SAP : and Partners Work with UNTIL to Advance Gender Equality Globally

This week at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, SAP, The Female Quotient, Deloitte Digital, and We Are All Human Foundation are helping to bring a strong focus on purpose, showcasing how the creative industry can inspire movements and experiences that scale impact for the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including gender equality.

To accelerate action around empowering women as leaders, SAP is joining with the United Nations Technology Innovation Labs (UNTIL) program to announce the launch of the United Nations Technology Innovation Lab for gender equality to advance UN Global Goal 5 : Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

'The communities that gather at Cannes Lions spend their lives reinventing how communications, experiences, content, and technology come together to change the world,' says Philip Thomas, president of Ascential Events and chairman of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. 'I have no doubt they will respond to this initiative as they always do - with passion and creativity.'

Moving Humanity Forward Toward a World of Gender Equality

The United Nations Technology Innovation Lab for gender equality aims to inspire a global, purpose-driven community to leverage emerging technologies and empower women as leaders and foster girls as tomorrow's purpose-driven generation that can take an equal role with men to transform societies, nations, and humanity as a whole.

'The UN Technology Innovation Labs are designed to move humanity forward faster by focusing on the use of innovative technology to solve some of humanity's most pressing needs,' says Dianne Dain, Global Partnerships, UN Technology Innovation Labs. 'To achieve gender equality, we have to take action. UNTIL shares a joint vision with SAP and its partners to advance equality around the world.'

'Change happens when we work together. The Female Quotient is joining the UN Technology Innovation Lab for gender equality to have an even bigger impact on advancing women in the workplace and for growing a community of young women who will become the next generation of female leaders,' says Shelley Zalis, CEO, The Female Quotient. 'Gender equality isn't only a female issue: It's a social and economic imperative. By working with UNTIL, we can accelerate the movement for change, which starts with each and every one of us.'

'The creative community has a unique opportunity to use its collective voice to champion for a better future. Fighting for gender equality will not only positively impact women and girls, but it will help to stimulate economic growth and prosperity around the world,' says Alicia Hatch, chief marketing officer, Deloitte Digital. 'We're excited to work with UNTIL and SAP Next-Gen to empower women and girls and work toward diminishing the gender inequality that prevents them from reaching their full potential.'

'SAP aims to scale the reach and impact of the UN Technology Innovation Lab for gender equality through our global network of more than 150 SAP Next-Gen Lab spaces at universities, partners, and SAP offices, as well as a growing global network of FQ Lounges @ Campuses in a partnership with The Female Quotient,' says Ann Rosenberg, senior vice president and global head of SAP Next-Gen. 'Roles are being redefined. By working with UNTIL and our global partners, including Deloitte Digital, The Female Quotient, and We Are All Human Foundation, we can make gender equality the new normal. Today's insights from female thought leaders will help bring about tomorrow's solutions that accelerate achieving the SDGs.'

FQ App: Building a Community Around UNTIL for Gender Equality

The UN Technology Innovation Lab for gender equality will be accelerated through the FQ app, powered by SAP technology and based on The Female Quotient's next-step solutions for advancing equality. The FQ app was launched earlier this year on International Women's Day and connects a network focused on empowering women and girls in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship linked to the SDGs. Next-generation female leaders can use the app to join events, be inspired by new stories in the community, find a nearby FQ Lounge @ Campus, and get educated on STEAM topics to become purpose-driven innovators.

Advancing Opportunities for Hispanic Women

On June 21, the SAP Next-Gen program, Deloitte Digital, and We Are All Human Foundation will join with the UN Technology Innovation Labs program to share a call-to-action for creative leaders gathering at the Goals House at Cannes Lions: be part of a global movement inspiring industry, governments, and institutions to accelerate achieving equal rights and respect for all. The session will focus on advancing opportunities for Hispanic women as leaders in innovation with purpose.

'It's imperative to empower and engage the Hispanic community at all levels, from students to professionals, in order to retain and celebrate the contributions our community has made and will continue to make,' says Claudia Romo Edelman, founder of We Are All Human Foundation and co-host of Global GoalsCast. 'As a Hispanic woman, I recognize the determination and passion to succeed and value the magnitude industries have on advancing opportunities for women and girls to achieve the SDGs.'

Building on the announcement of the UN Technology Innovation Lab for gender equality at Cannes Lions, SAP Next-Gen aims to activate its global network of SAP Next-Gen Lab spaces and work with partners to accelerate a global movement to empower women and girls to lead in the race to achieve the SDGs.