Maureen Patterson’s Post

As you’ve probably read, SAP recently provided a generous early retirement package. The timing was perfect for me, and I took advantage of the opportunity.  I may have retired on paper, but I’m in no ways out of gas.  My next gig will be: - Industry-focused – with 25 years of consumer industries experience under my belt, I thrive as the go to for strategy, relationships, and execution (I also ran Sun’s briefing center for five years, so I experienced “every” industry prior to consumer) - Disruptive – my boss at Sun called me “Sparky” – the dalmatian on the firetruck, eager to be the first on the scene, gaining understanding of the situation and assembling the best team to identify, solve, and/or exploit the opportunity - Team driven – no worries on being a remote IC and matrixed teams have been my daily engagement over a decade. Over the last 13 years I’ve had the honor to collaborate with the best of the best industry and marketing experts. Add in another seven in a national industry role at Microsoft and an amazing team at Sun (16 years). - Transformative – I’ve got to see an opportunity to change the marketplace within three to five years. The constant drumbeat of new technology advances may accelerate that to one to two years. - Supportive – I’m also looking at a triage/first responder role for companies that need gap support as they continue their transformation (part time / contract) If you know of anyone looking for a leader who thrives on building teams that drive transformative disruption, I thank you in advance for your outreach/recommendation. A huge thank you to colleagues and partners who made my time at SAP a double-black-diamond adventure.   I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Decompressing from an "interrupt driven" life... Like many of my SAP colleagues, it's now day 3 of retirement. Not that's it's really sunk in yet, could well just be a vacation. With one significant exception. Pretty much every weekday morning for 19 years, one of my early in the day rituals, sometimes even prior to being fortified by coffee, was to review new SAP emails to get a sense of what the day might bring that I didn't already have planned. And then, many times over the day. While I'm well aware of the costs of multi-tasking while working, it's irresistible to me. Someone might want something I can do quickly and help them keep a ball rolling. Or something more interesting or urgent might arrive. You never know. Far earlier in my career, an "interrupt" was a signal to the CPU that some other task seeks attention, and the operating system would assess the priority relative to work currently in memory. I've long used this as an analogy for how I work. And yeah, sometimes one experiences (for the older folks) "page fault" or "thrashing". It's a risk. For that, I stick to the Covey matrix.. is this interrupt Important and Urgent? or something else? But that's not happening anymore. And it's going to take some getting used to.

🌟 **Advice to All SAP Employees:** 🌟 As professionals in the dynamic field of SAP, it's crucial to prioritize not only our career growth but also our personal well-being and future security. Here are some invaluable pieces of advice to consider: 1️⃣ **Invest in Your Home Early:** Whether rural or urban, building a home earlier in life ensures stability and security for you and your loved ones. Don't rely solely on government accommodations; create a haven where your family can thrive. 2️⃣ **Balance Work and Family:** Remember, you're indispensable neither to your department nor the company. Make quality time for your family; they are your true priority. 3️⃣ **Focus on Skill Mastery:** Instead of chasing promotions, strive for excellence in your craft. Promotions may come, but your expertise is invaluable regardless. 4️⃣ **Avoid Workplace Gossip:** Negative chatter only tarnishes reputations. Stay clear of office politics and focus on fostering positive relationships. 5️⃣ **Steer Clear of Unhealthy Competition:** Competing with superiors or colleagues only leads to disappointment. Focus on personal growth and collaboration. 6️⃣ **Diversify Income Streams:** Relying solely on a salary isn't sustainable. Invest in a side business to secure your financial future. 7️⃣ **Prioritize Savings:** Set aside a portion of your income for savings. Automate deductions to ensure consistency. 8️⃣ **Invest Wisely:** Use loans to invest in ventures, not luxuries. Let profits fund indulgences. 9️⃣ **Maintain Privacy:** Keep your personal life separate from work to maintain balance and professionalism. 🔟 **Stay True to Yourself:** Loyalty to your work and values pays off. Avoid being overly attached to bosses; cultivate relationships with peers as well. 1️⃣1️⃣ **Plan for Retirement:** Start planning your exit strategy early. Consider starting projects alongside your career to ensure a smooth transition into retirement. 1️⃣2️⃣ **Engage in Work Welfare:** Active participation in work welfare programs provides a safety net in times of need. 1️⃣3️⃣ **Utilize Leave Days Wisely:** Spend leave days productively, as they reflect your future lifestyle post-retirement. 1️⃣4️⃣ **Start Projects Early:** Begin entrepreneurial endeavors while still employed. Transition into retirement by managing successful ventures. 1️⃣5️⃣ **Understand Pension Utilization:** Pension funds are for sustaining yourself post-retirement, not for risky investments or extravagant spending. 1️⃣6️⃣ **Set an Example:** Strive to be a role model for retiring gracefully and enjoying life post-career. Let's cultivate a culture of holistic well-being and strategic planning within the SAP community! Your future success starts now. #CareerAdvice #SAPProfessionals #WorkLifeBalance

🌟 New Year Resolutions: Embracing Consistency! 🌟 As we've stepped into the new year, resolutions have become the talk of the office. Amidst setting new goals, embracing changes, and striving for self-improvement, the spotlight has been on consistency. Consistency isn't about perfection; it's about commitment. Whether it's mastering new skills, amplifying professional expertise, or pursuing personal passions, consistency is the driving force that transforms aspirations into accomplishments. How do you maintain consistency in achieving your goals, whatever they may be? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 🚀💡 #NewYear #Resolutions #Consistency #Goals #MentalHealth #SAP #Recruiting

