The business world presents relentless competition. Here, staying ahead requires more than speed—it demands strategic deployment of the latest technological advancements. Companies today are leveraging cutting-edge tools like robots, intelligent machines, and data analysis to optimize efficiency, enhance products, and ultimately outpace rivals in the advancing market landscape.
Within this thriving environment, one individual stands out as a visionary leader driving innovation and growth in the IT industry. With over 25 years of experience, Christopher Carter embodies this ethos of technological advancement and business acumen. His journey in the IT sector reflects the relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to leveraging technology for strategic advantage.
Positioned as the Chairman and CEO, Christopher is dedicated to harnessing the power of data through AI and chatbots and revolutionizing cloud computing services for SAP customers worldwide. Notably, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the technological realm by spearheading the creation of the first SAP cloud and SAP HANA production cloud.
Recognized as a top business winner, recipient of prestigious awards such as the ACQ Award, and included in the Inc. 500 and 5000 lists, Christopher’s expertise and achievements in the IT field are incomparable. As a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, he continues to contribute insights and drive innovation in the industry.
At the core of Christopher’s leadership philosophy lies a commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. Through his visionary leadership, Approyo continues to set new standards in the IT industry, empowering businesses to navigate the complexities of the digital age with confidence and agility.
Fueling Passion
Christopher’s journey commenced in Wisconsin, where his passion for computers ignited. “I always knew I enjoyed working, playing, tinkering, and developing on computers,” he reflects. From his humble beginnings with a Commodore Vic 20, he progressed through an Atari, a Commodore 64, and finally to an Apple. He states, “It was just something I loved to do, play with, create, and grow, so it kept me moving forward.”
Even during his college years, Christopher’s ardor for computers remained firm. “My university allowed me to expand my mind and not just be in a box of math and everything else,” he recalls. Choosing courses that resonated with his interests in computer technology, history, and mathematics, he found his stride. “I truly excelled then, creating my first company in college and now moving forward with multiple companies I run and support daily and weekly.”
Leadership Principles
“When it comes to leadership, my principles are clear,” Christopher asserts. I will always be truthful and honest. I will always tell you how I see it in front of you.” For Christopher, honesty and transparency are non-negotiables in his personal and professional interactions. “It’s the same way I choose my children. It’s the same way I treat my staff,” he emphasizes.
Acknowledging the multifaceted nature of leadership, Christopher underscores the importance of adaptability. “Sometimes you have to be blunt and to the point. Sometimes, you must be loving and caring and pat somebody on the back.” He believes in prioritizing the well-being of his team, nurturing relationships with customers, and fostering a genuine passion for the company’s mission. “It’s about prioritizing your team, your customers, and the love of your company,” he shares.
Innovate, Innovate, Innovate
“Innovation and development are at the core of our ethos,” Christopher affirms. “I always have to put the pedal to the metal and innovate, innovate, innovate.” With a firm belief in leading by example, Christopher emphasizes fostering a culture of innovation within his team.
“Our Overwatch tool is, in my opinion, the best SAP landscape application monitoring tool developed,” he asserts proudly. Leveraging AI-based technology, the tool is a testament to their commitment to providing top-notch solutions for their customers. “Every single one of our customer’s landscapes has this tool attached to it to monitor their solution,” Christopher explains, highlighting its widespread adoption and utility.
Moreover, Christopher stresses their continuous commitment to improvement. “We are constantly evolving, updating, and creating new tool components to make it better and stronger for everyone,” he states.
Epicenter Exploration
Motivated by a bottle of Scotch and a perfect friend, Christopher embarked on a journey of discovery. “I learned much more about what was happening with SAP, the in-memory database, and the organization’s direction,” he reflects. Taking a break, he immersed himself in the startup world before venturing to Germany and Palo Alto, CA, the two epicenters of SAP.
“In about 30 days, I got inundated with what was happening with in-memory data and the go-forward strategy for SAP,” Christopher recalls. This deep dive led to a significant milestone: “We became the 1st of 20 startup focus program partners.” Christopher’s confidence in their future is firm: “I firmly believe that with our AI cloud solutions Overwatch and our incredibly talented team, we will be able to support the SAP ecosystem for years and years to come.”
Making a Difference
“We have this as a mantra: we want to culture and foster excellence in our team,” Christopher emphasizes. His approach to staffing is global, seeking out the ‘best and brightest staff members from around the world.’ This inclusive strategy extends outside the borders, with team members hailing from the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, Spain, and the United States.
