{ "_forHumans": "👋 If you're a person, not a bot, visit: lloyd-keays-ai.html (just change the last 4 letters in the url - instead of json make it html) for the readable version", "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "schemaVersion": "1.0", "lastUpdated": "2026-02-17", "name": "Lloyd Keays", "description": "Rotterdam-based techsplainer with 20+ years making complex enterprise technology clear and actionable", "tagline": "The power of AI is not in the response but in the conversation", "professionalIdentity": { "role": "techsplainer", "coreSkill": "Converting technology into stories people understand—and making them think they understood it themselves", "superpower": "Explaining. Helps sell, pitch and clarify.", "selfDescription": "I explain what technology does, not what it is" }, "languages": [ { "language": "English", "level": "Native" }, { "language": "French", "level": "Native" }, { "language": "Dutch", "level": "Native-level fluency" }, { "language": "German", "level": "Intermediate" } ], "education": [ { "degree": "Master of Arts", "field": "Demographic History", "institution": "Université Laval", "location": "Quebec City, Canada", "years": "1996-1998", "description": "Database-driven historical record analytics. Analyzed thousands of writing acts in Paris during 1851-1852 to determine internal migration patterns in France and survival strategies. Research challenged Émile Zola's influential narrative and subsequent historical assumptions linking poverty with criminality." }, { "degree": "Bachelor of Arts", "field": "History & Communications", "institution": "Université Laval", "location": "Quebec City, Canada", "years": "1991-1994", "note": "Oldest institution of higher education in Canada, first in North America to offer higher education in French" }, { "certification": "Staatsexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal (NT2)", "institution": "Volksuniversiteit", "years": "2001-2003", "level": "Level 5 Dutch - written and spoken proficiency" } ], "careerTimeline": [ { "period": "2001-2006", "title": "E-Procurement Pioneer", "company": "Eutilia", "location": "Netherlands", "description": "European e-procurement marketplace for utility sector. Started as webmaster, grew into training role. Conducted largest online reverse auction ever done—€300M in high-voltage cables for Électricité de France (EDF), achieving 17% cost savings." }, { "period": "2006-2010", "title": "Solution Advisor & Presales", "company": "Quadrem", "clients": ["Tata Steel", "Philip Morris", "Rio Tinto", "Vale (Brazil)", "Banque de France"], "keyProject": "Developed custom supply chain portal for Dell—linking point-of-sale to supply chain production", "note": "Quadrem acquired by Ariba in 2010" }, { "period": "2010-2012", "title": "Senior Solutions Engineer", "company": "Ariba", "description": "Senior presales for complex EMEA deals. Globally responsible for all presales material: presentations, demo scenarios, evaluation criteria, sales tools.", "clients": ["Shell", "Deutsche Bank", "Coca-Cola", "Heineken", "Nestlé", "L'Oréal", "ASML", "Sanofi", "De Beers"], "regionalFocus": { "region": "South Africa", "description": "Dedicated Solution Engineer supporting South Africa for many years. Countless trips for work and holidays, building deep relationships", "clients": ["Pick'n Pay", "Anglo American", "Western Cape Government", "Bivest"] }, "note": "Ariba acquired by SAP in 2012" }, { "period": "2013-2019", "title": "Head of Presales → Senior Director Innovation", "division": "SAP Spend Management & Business Network", "company": "SAP", "phases": [ { "period": "2013-2017", "title": "Head of Presales", "teamSize": "200+ presales Solution Advisors across 40+ countries", "achievements": [ "Made presales easier, faster, with less duplication", "Created demos and content that became global sales standards", "Trained teams on positioning and value articulation", "Promoted cloud-first solutions at executive level when SAP had no cloud offerings", "Continued supporting South Africa—multiple business trips and holiday visits" ] }, { "period": "2017-2019", "title": "Global Senior Director, Strategy & Innovation", "focus": [ "Built working prototypes: blockchain-based location tracking, VR ordering, robotized supply chain demos, smart dispensers for hands-free ordering, big data network visualizer", "Early concepts