Fortune recognizes SAS among companies that ‘Change the World’

Analytics leader lauded for social impact and innovation in education, social responsibility, data for good

For more than 40 years, SAS has believed in the power of analytics to do good in the world. The company’s employees, customers and analytics software have been addressing critical humanitarian issues for decades – and these efforts helped land SAS on Fortune magazine’s list of companies that “Change the World.”

The Change the World list recognizes companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy – companies that are innovating to solve the world’s biggest challenges. By applying data science to social challenges, SAS works with customers, nonprofits and volunteers to find new and creative ways to address global issues surrounding education, poverty, health and the environment. Whether fighting cancer or protecting endangered species; enabling the visually impaired to “see” graphics through sonification or changing the lives of Ghana women by teaching them how to code software, SAS and its employees strive to change the world for the better.

“Our employees are passionate about what they do,” said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. “They crave challenging work, and they want to make a difference in the world. It is an honor for their efforts to be recognized among others that share a goal of effecting change in the world.”

Champion for education, sustainability

Using data for good is just one element of SAS’ social efforts. The belief that education drives economic growth fuels SAS’ commitment to developing the next generation of innovators. By supporting efforts that prepare more graduates for college, work and success, SAS plays a vital role in the global community. In 2016, Money magazine called SAS^® Analytics “the most valuable job skill.” To bridge a persisting analytics skills gap, SAS makes it easy to build those skills by targeting worldwide education initiatives in STEM. This initiative ensures that the next generation of innovators has the knowledge and skills to succeed.

And SAS remains a sustainability innovator through environmental, social and economic efforts, working closely with employees, suppliers and customers to foster an award-winning, sustainable workplace that has a positive impact on our future. The company reduces its environmental footprint with multiyear programs focused on energy conservation and solar projects, emission management, pollution mitigation, water conservation, waste reduction and recycling, procurement and green building.

To learn more about SAS’ efforts to change the world, see the interactive submission that landed SAS on the list. In its third year, Fortune’s Change the World list highlights the top 50 companies making measurable social impact through innovation and business strategy. SAS is joined on the list by JP Morgan Chase, Apple, Novartis and Nestle.