What Makes Christopher Salis's Journey Inspiring?
- Chris Salis
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Hi, I’m Christopher Salis, and my journey with SAP has helped me learn, grow, and transform. When I first started my career, I never imagined that I would one day manage leadership positions at big firms. However, I realized that life has a way of surprising us when we stay curious and driven.
Technology has always fascinated me. I have always been drawn to the way business applications can solve real problems and make companies more efficient. That passion eventually led me to SAP.
Beginning of My Journey
I started my professional career after completing my bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Indiana. My first job was with Adecco Employment Services, a global leader in HR solutions.
At Adecco, I held different roles, from IT Procurement Manager to Strategic Sourcing Manager. My job was to manage the IT procurement program across various branch locations.
I worked on vendor selection, contract negotiations, and transforming how the company handled employment processes. Those early years taught me what it means to build strong partnerships and lead with integrity.
After Adecco, I joined Gap Inc., where I served as Manager of Strategic Sourcing. Then I took a big step and joined eBay as a Manager of Procurement and Operational Excellence. These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of how procurement and sourcing can truly transform a business.
My Time at Business Objects
In 2006, I joined Business Objects, a leading name in business intelligence and enterprise software. My roles there included Senior Manager of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing, Senior Director of Product Management. Later, I was promoted to Executive Director and Chief of Staff for the Office of the CEO.
It was during this time that I learned how leadership, data, and innovation could create lasting business impact. There, I worked with executive teams and managed day-to-day operations for major divisions. I also played an important role in guiding SAP’s Analytics and Technology Portfolio after the merger.
Joining SAP: A Dream Turned Reality
I believe that joining SAP was a turning point in my career. I joined in 2010 as Vice President and Head of Global Sales for SAP’s Line of Business Solutions for Procurement.
As I grew within SAP, I took on new roles, including Global Vice President and General Manager. Later, I worked as Global Vice President and Head of Portfolio for Go-to-Market there. These roles gave me the chance to innovate and make an impact at a global level.
As Christopher Salis, my major achievement was commercializing SAP’s digital business unit and introducing a new SaaS business model. I helped reduce the average time to revenue for innovations from 12 months to just 90 days. This made a huge difference.
Another major milestone was repositioning products that once had zero revenue. I turned them into success stories worth $41 million. I also helped launch SAP Sourcing. It became the company’s first successful SaaS offering. My efforts led to 300% revenue growth at SAP in 2011.
Beyond SAP: A New Chapter of Mentorship and Impact
Even after my time at SAP, my connection with technology and business strategy continued to grow. Today, I, Christopher Salis, serve as a startup advisor and business strategy consultant. I help new ventures develop strategies.
At Catapuult Consulting, where I work as a Managing Partner, I assist enterprises in building spend management and procurement strategies. I also guide startups to reach their first million in annual recurring revenue.
Making a Social Impact
In 2022, I co-founded the Secure Our Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing school safety through technology. Our focus is on creating safer learning environments for over 250,000 K–12 students. We work on active shooter prevention, medical emergency response, and incident management solutions.
My Message to Future Innovators
If there’s one message I, Christopher Salis, could share with anyone reading this, it would be this: never stop learning. It is not just about a career in technology. It’s about finding opportunities to make an impact in business and communities.
So, keep moving forward, stay curious, and always believe in what you can achieve. The next big breakthrough might just be waiting for you to take the first step.
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