Today I shadowed two different sides of the corporate creative department at SAS. I spent the morning with Patrice Cherry, who creates flyers and materials for SAS’s many different events. I spent the afternoon with Shawn Payne who creates promotional videos used both internally and externally at SAS along with operating the lighting and microphones of many of the stage presentations at SAS. During my time with Shawn in the afternoon I, along with the others involved in work experience at SAS and SAS interns, attended a data for good presentation. Data for good is a campaign launched by SAS in order to promote their software in a more anthropological light. I originally thought this campaign was just a marketing ploy, but after listening to the presentation it became clear that it was more than that. The presenter talked about the role SAS analytics played in the restoration process after the recent earthquake in Nepal. The presenter told us that after the earthquake destroyed many houses, rescue teams knew that they needed to build some sort of shelter for those who had been displaced as monsoon season was coming. By utilizing SAS analytics software, rescue teams were able to see that while India was was one the largest producers of metal sheeting, Nepal itself was its own metal production powerhouse. The team then decided to purchase the shelter materials from a company in Nepal. By doing this, they were able to boost Nepal’s economy as well as maintaining Nepalese jobs. It was very interesting to see that the SAS software could be used outside the corporate world, in a way that was truly helping those who needed it most. The presenters passion and conviction made it clear that his team was truly dedicated to helping people through using technology. I think I would have to say that today has been my favorite day thus far as i was able to see a more creative side of SAS that I didn’t even think of.
