Episode 30: Transformation is a capability, not a project - Rouven Morato

Guest: 

•  Rouven Morato - President & CRO for SAP Signavio, LeanIX, WalkMe and RISEwithSAP - SAP SE

Hosts: 

• Alexander Greb - Consulting Director - cbs corporate business solutions

For the launch episode of Season 2 of Transformation Every Day, Alexander Greb welcomes Rouven Morato for a conversation that goes far beyond standard transformation talk.

Rouven is currently in transition and brings a rare end-to-end perspective shaped by a remarkable SAP career: from finance to data and analytics, from go-to-market to business transformation leadership. He was the youngest CFO at SAP and later played a key role in shaping major parts of SAP’s transformation story, including SAP Signavio, LeanIX, WalkMe, and RISE with SAP.

In this episode, Rouven shares how his journey through different functions gave him a uniquely holistic view of how companies really work, and why real transformation is never just about technology. Together, Alex and Rouven discuss why so many transformation programs struggle, why strong foundations matter more than shiny tools, and why process, systems, data, and people always have to be considered together.

The conversation also offers fascinating behind-the-scenes storytelling from inside SAP: from the early days of cloud acquisitions and cultural integration challenges, to the rise of SAP’s own internal transformation efforts, the invention of the digital boardroom, and the strategic thinking that ultimately led to business transformation management becoming a central capability.

A major focus of the episode is the idea that transformation should not be treated as a one-off project, but as an organizational muscle that needs to be built and trained over time. Rouven explains why companies that develop this capability are in a far stronger position to absorb innovation, move faster, and create real business value.

And of course, the conversation goes deep into AI.

Not from a hype angle, but from the perspective of someone who is actively studying, testing, and evaluating what AI will really mean for enterprise software, business models, leadership, and society. Rouven shares why he believes AI is different from previous technology waves, where he sees the real impact emerging, why many companies will struggle to benefit from it, and what kind of operating model will separate winners from laggards.

This is a thoughtful, candid, and highly relevant episode for anyone interested in SAP, enterprise transformation, leadership, and the future of technology.

Listen in for deep insights, sharp perspectives, and a lot of compelling storytelling about how some of the most important transformation moves inside SAP actually came together.

Follow Rouven here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rouven-morato-06264743/

Also visit: https://www.foreyou.golf/

Follow Alexander: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergreb/
Follow Johannes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanneslangguth/

Thanks to Steven Spears for lending his voice for our podcast intro.
Theme music by Luis Álvarez a.k.a. Fourth Dogma