I’m taking a breath & getting ahead of the curve       It’s that time of year when there seems like there’s just too much to fit in. Which is exactly why I’m taking stock and getting my 2024 planned. Some high level goals and a bit of detailed scheduling for the first couple of months. I find that if I leave it until January then the year is already off and running and getting away from me. It didn’t take long and now I can settle back knowing the New Year has already got some structure to it and I just need to follow the plan. It feels like I’m already ahead of the curve. What few things can you get booked in ahead of time and get 2024 off to a calmer start?   #sap #saptraining #sapcoaching #sapcertification #MakingYouSAPpy

Wishing our SAP SuccessFactors community a happy and healthy year ahead. 💫 ✨ Thank you for your being on this journey with us - we couldn't ask for a kinder, smarter, more fun group of people to do it with! Here are 3 things we learned this year. 1️⃣ Booking your vacation early allows your body & mind to know when it will be able to rest and declutter; helping you think more clearly and creatively when you get back to the real world. It also gives you access to better flight deals. 😉 ✈️ 2️⃣ Learn new skills but don't let your ambition take priority over your capacity. 3️⃣ Your job will come with goals and expectations; remember to also set those goals that are just for you.

The first proper week of January goes on FOREVER. At least it always used to... I don't know what it is lately, but I wake up on a Monday morning and by the time I've brushed my teeth and fed the cat, it's Friday night. Time is flying at a rate of knots, and while that's surely a good sign it does leave me slightly anxious that there isn't enough time in the week. In the spirit of time flying, you haven't forgotten about that 2027 deadline have you? You know the one, that big one. It starts with an S, and ends with a 4. Even if you've got that handy extension to 2030, it's still coming. First question, are you ready? Moving from #ECC to #s4hana threatens to be a big step and at this point, you should be at least considering business cases and roadmapping if nothing else. Second question, do you need a helping hand? Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your S/4HANA landscape. You'll need to audit and evaluate what you have to hand and what you'll need help with. Whether it's data, governance, delivery, whatever it is you need help with give me a shout. (I can't personally help here, but I'm part of a team that has zero problems with getting your S/4HANA project off the ground and delivering quality throughout the implementation) Final question, do you know what business-side SAP consultancy is? Business-side SAP consultancy is our bread and butter, Resulting IT's bread and butter. You can read all about it here - https://lnkd.in/euGtwrwD January 2024 is well underway and before you know it January 2027 won't be far behind it. Start your SAP S/4HANA journey right and make the time you have left count. Get in touch with us today and find out how business-side consultancy can help you and your organisation approach SAP change with your priorities in order. Also, I can't be the only one who was horrified to see Valentine's cards available on Christmas Eve? #sapconsultancy #s4hana

I was a pandemic hire at SAP. And now, as I wind down my time at SAP, I’m reflecting with appreciation on how far we have come as a global company in such a short time. Together, we navigated a worldwide health crisis, a remote and hybrid work revolution, significant climate events, and a rapidly changing technological, geopolitical, and economic landscape. 🌍 Just as importantly, we celebrated our 50th anniversary as a company, with time spent reflecting on the early vision of standardized application software for our customers’ most critical business processes. Fast forward to now, infusing AI in all business processes—most recently with our generative AI assistant, Joule, to unlock intelligence across our entire solution portfolio in the easiest way, through natural language. Through it all, every day I have been inspired by 110,000+ SAP employees, my immediate team, customers, partners, alumni, and my fellow board members. We’ve worked hard to build a resilient business and an attractive, more equitable global workplace where people want to stay and share their talents. There are many reasons to be proud of our progress and accomplishments: from our M&A and divestitures work in People & Operations, to expanded learning resources, D&I, fair pay, social responsibility, thriving employee network groups, young talent development, meaningful benefits, partner development, and employee well-being.  All this hard work contributes to the reason why our customers have placed their trust and confidence in SAP for the long term. All this work has played, and will continue to play, an extremely important role in SAP’s transformation. Are we there yet? No. This journey requires continued perseverance and dedication to our goal: creating a fully inclusive workplace where everyone can come as they are, bring their best to the team, and thrive together. I know that I am leaving the team in good hands; I wish my successors all the best as they steer SAP to even greater heights. I will be cheering for your success in the years to come. As I step away, I want to thank everyone who made my time at SAP so special. While it’s impossible to name all the remarkable individuals I have had the pleasure of working with, I want you to know it has been an honor to meet and collaborate with extraordinary people from around the world. Together, we have contributed to making SAP what it is today: a company that not only adapts to change but thrives amidst it, all while upholding global standards. I am truly grateful for your trust, support, and friendship. THANK YOU! With warmest wishes, Sabine

Hello LinkedIn community, Ignite Your Dreams in 2024: Let's Craft Our Vision Boards! 🚀 As we are towards 2024, let's craft our own unique bucket lists, a collection of dreams, experiences and goals that will make this year an unforgettable journey. I encourage each and everyone of you to take a moment and reflect on What do you envision for yourself in 2024? Whether they're career milestones, personal accomplishments, or moments of joy. What places do you wish to explore, and what skills do you aspire to acquire? Feel free to keep your bucket list private, as these are deeply personal aspirations! The goal is not to compare or compete but just to fill the 2024 bucket with your collection of dreams! Here's to a year of growth, adventure, and making our dreams turn into a reality! Cheers to a journey that awaits us! ~Samruddhi #bucketlist #dreams #dreamsintoreality #2024goals #encouraging #sap #sapabap #linkedin

Take advantage of incredible upgrade story to S/4 HANA and improvize your own transformation journey based on key lessons learned. Looking forward to seeing you all at Sapphire 2024 #Sapphire #Transformation #RISEwithSAP #EY #SAP