Kavitha Krishnan
Tech Executive
Vice President, AI Innovations in Procurement
SAP Labs India Pvt Limited
India | India
Kavitha Vice President and Head of Innovation Center Network at SAP Labs India is a distinguished leader with over 25 years of experience in the software business, charting new territories in the tech landscape with her visionary leadership and ground-breaking achievements. With a stellar portfolio boasting more than 25 patents, she leads the charge in researching, contextualising, developing, incubating, and early adopting new, disruptive technologies and transformative innovations poised to revolutionise SAP's offerings over the next two to five years and is driving strategic, complex engineering projects from concept to completion. She has been pivotal in assembling high-performing teams.
Her passion lies in identifying pertinent market problems and leveraging innovative technology solutions to craft products that customers truly embrace. Her track record speaks volumes, with successful launches of way ahead of times and ground breaking projects like Metaverse (Augmented Employee Experience) and Gen AI (Dynamic Question and Answer Chatbot).
Her expertise spans a vast array of domains, encompassing Gen AI, AI/ML applications, analytics, IoT, mobile, retail, financial accounting, CRM service, crowdsourcing, research, and procurement.
Recognised for her outstanding contributions, Kavitha has amassed a collection of accolades and awards, including the prestigious 2024 SAP Grand Champions Award for Innovation. Her alma mater, PSG College of Technology, has honoured her as a distinguished alumna, while leading national newspapers like the Indian Express and Times of India, along with esteemed platforms like Forbes and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), have lauded her exemplary leadership in the technology sector.
Beyond accolades, her commitment to nurturing innovation and empowering future generations shines through her initiatives, such as organising university hackathons with participation from 1730 Indian universities, driving patent initiatives, and fostering campus engagement. She actively champions corporate social responsibility efforts, mentors girls in STEM, and advocates for diversity and inclusion in the tech sphere.
She continues to inspire and lead the charge in the ever-evolving world of technology. With her unwavering dedication, visionary outlook, and transformative leadership, she is shaping the future of SAP and the entire tech industry. Join us in celebrating her remarkable journey and unparalleled contributions to innovation.
Her passion lies in identifying pertinent market problems and leveraging innovative technology solutions to craft products that customers truly embrace. Her track record speaks volumes, with successful launches of way ahead of times and ground breaking projects like Metaverse (Augmented Employee Experience) and Gen AI (Dynamic Question and Answer Chatbot).
Her expertise spans a vast array of domains, encompassing Gen AI, AI/ML applications, analytics, IoT, mobile, retail, financial accounting, CRM service, crowdsourcing, research, and procurement.
Recognised for her outstanding contributions, Kavitha has amassed a collection of accolades and awards, including the prestigious 2024 SAP Grand Champions Award for Innovation. Her alma mater, PSG College of Technology, has honoured her as a distinguished alumna, while leading national newspapers like the Indian Express and Times of India, along with esteemed platforms like Forbes and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), have lauded her exemplary leadership in the technology sector.
Beyond accolades, her commitment to nurturing innovation and empowering future generations shines through her initiatives, such as organising university hackathons with participation from 1730 Indian universities, driving patent initiatives, and fostering campus engagement. She actively champions corporate social responsibility efforts, mentors girls in STEM, and advocates for diversity and inclusion in the tech sphere.
She continues to inspire and lead the charge in the ever-evolving world of technology. With her unwavering dedication, visionary outlook, and transformative leadership, she is shaping the future of SAP and the entire tech industry. Join us in celebrating her remarkable journey and unparalleled contributions to innovation.
About innovation and new technologies
Throughout my journey, I've embarked on numerous transformative ventures, each fuelled by a relentless pursuit of innovation. Among these, "Vitality" stands out—a ground-breaking AI project where I orchestrated the creation of a digital replica of individuals, unlocking profound insights into their workplace dynamics and needs. Another milestone is the integration of Prescriptive Recommendations into procurement processes, revolutionizing decision-making and efficiency. At SAP Ariba, I spearheaded Customer Renewal Predictions, harnessing predictive analytics to optimize customer retention strategies with unparalleled precision. Moreover, I pioneered Employee Onboarding in the Metaverse, harnessing Gen AI to personalize and streamline the onboarding journey. Collaborating with the Fraunhofer Research Institute, I led the charge in Anomaly Detection of Industrial Equipment using Airborne Sound, advancing predictive maintenance capabilities. Additionally, my initiatives to assess Psychological Capital through Machine Learning techniques have fostered a culture of support and growth within organizations. Notably, my portfolio boasts a significant number of patents in the AI/ML domain, a testament to my unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Most of my patents are in the AI / ML space.
About diversity and inclusion promotion
Throughout my journey, I've remained steadfast in my commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion, both within my team and the broader community.
1. Inclusive Hiring Practices: I've been a vocal advocate for implementing strategies that ensure our hiring processes are inclusive and free from bias. This entails actively seeking out candidates from diverse backgrounds, instituting structured interview processes, and providing unconscious bias to the hiring process.
2. Mentorship and Support: Believing in the transformative power of mentorship, especially for underrepresented groups in the tech industry, I've dedicated myself to mentoring individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through guidance, support, and opportunities for advancement, I've worked to empower them to achieve their full potential. Additionally, I extend my mentorship to students at my alma mater, nurturing the next generation of diverse talent.
3. Leadership in DEI Initiatives: At the forefront of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, I've led data-driven initiatives within my organization to identify barriers and propose impactful initiatives for improvement. By championing DEI initiatives, I strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
4. Community Engagement: During my tenure at SAP Research, I actively engaged with the Autistic Society of India, collaborating on software solutions to support children with autism. Through community engagement, I've sought to make meaningful contributions to societal challenges and create opportunities for marginalized groups.
5. Thought Leadership and Advocacy: Leveraging my platform, I advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. By sharing insights, experiences, and lessons learned, I aim to inspire others to drive positive change within their organizations and beyond.
1. Inclusive Hiring Practices: I've been a vocal advocate for implementing strategies that ensure our hiring processes are inclusive and free from bias. This entails actively seeking out candidates from diverse backgrounds, instituting structured interview processes, and providing unconscious bias to the hiring process.
2. Mentorship and Support: Believing in the transformative power of mentorship, especially for underrepresented groups in the tech industry, I've dedicated myself to mentoring individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through guidance, support, and opportunities for advancement, I've worked to empower them to achieve their full potential. Additionally, I extend my mentorship to students at my alma mater, nurturing the next generation of diverse talent.
3. Leadership in DEI Initiatives: At the forefront of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, I've led data-driven initiatives within my organization to identify barriers and propose impactful initiatives for improvement. By championing DEI initiatives, I strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
4. Community Engagement: During my tenure at SAP Research, I actively engaged with the Autistic Society of India, collaborating on software solutions to support children with autism. Through community engagement, I've sought to make meaningful contributions to societal challenges and create opportunities for marginalized groups.
5. Thought Leadership and Advocacy: Leveraging my platform, I advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. By sharing insights, experiences, and lessons learned, I aim to inspire others to drive positive change within their organizations and beyond.