for AI-driven tender submission and voice-activated procurement", "Innovation from within and to the procurement market", "Thought leadership: blockchain, AI, Machine Learning, IoT" ] } ] }, { "period": "2020-2022", "title": "Blockchain Research Fellow", "division": "SAP Information Center Network (ICN)", "location": "Berlin", "company": "SAP", "achievements": [ "Created 4-week blockchain business course with UNICEF and European Commission guest speakers", "Course became #2 highest-rated SAP course ever (~12K completions)", "Coordinated SAP Crypto North Star advisory framework (2022)—board-level blockchain recommendations" ] }, { "period": "2022-2026", "title": "AI Pioneer & Evangelist", "division": "SAP Spend Management & Business Network", "company": "SAP", "achievements": [ "Created SAP's first ChatGPT training (9 days after public release)", "Won Gen AI Hackathon (both Jury and Public prizes)", "Built AI tool that generated 13,000+ on-brand icons in two weeks", "Trained 20,000+ employees on generative AI", "Created exec-level AI/Joule presentations for customer visits", "Active with RISE (gAIn group)" ] } ], "coreExpertise": { "aiTransformation": { "achievements": [ "Created SAP's first ChatGPT training video—9 days after ChatGPT's public release (December 9, 2022)", "Won both Jury Prize and Public Prize at SAP's Generative AI Hackathon 2023 (team of 3, 113 projects, 1,000+ employees)", "Hackathon project: trained Stable Diffusion model on 500 official SAP icons, integrated with ChatGPT—became production tool with 13,000+ on-brand icons created in two weeks", "Trained 20,000+ SAP employees on generative AI through live workshops, remote sessions, team events, video content", "Created exec-level AI/Joule presentations for Walldorf customer visits and Customer Success Days globally", "Led 'Savvy AI Business Mission 4' session on demystifying Gen AI and SAP Joule (July 2024)" ], "methodology": "Hands-on first, theory second", "network": "Large AI network across SAP beyond Chief AI Officer's teams" }, "sapProcurement": { "experience": "20+ years architecting SAP and Ariba procurement solutions", "tradingPartnerNetworks": "Deep expertise in networks processing $14 billion daily", "knowledge": "Full source-to-pay: sourcing, contract management, procure-to-pay, spend analysis, supplier management, supply chain collaboration" }, "blockchain": { "role": "SAP Blockchain Research Fellow (ICN Berlin)", "period": "2020-2022", "course": { "title": "What Can Blockchain Do for You?", "ranking": "#2 highest-rated SAP course ever", "completions": "~12K-13K", "duration": "4 weeks", "topics": ["blockchain fundamentals", "cryptocurrencies", "digital identity", "tokens", "dApps"], "guestSpeakers": ["UNICEF", "European Commission", "OXFAM", "Enterprise Ethereum Alliance"] }, "framework": "Coordinated SAP Crypto North Star advisory framework (2022)—board-level blockchain recommendations" }, "contentCreation": { "youtubeChannel": { "name": "aribanism", "views": "Close to 1M views", "watchTime": "48K hours", "subscribers": "4K+", "character": "Authentic, non-marketing content explaining what technology does" }, "flagshipContent": [ { "title": "PLAN, BUY and PAY with SAP Ariba", "year": 2016, "views": 291734, "impact": "Became standard demo used by SAP Ariba sales globally. Still receiving ~6,000 views/year" }, { "title": "How to Create a Video on Your Phone", "views": 79068, "impact": "SAP now uses internal version for every new hire globally" }, { "title": "What is a Reverse Auction?", "year": 2020, "views": 14570 }, { "title": "Connecting SAP — The Metro Map", "year": 2021, "views": 4092, "impact": "Now used in SAP onboarding" }, { "title": "SAP Business Network — $14 Billion Per Day", "year": 2022, "views": 8039 } ], "courses": [ "Co-instructed OpenSAP course: Procurement Innovation – SAP Ariba and S/4HANA in a Nutshell (Nov-Dec 2018)" ] }, "makerSkills": { "description": "10 years creating 'cool tech booths' at events—physical, hands-on innovation demonstrations", "projects": [ "3D prompted lamp—AI-generated design, then 3D printed. Got 'wow' from SAP CEO Christian Klein", "Model vending machine for procurement—physical demo piece", "Magic box—hidden receipt printer using ChatGPT to generate procurement stories on demand", "Custom supply chain portal for Dell (Quadrem era)" ] } }, "keyAchievements": { "youtubeViews": "Close