down but if you have the winner’s dream, you’ll always get back up. No one can take that dream away from you.”
SAP is a founding partner in CHS’ C-Town Tech Career Pathways Program. Currently in its third year, C-Town Tech is a unique program that combines rigorous college-level coursework, career exploration, and real world experience. C-Town Tech is designed to prepare students for success in high school, college, and across many industries. SAP employees also serve as career mentors for students.
Following McDermott’s visit, students attended SAP’s ‘We the Future Summit’ where they heard from a distinguished panel of elected officials including Congresswoman Katherine Clark (MA-5), Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-4), Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-6), Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (FL-7), and Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-15).
“SAP has been a critical partner in launching and sustaining our C-Town Tech Career Pathways Program,” said CHS Principal William Thomas. “Students getting the opportunity to speak with Bill McDermott as well as having mentoring relationships with SAP staff is invaluable.”
Bill McDermott is chief executive officer of SAP, the world’s business software market leader. He leads the company’s more than 87,100 employees and 2+ million-person ecosystem. Since becoming CEO in 2010, McDermott’s innovation-led strategy for SAP has resulted in expansive increases in customers, total revenue, market value and profitable growth.