Some anniversaries are more than just milestones. They provide an opportunity to reflect on how far a community has come while also looking to the opportunities and responsibilities of the future.

As Pride@SAP celebrates its 25th anniversary, this year's global theme reminds us, “Pride. Always Shining.” remember that inclusion cannot be limited to a single month in the calendar.

Pride is evident in moments of celebration, but its true impact is measured in the daily actions we take to create workplaces and communities where all people can achieve their potential.

At Pride@SAP Germany we live this commitment with our local motto: “Unapologetically Inclusive”. It reflects our belief that inclusion should not be conditional, casual or reserved. It must be visible, conscious and firmly anchored in our daily collaboration.

Together, these guiding principles convey a simple but powerful message: Pride shines brightest when supported year-round.

When colleagues founded Pride@SAP in 2001, they created much more than just an employee network. They created visibility, safety and community at a time when many LGBTQIA+ employees still felt they had to hide parts of their identity in the workplace. What began as a grassroots initiative has since grown into one of SAP's most storied communities, helping to shape a culture where authenticity, belonging, and allyship are not only encouraged, but celebrated.

Today, Pride@SAP continues to play a central role in promoting inclusion, supporting employees worldwide, and demonstrating why diversity remains a key driver of innovation and business success.

From Visibility to Allyship

Over the past 25 years, Pride@SAP has grown from a small group of dedicated advocates to a global community of employees and allies. Through local chapters, awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, mentoring programs and participation in Pride events worldwide, the network has helped create an environment in which employees can bring their whole selves to work.

His influence extends far beyond individual experiences. Pride@SAP has shaped the conversation about inclusion, equity and belonging within SAP, while strengthening partnerships with customers, communities and organizations that are also committed to more inclusive workplaces.

While Pride Month remains an important time for visibility and celebration, the real work of inclusive workplaces happens every day. This ensures that support, allyship and engagement are not just present in June, but create a culture where people feel seen, respected and empowered all year round.

For Pride@SAP Germany, “Unapologetically Inclusive” means understanding diversity not as a goal, but as a lived reality that strengthens our teams, our culture and our company.

Inclusion as a business imperative

The importance of inclusion goes far beyond corporate culture. In a rapidly changing business environment, organizations that promote psychological safety, diverse perspectives and authentic leadership are better positioned to drive innovation, strengthen collaboration and attract top talent.

Studies consistently show that inclusive workplaces lead to higher employee engagement, better employee retention and better performing teams. When people feel confident bringing their authentic selves to work, they are more likely to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and actively contribute to solving complex business challenges.

At SAP, this is evident in how diverse teams collaborate across regions, bring broader perspectives to product development, and strengthen relationships with customers worldwide.

As companies compete globally for talent and navigate increasingly complex social and economic environments, creating workplaces where people experience belonging remains both the morally right and business necessary.

A new chapter: The Berlin Pride Summit

Pride@SAP's 25th anniversary celebration comes at a time when discussions about diversity, inclusion and corporate responsibility continue to evolve around the world.

In May 2026, SAP organized the first Berlin Pride Summit together with Berliner CSD eV, the SAP Business Women's Network, La French Tech Berlin and the organization Social Responsibility, Inclusion & Communities.

More than 90 participants from over 120 registrations came together. SAP, customers, partner organizations and community leaders were represented.

The summit provided a platform for intensive exchange on topics such as Allyship, diversity under pressure and the role of companies in promoting inclusion.

More importantly, the event highlighted the value of collaboration across company boundaries. By bringing together voices from business, community organizations, advocacy groups and allies, it marked a shift from internal community work to cross-sector collaboration and leadership.

The Berlin Pride Summit embodied the philosophy of “Pride. Always Shining.” in practice. He showed that inclusion has its greatest impact when it goes beyond individual organizations and becomes a shared commitment.

At a time when diversity and inclusion policies are increasingly being scrutinized in many parts of the world, this message seems more relevant than ever: visibility matters. Allyship matters. And sustainable action counts most.

The next chapter of Pride@SAP will be characterized by both greater internal engagement and activities outside the company. It will be about building stronger partnerships, creating broader networks and taking a more active role in shaping inclusive business practices across industries and communities.

Pride@SAP's success over the past 25 years has been made possible by countless employees, allies, leaders and partners who have championed inclusion and belonging.

This anniversary reminds us that progress can never be taken for granted. Every generation is called upon to continue the work toward more inclusive workplaces and societies.

“At SAP, inclusion is both a cultural commitment and a business imperative. Diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to innovate, improve our decision-making and ultimately enable us to deliver greater value to our customers. Pride@SAP plays a critical role in fostering an environment in which employees feel respected, supported and empowered to achieve their full potential. Our 2026 Pride Month theme “Pride. Always Shining” represents our commitment to inclusion Keeping it visible and relevant year-round. I am proud to serve as executive sponsor of a community that strengthens both our culture and our performance.”

Dominik Asam, CFO of SAP SE

The anniversary also reminds us that progress is never achieved alone. Partnerships, allyship and visible leadership remain critical to creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.

“Inclusion only develops its full effect when it is consistently practiced, made visible and firmly anchored in our daily actions and our leadership culture. Pride@SAP impressively demonstrated how employee-driven communities can shape our corporate culture, promote business success and create valuable connections beyond the boundaries of our company. Looking to the future, our aim is clear: to further strengthen belonging, expand allyship and drive sustainable change together with our partners.”

Rashmi Verma, Chief Inclusion & Social Impact Officer, SAP

Together, these voices underscore a simple but powerful message: inclusion requires commitment, courage and continuous action.

Outlook: The next 25 years

As Pride@SAP looks to the future, the focus remains on building connections, strengthening allyship, and creating spaces where employees can authentically grow and thrive. The network is increasingly expanding its work beyond SAP, partnering with customers, community organizations and other companies that share the same vision of inclusion and belonging.

Events such as the Berlin Pride Summit and SAP's sponsorship of Pride celebrations in Berlin, Mexico City, Tokyo and Vancouver demonstrate the commitment to advancing this vision worldwide.

At the same time, Pride@SAP remains committed to strengthening collaboration between SAP's various employee networks. Intersectionality has long been a core principle of Pride@SAP and recognizes that employees often bring multiple dimensions of identity and experience to the workplace.

This is already evident in initiatives such as the Pride Summit, which brings together different perspectives and promotes collaboration between networks such as the Business Women's Network (BWN) and others. Further deepening these partnerships will help increase impact, expand Allyship, and advance inclusion at SAP.

At a time of increasing social polarization and uncertainty, communities like Pride@SAP play an important role in bringing people together, promoting understanding and ensuring that diverse perspectives continue to be heard.

This means “Pride. Always Shining.” for us: Not a single event. Not a single month. But a lasting commitment to visibility, allyship and belonging.

And that’s what “Unapologetically Inclusive” means: creating environments in which people can be themselves without compromise, contribute their unique perspectives and help shape a future in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

25 years after its founding, Pride@SAP continues to be guided by the same belief that inspired its creation: people do their best work when they can be themselves.

Because inclusion is not just about visibility – it is about creating jobs, communities and future prospects in which everyone can belong, contribute and be successful.