“For me, it’s about quality,” Christopher states firmly. He prioritizes individuals who understand that ‘the customer comes first’ and possess the ability to collaborate effectively across geographical boundaries. Ultimately, Christopher’s goal is simple—to make a difference in our organization and with our customers.
Leading with Conviction
“First and foremost, we’re the best,” Christopher asserts confidently. “I feel in my heart that we provide the best team to sell you your SAP licenses—we have the best team to implement your strategy on a cloud within rise and the solution of the future with AI-based technologies.” His belief in his team’s prowess extends to their ability to manage, monitor, and support the organization for the future and, most importantly, the organization as it goes forward.
Christopher’s conviction in the team’s excellence stems from firsthand experience. “I know our team is incredible—I see it daily,” he affirms. Working closely with them, he witnesses their dedication and prowess in action. “I genuinely want them to help our customers succeed,” he adds. This commitment to excellence is not unfounded—Christopher is keenly aware of the competition. “I hear the backstabbing, rumors, and innuendos about them and their capabilities,” he acknowledges. “So yes, we are the best.”
Addressing Setbacks
“Every company has setbacks, challenges, and problems that arise daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly,” Christopher acknowledges. As a leader, he emphasizes the importance of taking charge and addressing these issues head-on. “You need to look at the problem,” he advises. “Is it a NOW problem, an ongoing problem, or a problem that will rectify itself in the end?”
Christopher advocates for a tailored approach to each challenge. “It would be best to address all challenges and setbacks individually for what they are and how they are,” he suggests. Rather than assuming one size fits all, he encourages leaders to understand the nuances of each situation and find suitable solutions.
Full Throttle Leadership
Christopher has a straightforward yet powerful message regarding aspiring business leaders in the IT industry or entrepreneurship. He shares, “Just put the foot to the pedal, put that pedal to the floor, and go as hard as you possibly can as fast as possible.”
Drawing inspiration from a racing metaphor, Christopher encourages a relentless pursuit of goals. “As that race car driver said, my foot’s not coming off the gas until I hit the checkered flag, or I’ll see God!” he exclaims.
Embracing a fearless attitude, Christopher urges aspiring leaders to ‘go for it, go for it.’ He advocates for resilience, emphasizing embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. “Fail fast. If you’re going to fail, get on to the next one, keep moving forward, never stop, never slow down, keep moving.”
Building Robust Defenses
“The most significant opportunities are genuinely in the artificial intelligence and cybersecurity realms,” Christopher affirms. “With everyone going to the cloud, these tools are going to be continuously monitoring, changing, and updating the way that we do business cybersecurity, and the evil players out in the market are going to be there constantly, so we always have to make sure that we are moving them forward and sniping them in the butt.”
Christopher’s enthusiasm for AI’s potential is evident. “And the AI will continue to grow,” he predicts. Look at our tool, Overwatch. It is continuously being updated, adding new entities to make it bigger, better, and more robust.” Drawing a comparison, he likens the evolution of their tool to the iconic $6 million man. “We have the tools. We can fix it, create it, grow it,” he states confidently.
Lessons Learned
“This is a horrible question because I fail at balancing my personal and professional life tremendously,” Christopher admits candidly. Despite his dedication to his professional responsibilities, he acknowledges the challenges of balancing them with his commitments. “I have been married for 25 years this year and am very fortunate,” he reflects. “I have two incredible daughters that my wife raised.”
Christopher acknowledges being a ‘part-time father at best’ due to his focus on the company and career growth. While he has tried to be present for important moments, he regrets missed opportunities. “If I could do things over again, I may change them,” he muses. “I may not, but one of the things I would do is spend more time with my daughters.” Despite his shortcomings, Christopher recognizes the importance of family. “At the end of the day, we are a family,” he emphasizes. “I am who I am as an executive because of the positive and adverse effects that have come through my life.”
Legacy in the Making
“I want to leave my legacy shortly, retire, and spend more quality time with my daughters and family with some of my other passions in life,” Christopher shares. However, his genuine aspiration as a leader in the IT field is clear—to leave the fact that we were able to create the first SAP cloud that we were able to help companies grow and succeed and truly make a difference in the SAP ecosystem.
Christopher’s dedication to this goal is untiring. “We’ve been doing that every day,” he emphasizes. “Some people see it, some people don’t, but in my mind, I see and know that we have made a difference to these organizations worldwide.”
