As a new SAP employee and an immigrant who has faced the obstacles of integrating into a global company, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how we might better help and empower new colleagues. Drawing on my own experiences and a thorough examination of our current processes, I am thrilled to present three project concepts for the #ETB that I feel can make a significant difference. These initiatives: SAP Success Stories Hub, and Innovators' Lab are my recommendations for improving the onboarding and integration experience at SAP, particularly for people who, like me, come from varied cultural backgrounds.
The Challenge:
New employees frequently lack a clear and accessible professional growth roadmap. This disparity is even more obvious for immigrant workers, who may struggle to identify role models from similar cultural or geographical origins. The lack of apparent success stories can leave many people without the motivation or assistance they need to advance their careers at SAP.
My Proposal:
I suggest establishing the SAP Success Stories Hub, a centralized digital portal that curates compelling case studies, interviews, and multimedia tales from SAP workers of all jobs, locations, and cultural backgrounds. By emphasizing varied routes and crucial milestones, this hub will allow new hires, particularly immigrants, to connect with success stories that are similar to their own experiences. Career timelines and discussion forums are interactive features that will provide realistic mentorship recommendations and encourage new employees with a clear, motivating roadmap for personal and professional advancement.
The Challenge:
New employees often enter SAP brimming with innovative ideas, yet the absence of a dedicated platform can result in these creative insights being overlooked. Without a structured environment for collaboration, many potential initiatives that align with our digital transformation goals remain unrealized.
My Proposal:
I propose creating an Innovators' Lab, a dedicated virtual and physical space where new employees can submit ideas, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and develop innovative solutions. Regular innovation challenges, hackathons, and brainstorming sessions, led by professional mentors and backed by leadership, will provide the resources and environment required for innovative thinking. This place will enable new personnel to put their fresh insights into actionable projects, thereby driving SAP's continuous improvement and agile innovation.
As a new hire at SAP, I’ve taken the time to reflect on how we can make the onboarding journey more enriching, especially for those coming from diverse backgrounds. The Innovators’ Lab and SAP Success Stories Hub are my humble proposals to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and inspiration among employees.
That being said, SAP is a vast and innovative company, and similar initiatives may already exist. If that’s the case, I’d love to learn more about them and explore how I can contribute. I’m open to any feedback, insights, or guidance on how to get involved. So let’s connect and continue the conversation! 😊