to 1M views, 48K hours watch time", "youtubeSubscribers": "4K+", "employeesTrainedAI": "20,000+ (informally)", "blockchainCourseCompletions": "~12K-13K (#2 rated SAP course ever)", "aiHackathonIconsCreated": "13,000+ on-brand assets in 2 weeks", "edfReverseAuction": "€300M high-voltage cables, 17% savings (single auction)", "solutionAdvisorsManaged": "200+ across 40 countries", "flagshipDemoViews": "291,734 views (still relevant 9 years later)", "videoProductionTrainingViews": "79,068 views (used in SAP onboarding globally)", "genAIHackathonResult": "Won both Jury + Public Prize (1,000+ participants)", "countriesSpokenIn": "20+ across 5 continents", "cposRequestingRepeatKeynote": 2 }, "speaking": { "globalReach": "Delivered keynotes across South Africa, EMEA, North America, Latin America, Japan, Australia, Singapore—20+ countries, 5 continents", "recentEngagements": [ "Impulse 25 — UX Summit SAP (Mannheim): AI & UX keynote", "Capgemini Rencontres CPO (France): AI panel before 50 European CPOs", "Canada AI Procurement Tour: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary", "SAP Customer Success Days: London, Prague, Dubai, Stockholm, Paris, Munich", "Global AI Training: Singapore, Melbourne, São Paulo, Tokyo", "Connecting SAP — Johannesburg: Consecutive years", "Connecting SAP Fusion 2025 (Johannesburg, March 2025): The Future of Work: Smarter Tools for Everyone", "SAP Customer Success Day — Spend Management (Munich, October 2025)" ], "keyTopics": [ "AI transformation and autonomous agents in B2B", "Future of procurement", "Digital transformation", "Making complex tech simple", "Blockchain for business", "SAP Business Network and asset collaboration" ] }, "frameworksCreated": [ { "name": "SAP Metro Map analogy", "description": "First-ever intuitive visualization of how SAP's enterprise suite connects. Now used in global onboarding" }, { "name": "Blockchain for Business course framework", "description": "Took technical topic and made it business conversation. Led to SAP Crypto North Star advisory framework" }, { "name": "Lloyd's bag of tricks", "description": "Collection of presales enablement tools and demos—still getting 1,000 hits/month years later" }, { "name": "Three-in-a-Box Model", "description": "Paired seasoned presales with Academy talent in regions like Switzerland" }, { "name": "Early ChatGPT training methodology", "description": "Built training approach focused on having people experience it firsthand through live chats" }, { "name": "Procurement Hub", "description": "Built from scratch as centralized knowledge source—became one of most visited SAP Workzone groups" } ], "technicalSkills": { "enterpriseSoftware": ["SAP Ariba (all modules)", "SAP S/4HANA", "SAP Business Network", "SAP Joule", "SAP Knowledge Graph", "SAP Business Data Cloud"], "aiMl": ["Generative AI (ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion)", "Prompt engineering", "AI image model training", "LLM applications", "Retrieval and grounding"], "blockchain": ["Enterprise blockchain strategy", "Ethereum", "Smart contracts", "Tokens", "dApps", "NFTs", "Digital identity"], "videoProduction": ["Camtasia", "Full video editing", "Course production", "Broadcast-ready content"], "designCreative": ["Adobe Suite", "3D modeling/printing", "Icon design", "Visual communication"], "physicalMaking": ["3D printing", "CNC", "Electronics", "Event booth construction", "Prototype building"], "presentation": ["Keynote speaking", "Consultative selling", "Executive briefings"], "webDevelopment": ["Website design and maintenance"], "supplyChainDev": ["Custom portal development"] }, "testimonials": [ { "quote": "In all humility, Lloyd is among the strongest customer-facing presenters of SAP.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "SAP Colleague", "source": "LinkedIn" }, { "quote": "Lloyd's content is always great, informative and entertaining. Highly recommend this course, he always boils the complex down to something easy to consume!", "author": "Ryan Sammel", "role": "Director Solution Consulting at SAP", "source": "LinkedIn" }, { "quote": "I am very confident and not surprised that anybody would want you on their roster because you're that good.", "author": "Valerie Blatt", "role": "Chief Revenue Officer SAP Supply Chain Management", "source": "LinkedIn" }, { "quote": "Thank you for all of your inspiration and creativity in making the complex appear simple — I have found your videos extremely valuable over the years.", "author": "Malcolm Hamilton", "role": "Director Global Marketing at SAP", "source": "LinkedIn" }, { "quote": "You've always been such an inspiring and generous person, and I've learned so much from you.