"India is the first location to over achieve the target for TechEd '04"

Uma is an Engineering graduate from Kerela, she holds a management degree from IIMB. Uma has been with SAP Labs for over 7 and a half years and has over 12 years of experience as a developer. Uma has worked extensively in all logistics areas of SAP and is a certified SAP consultant in MM, SD and ABAP. She was also a development architect for the localization of SAP products for the Indian market.

Uma swears by the training and mentoring procedure at SAP that is extended to all new employees and considers it one of the most important factor that has contributed to their tremendous growth over the years.

On SAP Labs India's growth

We have grown tremendously and we have been able to integrate people and help them imbibe the culture and live up to the value of the organisation.

We have a strong coaching and mentoring structure, for each employee who joins we have a mentor assigned. This has really helped us. All new employees get an extensive 6 weeks training about application areas and technology, followed by a 6 months on the job training. This helps them build up to the speed.

Uma's role at SAP Labs India

I am a development manager for a team of 53 people, handling 8 projects in the manufacturing sector. It is really challenging; it's a combination of managing people as well as responsibility of the project. We try to deliver all our projects on schedule.

On SAP TechEd's success

Two things have contributed greatly to this event's success, first one is the getting the right team, and this has worked very well for us. Everyone has worked to the best of his/her abilities; be it the marketing people, the speakers or the organizing groups. And second one is full management support.

"India is the first location where we have over achieved the target..."

We had planned TechEd's in 4 locations San Diego in US, Munich in Europe, India for APAC and Japan, this year. Across these four cities we had a cumulative target of 10,000 delegates. In San Diego target was 3750 we achieved 3600, Munich we had a target of 3750, we achieved 3450 and for India we had a target of 1000 we are close to 1200. So India is the first location where we have over achieved the target.

Tracks at TechEd

We had two types of tracks business and technical. Technical tracks were mainly for developers. Out of the total 1200, 890 have registered for technical tracks, much above our expectations and the rest have registered for business tracks. Senior executives from companies like IBM, Wipro, Satyam etc. have registered for business tracks.

We have not invited freshers, as this is more of an awareness program than a training program. So, we have invited people who are already working on SAP technologies to familiarize them with the latest innovations at SAP.

On the certification exam

All who have registered for technical tracks at TechEd get a chance to write one-certification exams out of the total 14 available. Partners have access to all our study material much in advance so those who wish to take a test can do so.

Training for these certification examinations are provided through SAP's education wing. These classes are held in various cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, through Siemens and SAP's education wing. The training costs about Rs.25,000/- per paper. This certification has a lot of credibility in the market; it works very well for consultants.

On how she strikes a balance between work and home

It's how you drive it and how you set priorities. I am lucky to have a very cooperative family. One has to strike a balance. It's how you drive it and how you set priorities, sometimes family takes a backseat and sometimes office.

If one plans properly, delegates work it helps a lot. I am lucky to have a good team. Best guys have to be identified and rewarded while the difficult ones have to be given individual attention.

Frankly, I do not get any free time, I would love to be with my kids whenever I have some free time.