How I Became a Leader in Tech: Christopher Salis
When people ask me how my career evolved, I often smile because the journey has been anything but predictable. I began with a deep interest in technology and business applications, but I never imagined how far that curiosity would take me.
Today, as Christopher Salis, I look back at every chapter, from procurement leadership to global SAP strategy, from startup advising to nonprofit work, with gratitude and a sense of purpose.
How It All Began
After completing my bachelor's degree at Purdue University, I stepped directly into the professional world by joining Adecco Employment Services. I held several roles there, including IT Procurement Manager, Senior IT Buyer, and Strategic Sourcing Manager. Those early years shaped my understanding of operations, vendor management, and large-scale procurement.
At Adecco, I managed a global IT procurement program spanning over 700 branch locations. I negotiated complex contracts, controlled supplier selection, and played a major role in transforming several internal processes.
This period of hands-on experience became the backbone of my career, long before anyone knew the name Christopher Salis in the enterprise software space.
After Adecco, I moved on to Gap Inc. as Manager of Strategic Sourcing, and then to eBay, where I focused on procurement, operational excellence, and strategic sourcing. Both roles helped me refine my approach to efficiency, scalability, and building processes that support global organizations.
My Entry Into Business Objects
My real momentum started in 2006 when I joined Business Objects. This role became a turning point. I started as Senior Manager of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing, later advancing to Senior Director of Global Go-to-Market Process and Product Management, and ultimately, Executive Director and Chief of Staff in the CEO’s office.
At Business Objects, I managed executive-level priorities, oversaw daily operations for SAP’s partner organization, worked on corporate development and M&A, and handled global forecasts for a billion-dollar division. This was where I truly understood what it meant to influence strategy on a scale.
Becoming Part of SAP
The merger between Business Objects and SAP opened the door to the defining chapter of my career. In 2010, I joined SAP as Vice President and Head of Global Sales for Line of Business Solutions for Procurement. That’s when the name Christopher Salis started becoming recognized inside SAP for innovation and strong execution.
I later became:
- Global VP & General Manager, Line of Business Solutions for Procurement
- Global VP & Head of Portfolio, Go-to-Market
During my time at SAP, I focused on building sustainable growth engines. I commercialized the SAP Digital Business unit, introduced a new B2B/C SaaS model, and reduced time-to-revenue for innovations from 12 months to 90 days, a milestone I’m still proud of.
I repositioned zero-revenue products, scaling them for $41M. I helped deliver 4x SaaS revenue growth and contributed to 300% overall revenue growth in 2011. I launched SAP Sourcing, assembled strong global teams, and supported SAP’s Agile frameworks. My strategies also played a role in SAP’s $4.3B acquisition of Ariba, after which I became its leader.
These years solidified my identity as Christopher Salis, an SAP specialist who understood both technology and the business engine behind it.
Life After SAP: Consulting, Startups & Strategy
After leaving SAP, I became a Managing Partner at Catapuult Consulting. Here, I helped enterprises refine procurement strategy while guiding startups from zero to their first million in ARR. I loved being able to blend my corporate experience with entrepreneurial passion.
As a startup advisor, I worked with founders who needed practical direction, financial insight, and go-to-market clarity. Many of them have since scaled their ventures successfully.
Giving Back Through Secure Our Schools Foundation
In 2022, I co-founded the Secure Our Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing school safety for over 250,000 K-12 students. We focused on active shooter prevention, incident management, and emergency response solutions. This work allowed me to contribute to something beyond corporate success, something life changing.
Where I Am Today
Today, as Christopher Salis, I continue to serve as a consultant, strategist, and advisor based in San Mateo, California. Whether I’m supporting businesses with SAP solutions, guiding startups toward sustainable growth, or contributing to meaningful nonprofit initiatives, my mission remains the same: to build systems, strategies, and solutions that create real impact.
My journey has been shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for innovation, and I’m still just getting started.
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