About Matt
Matt is an independent SAP Solution, UX & Development Architect and developer. He is multi-skilled as a SAP Solution/Development Architect with full functional/technical/management skills to build elegant sustainable custom solutions in whatever is the most appropriate set of tools.
Topics of interest: RISE, Clean Core, S/4HANA, SAP BTP, SAP CAP, RAP, SAP Fiori, Engine Code, User Experience, Custom Solutions
Matt, what inspired you to become an SAP Mentor?
I've been lucky in tech and have had many times I've been in sink or swim scenarios working with the latest bleeding edge technologies, both in and out of SAP. And in those times, you come to really appreciate those individuals who take their time to share their experiences and learnings in the community. In about 2008, I noted that many of these people sharing their experiences and learnings were SAP Mentors and I admit, I was a little in awe at some of these mentors. At first, this inspired me simply to share my thoughts and opinions in various ways, but after a friend of mine - Tony de Thomasis - became an SAP mentor in the previous year, I started to realize that the mentors had the ability to really influence SAP and get opportunities to be ahead of the curve for the "new stuff". I didn't necessarily chase being an SAP mentor, but I definitely attempted to "be" like an SAP mentor and was rewarded with the honor in 2010.
What advice would like to share with other SAP community members?
When you are in tech, you can feel very alone if you are the only "XYZ" developer or functional expert in an organization. Simply consuming community content or asking the occasional question, doesn't really give you a sense of belonging. The trick, I believe, is to engage passionately and intelligently with the community because you really do get more out of it, the more you put into it. I realize it can be difficult to express an opinion or technical answer if you aren't confident, but engaging makes you check yourself a little more than you would otherwise, and the responses may course-correct your understanding, which is one of the most valuable aspects. That said, the most valuable aspect is simply feeling like when you run into these people virtually or IRL; that you know them, and they know you - and conversations and connections kick off then from a much deeper place!