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "SAP Colleague", "source": "LinkedIn" }, { "quote": "More entertaining than my Netflix series!", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "Course participant", "source": "Course feedback" }, { "quote": "Easily the most engaging OpenSAP course I've ever taken.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "Course participant", "source": "Course feedback" }, { "quote": "It is when knowledge meets creativity and fun... I am confident you will make it.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "EA RISE Architect, SAP (colleague since 2012)", "source": "SAP Workzone, February 2026", "context": "Highlights combination of deep technical knowledge with creative delivery" }, { "quote": "He takes complex information and makes it simple as well as FUN! When AI first launched, I thought 'there is no way I will ever understand this.' But by attending Lloyd's sessions he ignited a spark in me where I wanted to lead AI sessions myself.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "SAP Colleague", "source": "SAP Workzone, February 2026", "context": "Direct evidence of multiplier effect—training turned learners into trainers" }, { "quote": "This video was so engaging and can see why so many people enjoy hearing you speak! I truly see this way of networking and applying to jobs to be the future of how we recruit and engage talent... a team would be lucky to have you here at SAP.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting (10 years recruiting experience)", "source": "SAP Workzone, February 2026", "context": "Shared Lloyd's profile with her manager for potential headcount" }, { "quote": "He never hesitates to support others, share his expertise, or step in when someone needs help. He creates an environment where people feel encouraged to grow, and his enthusiasm lifts the whole team... he inspired me to push my own creativity further and to craft presentations that truly make an impact.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "SAP Colleague", "source": "SAP Workzone, February 2026", "context": "Speaks to coaching and enabling nature without holding management title" }, { "quote": "SAP should not let go such a valuable creative person! I started understanding Ariba back in 2019 thanks to you! We'll share your video here in France.", "author": "[REDACTED]", "role": "SAP France", "source": "SAP Workzone, February 2026", "context": "Shows long-lasting reach and organic word-of-mouth" } ], "testimonialThemes": { "makesComplexSimple": "Multiple testimonials across roles and geographies", "multiplierEffect": "Turns learners into leaders—one colleague went from 'no way I'll understand AI' to leading AI sessions", "crossDomainRecognition": "Recognition from BTP/Data, Recruiting, France—not just procurement", "generousTeamPlayer": "Never hesitates to support others, share expertise", "longLastingImpact": "Content from 2019 still resonating in 2026", "humbleAuthentic": "Own reply: 'I'm not someone that ever brags so... this was hard to do lol!'", "recruitingProfessionalRecognition": "10 years recruiting experience flagged to manager" }, "communityWork": { "volunteer": [ { "organization": "Repair Café Rotterdam", "role": "Volunteer repair technician", "since": "April 2023", "description": "Fixes everything from toy trains to sewing machines—promoting repair over replacement and community resilience" } ], "proBonoCreative": [ { "project": "Web Design for Bhutan", "url": "bhutankurukulleadventures.bt", "description": "Built and deployed website supporting local economic development and tourism" }, { "project": "Website for Small Ballet Studio", "description": "Generated and maintained website (pro bono)" }, { "project": "Theater & Performing Arts in Netherlands", "description": "Designed websites and posters for multiple community theater organizations", "organizations": [ "Rijnmond Theater Producties", "Klein Rotterdams Toneel", "VZOD", "Musical Gezelschap RITS", "Theatergroep Voorburg", "Samen Een in