Why Skills-First Leadership Is Replacing the Ivy League Playbook in the C-Suite
05/23/2025
No Comments
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
January 28, 2022: On Thursday, SAP said it has agreed to buy a majority stake in privately-held U.S. fintech firm Taulia. The German business software group seeks to expand its supply-chain financing and working capital loans.
Taulia is working with financial institutions which allows suppliers that use its platform to receive early payments on their delivered goods and services, and the market has increased because of the pandemic disrupting supply chains.
SAP, which provides some of the supply-chain financings through its Ariba brand, said the acquisition of Taulia will help the company remove the limited growth rates for its products.
While SAP did not disclose the deal price, SAP Chief Executive Officer Christian Klein said the value is less than $1 billion. Taulia had raised more than $200 million from Trinity Ventures, Questmark Partner, and Lakestar.
The fintech firm had also secured a credit facility worth more than $6 billion from JPMorgan last year after its partner for supply-chain financing, Greensill Capital, filed for insolvency.
SAP said JPMorgan’s relationship with Taulia remains unchanged, and the bank will continue to operate its strategic alliance and maintain its equity stake.
About two million suppliers use Taulia, resulting in more than $500 billion in annual transaction volume, with 87% of the customers running SAP’s software.
SAP’s former CEO, Léo Apotheker, also serves as an independent director at Taulia, and both companies have joint customers such as Airbus, Nissan, and AstraZeneca.
Separately, SAP confirmed its preliminary fourth-quarter results were boosted by growth at its cloud business. It forecast 2022 cloud revenue of between 11.55 billion euros ($12.95 billion) and 11.85 billion euros, up from 9.42 billion in 2021.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
Loud leaders once ruled the boardroom. Charisma was currency. Big talk drove big valuations.
But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
Companies invest millions in leadership development, yet many of their best executives leave within a few years. Why?
The most successful business leaders don’t just identify gaps in the market; they anticipate future needs before anyone else.
With technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and global interconnectedness, the role of business leaders
Maushum Basu is a visionary leader who inspires his team with a clear, compelling purpose. Unafraid to take calculated risks, he understands that growth often stems from change and innovation. His deep commitment to both Airia Brands, Inc.
When speaking with Martin Paquette, one thing is immediately apparent: he’s honest. His transparency is refreshing. While many shy away from such vulnerability, Paquette sees it as a force to reckon with. The incredible emotional intelligence speaks to years of looking within—it’s also what allows him to acknowledge his mistakes gracefully and use them as opportunities to innovate.
Marina Charriere, CEO of Star Drug Testing Services, Star Drug Testing Services (Windsor Park), and First Defence Face Masks go hand in hand. Star is a drug and alcohol testing facility, and First D F M is a face mask company.
Lejjy Gafour, CEO, CULT Food Science Corp. Lejjy is a self-taught entrepreneur and experienced company operator who made his start creating opportunities at the young age of 14, and he has been working, leading, and building businesses ever since.
Leave us a message
Subscribe
Fill the form our team will contact you
Advertise with us
Fill the form our team will contact you
