Insights Call with New Board Member Annette Green from SAS

Topic: Artificial Intelligence and the Corona Crisis - Is Corona Accelerating Digital Transformation?


On October 7, 2020, AmCham Germany's Regional Chapter Rhine-Neckar Triangle hosted an Insights Call with our new Board Member Annette Green, Vice President DACH at SAS Institute GmbH.

After introductions by Chapter Chairs Axel Isele from KPMG and Dr. Thomas Keil from SAS Institute GmbH, the floor was opened for an interview between Jakob Köllhofer, Director of the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut in Heidelberg, and Annette Green. During the interview, Green talked about her upbringing and her interest in technology and IT from an early age. In discussing her career at SAS, she noted how the company consistently gave her new insights and opportunities, starting from very technical positions at the beginning in product management to marketing and sales along the way. 

When asked about women in the IT industry, she noted how SAS was instrumental in providing support and daycare for her as a mother and also emphasized how important it is for girls - especially at a young age - to be encouraged by mentors and teachers to pursue a career in IT and technology. 

During the interview, discussion topics also included artificial intelligence and its potential for solving current problems. Green noted that while differences are apparent in terms of the regulatory environment and data privacy on both sides of the Atlantic, artificial intelligence is still used in the same way - e.g., to optimize supply chains, assist financial institutions in their analyses, and more.

Green called for Europeans to experiment more and have an open mindset regarding IT technologies and artificial intelligence. In particular, she pointed out the potential of AI solutions during the current Coronavirus pandemic in collecting and analyzing data on infection rates, intensive care capacity, and enacting hospital hotlines. She also discussed the current strategy for SAS in German-speaking Europe - namely, to provide customers with more AI solutions and services - and noted that while 2020 will not be the biggest growth year for the company, it will still remain a stable business year.

We'd like to thank Annette Green and Jakob Köllhofer for the interesting interview as well as the Regional Chapter Rhine-Neckar Triangle for organizing this event!

Heather Liermann

Head of Department

Membership Engagement & Development