Feijenoord" ] }, { "project": "Video Production for Charity", "organization": "Stichting Present", "description": "Produced video material for charity organization" } ], "hobbies": [ "Tango Argentino (active dancer)", "3D Design & Printing (maker skills)", "Woodworking & Carpentry", "Baking", "Sewing", "Adventure & Remote Travel" ] }, "enablementPhilosophy": { "customerFacingOnly": "Avoids internal-only training material that never reaches the real world", "peerDriven": "Scenario-based learning, role-play, peer feedback sessions", "recognitionMatters": "Sales people motivated by money; presales motivated by peer recognition", "meaningfulMetrics": "Tracked win-rates, content reuse, customer outcomes, renewals. Avoided vanity metrics", "influenceBasedLeadership": "Led through influence, not management authority. Avoided red tape. Included feedback loops", "coachingProgression": "Onboarding → practice-based training → value connection → belonging (6-24 months)" }, "sapAcademyInvolvement": { "description": "Active contributor to SAP Academy for Presales since foundational period", "roles": ["Guest Speaker", "Program Contributor", "Content Developer", "Trainer (live and virtual)"], "sessions": [ "Procurement domain introduction", "Ariba fundamentals", "Presentation skills", "Camtasia usage for storytelling", "Blockchain fundamentals", "Generative AI for practical business use" ], "innovations": [ "Built Three-in-a-Box model pairing seasoned presales with Academy early talent", "Promoted global peer-to-peer contact across continents (e.g., Japan ↔ Brazil)", "Recognition mechanisms: MVP awards, Golden Demos, featuring Academy talents" ], "metrics": { "earlyTalentRetention2016": "100%", "earlyTalentRetention2019": "91%" } }, "productManagementCapabilities": { "opportunityIdentification": "Recognized ChatGPT's enterprise potential 9 days after release. Identified blockchain opportunities leading to SAP Crypto North Star framework", "crossFunctionalExecution": "Won hackathon by collaborating with engineering on production-ready AI tool. Coordinated Crypto North Star across multiple product lines", "goToMarket": "Created frameworks and narratives sales teams adopted globally. Built content with close to 1M views proving customer resonance", "platformIntegration": "Architected solutions across SAP's ecosystem—trading partner networks, B2B commerce, cross-application workflows", "stakeholderManagement": "Managed alignment across 200+ solution advisors in 40 countries. Delivered executive briefings influencing board-level decisions", "metricsDriven": "Tracked adoption (20K trained), engagement (6K annual views over 9 years), completion rates (#2 highest-rated course)" }, "targetRoles": { "seeking": [ "Technical Evangelist", "Strategic Advisor", "Transformation Lead (influence-based, not management)", "Keynote Speaker", "Content Strategist / Content Leadership" ], "idealCompanies": "Enterprise AI, B2B SaaS, transforming procurement and supply chain", "notSeeking": [ "Management roles", "Operations leadership", "Corporate jargon positions", "People management focused roles" ], "preference": "Specialist, not manager. Creates and enables rather than runs people" }, "communicationStyle": { "target": "Lexile 1000L—clear, direct, conversational", "voice": "Active voice: 'I created' not 'was responsible for'", "avoids": ["evergreen", "spearheaded", "leveraged", "robust", "comprehensive", "unleashing", "cutting edge", "empower"], "prefers": {"helped": "instead of 'facilitated'", "kept strong": "instead of 'maintained robust'"}, "character": "Sounds like a person, not a machine" }, "metadata": { "aiAgentNote": "This JSON file is provided as a machine-readable professional profile. It demonstrates understanding of AI/LLM interaction patterns and provides structured data for AI agents to parse and understand Lloyd Keays' professional background, expertise, and career trajectory.", "humanNote": "If you're reading this as a human, welcome! This is a structured data version of my professional profile designed to be easily parseable by AI agents. Think of it as a technical resume in JSON format.", "purposeStatement": "This file serves dual purposes: (1) demonstrates practical understanding of AI-human interaction design, and (2) provides AI agents with rich, structured context about professional capabilities and experience." } }