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You might have seen our first iterations of recognizing active authors (one / two / three / four / five) in SAP Community. I am thrilled to share our fifth interview with @Marssel700 (a SAP Champion) with you which I conducted recently. Read more about his background, his experience with organizing community events and what motivates him to contribute to SAP Community!
Marco Santos (MS): Hi Marssel, thank you so much for agreeing to share your experiences with the SAP Community here today. Happy to have you here. How and when did you join the SAP Community?
Marssel Vilaça: I joined the SAP Community around 2007, when I started searching for information about SAP FI in the old SDN, SAP Developer Network forums. At that time, the community quickly became my main learning resource and soon evolved into a space where I began to actively share knowledge, especially within the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking communities. Thanks to those contributions, I was honored with recognitions like Topic Leader, Member of the Month, Community Hero, SAP Mentor, and ultimately, SAP Champion.
MS: What does the SAP Community mean to you?
Marssel Vilaça: To me, the SAP Community is a vibrant, living ecosystem built on collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mutual support. It’s a place where professionals from every corner of the world share real-world experiences—not just technical solutions, but also personal stories of growth and learning. The beauty of the community lies in the fact that both those seeking answers and those contributing knowledge benefit from the process. You teach, and in doing so, you learn even more.
Beyond being a source of technical help, the community has always offered a strong sense of connection and belonging. It fosters a spirit of generosity and camaraderie that’s rare to find. Participating in this community wasn’t just a career move—it was a transformative experience that helped shape my professional identity and opened doors to incredible opportunities, including recognitions that I’m truly proud of.
MS: What inspires you the most?
Marssel Vilaça: What inspires me the most is seeing how shared knowledge can truly impact other people’s lives. I’ve received messages from professionals who landed their first jobs or solved critical project issues thanks to a tip or answer I provided. Knowing that something I shared made a difference gives me the motivation to keep going.
MS: Would you like to talk about your main expertise and experience?
Marssel Vilaça: I’m a SAP FICO specialist with over 19 years of experience, focused on implementation projects, system enhancements, support, and training. I’ve worked across several industries, with deep knowledge in areas like financial closing processes, tax withholding, and integration with SD/MM modules. I also have significant experience with S/4HANA conversion projects. Beyond consulting, I’m passionate about teaching and have trained hundreds of students in the SAP FI module as a SAP Trainer.
MS: Is there a highlight you’d like to share—perhaps a SAP Community event?
Marssel Vilaça: Absolutely! Although I started my SAP Community journey through the Q&A forums—where I was recognized as a Topic Leader for both the Financials and Portuguese spaces—the real turning point was getting involved in organizing community events. That experience allowed me to build stronger personal connections beyond the virtual world. Since 2013, I’ve participated in 47 in-person SAP Inside Track events across Brazil, as both a speaker and organizer, and joined 9 virtual international editions as well.
MS: Do you have any plans for your future in the SAP Community?
Marssel Vilaça: I plan to keep giving back through mentoring new participants, organizing events, and publishing content. I’m currently structuring new initiatives to support young professionals entering the SAP ecosystem, including practical and affordable S/4HANA training.
MS: On the flip side: what would you like to receive from the SAP Community or its members?
Marssel Vilaça: What I hope to see is a continued collective effort to make knowledge accessible for SAP professionals everywhere. I’ve been working to bring SAP Community events like Inside Track to as many locations in Brazil as possible—especially where there are active SAP users but limited access to high-quality content. My dream is to see more members get involved in this mission, sharing their time, knowledge, and passion to support newcomers. After all, the community only thrives when we all contribute what we can.
MS: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Marssel Vilaça: One thing I always like to share is that my journey with the SAP Community goes far beyond SAP solutions—it represents a personal mission. I truly believe in the power of education as a tool for transformation, and that’s why I’ve dedicated myself to expanding access to SAP knowledge. Over the years, I’ve been deeply involved in organizing both in-person and virtual events, creating content on my YouTube channels (in English and Portuguese), sharing insights on social media, and developing accessible trainings for both beginners and experienced professionals.
Seeing someone advance in their career because of a blog I wrote, a video I published, or an event I helped organize—that’s one of the most meaningful rewards for me. I want to continue contributing and encouraging talent within the SAP ecosystem, where there’s always room to grow—and to lift others up along the way.
MS: Well, Marssel, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us today. It’s been incredibly inspiring to hear about your dedication and the impact you've made through the SAP Community.
Marssel Vilaça: Thank you, Marco! Até a próxima!
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