SAP University Alliances (UA) spotlights Lars Johnson, a young professional currently working for SAP America. The courses at the University of Tampa provided Lars with a solid SAP foundation enabling him to get a great job and support SAP customers.
The goal of the UA Spotlight Series is to exchange insights with professors, lecturers, students, researchers and the entire SAP ecosystem and community.
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Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you currently located? A fun fact or hobbies that you would like to share with the community?
I currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina where I enjoy several outdoor activities including fly-fishing and hiking. Also, I started to get back into golf after a 10-year break.
Which university did you graduate from? What was your major? When and how did you first hear about SAP? Which classes used SAP software and/or curricula in the classroom?
In December 2010, I graduated from the University of Tampa, in Florida with an MBA. A special acknowledgement goes to my professors, Dr. Alhourani, Dr. Jain, and Dr. Webb who were instrumental in providing encouragement and guidance.
SAP software products and solutions were mentioned in courses relating to Supply Chain & IT Management. Activities included running simulations related to water bottle distribution, soda, and muesli business processes.
Later I had the opportunity to take a special topics course on configuring an SAP system which included the completion of a pen manufacturing simulation. During this time, I realized just how big, complex, and advanced the SAP system really is in running businesses. This complexity and the robust capabilities of ERP Central Component (ECC 6.0) launched my interest in SAP.
Where do you work now (name of organization or identify it by the industry – i.e. major manufacturing organization)? What SAP-related skills do you use in your job? How have your experiences with SAP solutions in the classroom helped you in your current job (and career)?
Today, I am an Associate Consultant at SAP America with the Customer Relationship Management team. A key responsibility is to collaborate with clients to determine what best practices we can draw upon and the best way to configure the system for their needs.
Often we spend time using the Implementation Guide (IMG) to configure the systems as well as provide unit and integration testing.
The hands-on experience I gained during my university courses solidified my interest in IT and propelled me into my current SAP career path.
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