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You might have seen our first four iterations of recognizing active authors (one / two / three / four) in SAP Community. I am thrilled to share our fifth interview with @MRobalinho (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): Hello Manuel! Happy to have this interview with you. Let's start with our first question. How and when did you join the SAP Community?
Manuel Robalinho: My active participation in the SAP Community began in 2020 when I was invited by Marssel Vilaça to speak at SAP Inside Track Recife. Marssel has always been a major influence on me. He not only introduced me to how the SAP communities work but also provided full support in organizing our first event in Fortaleza.
Before that, I had already been working with SAP products for quite some time, but my connection with the community really started to strengthen during this period. While working on a project in Recife, I had direct contact with Marssel and saw how engaged he was. He has a unique ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment within the community. He was the one who encouraged me to submit a presentation proposal for the event in Recife at the beginning of 2020. As soon as I sent it, he responded immediately and gave me all the support I needed to participate.
After that event, the pandemic hit, and everything changed. At first, we weren’t sure how to continue, but within our circle of friends and colleagues, we started discussing ideas. We had a small group that used to meet for coffee before work, and it was in this group that the idea of bringing the event to Fortaleza emerged. We even joked that we could do it better than Recife!
So, in October 2020, we managed to organize the first SAP Inside Track Fortaleza, taking advantage of a brief window when pandemic restrictions were loosened. We carefully followed all the safety guidelines, ensuring proper distancing between chairs and other necessary precautions. It was a huge challenge, but also a significant achievement.
Since then, we never stopped. We continued organizing events and strengthening the local community. Marssel has always been there, supporting all our events, traveling specifically to join us in Fortaleza, and sharing his knowledge about the community. It was thanks to that first step and my engagement with him that we were able to build something solid and keep our community active.
MS: What does the SAP Community mean to you?
Manuel Robalinho: For me, the SAP Community is all about sharing knowledge and building strong professional connections. I genuinely enjoy teaching and guiding newcomers, helping them understand how things work, rather than keeping knowledge to myself. Holding onto what I know has never really benefited me—true growth happens when we share.
It’s interesting because sometimes we think we know very little, but when we share our insights, others recognize the value in our experience. I believe that by passing on what I know, I contribute to the community while also learning from those around me. Of course, there will always be people who know more, but they also had their chance to step up and share their expertise.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, one of the things I love most about the SAP Community is reconnecting with former colleagues and friends from past projects. The atmosphere at community events is so much more welcoming and engaging compared to large conferences, where you simply visit booths without knowing anyone. SAP Community events create a warm, collaborative environment where you’re not just networking—you’re building real relationships that last beyond the event itself.
MS: What is your experience with SAP?
Manuel Robalinho: My main expertise and experience lie in the realm of SAP solutions, specifically within the Finance and Controlling modules. I am certified in Finances S/4HANA, a specialization that has greatly shaped my professional journey. Initially, when I was based in Europe, my focus was slightly more on FI (Financial Accounting), but upon moving to Brazil, my role evolved, and I became heavily involved with the CO (Controlling) module, partly due to the specific needs and materials available here.
Throughout my career, I've worked extensively as a consultant in CO, leading various projects and teams. Still, my background and keen interest in FI have remained integral to my work, especially as I collaborate on developing partnerships with SAP implementers, mainly within financial sectors. This involves pioneering connectivity solutions between SAP systems and financial institutions, dealing with bank layouts and other integration necessities.
Additionally, my curiosity and passion for technology drive me to explore areas such as AI, Machine Learning, and Python development. Also, in recent times, I've delved into SAP Analytics Cloud, particularly concerning budgeting processes, which have increasingly migrated to this platform. This has necessitated a deeper understanding of technological capabilities and limits, ensuring that our solutions are both practical and forward-thinking. Therefore, my expertise primarily revolves around FICO, focusing on budgeting and related financial solutions.
MS: Is there any highlight you would like to share?
Manuel Robalinho: I am part of the organization team for the SIT Porto event, and it's been an incredible experience to contribute my expertise in organizing SAP community events. Last year's event was notably a high point for us. Initially, we started with a venue that could accommodate around 100 people, but as the years progressed, the demand increased, and we had to adapt. The year prior, the high point was renting a space by the Iracema beach where we had anticipated 300 attendees. We were thrilled when tickets sold out, and even our contingency plan allowed for additional participants beyond expectations. However, hosting a coffee break for such a large crowd was a logistical challenge that taught us valuable lessons.
Our success brought a sense of joy seeing the enthusiastic participation but also highlighted the need for larger venues, as guests often exceed the expected numbers, including sponsors and volunteers. It's fulfilling to see many attending, but it was crucial to learn from these moments to improve future events. After every event, we conduct a ‘lessons learned’ meeting to identify what worked and what needs adjustment. Our aim for the 2025 event is to refine our approach, ensuring our SAP Porto community sets itself apart, adapting to both local contexts and technological needs.
MS: Do you have any plans for your future in the SAP Community?
Manuel Robalinho: From my perspective, the enthusiasm for these events is only bound to increase, both from the SAP Community and the consulting firms that sponsor them. These events offer excellent lectures and showcase impressive case studies. Almost all participants know each other, and they're organized with relatively low costs. This is precisely what we need to make these events appealing, both for sponsors and for the SAP consultants attending.
MS: On the other hand, what would you like to gain from the SAP Community or other community members?
Manuel Robalinho: Typically, I ask members to share their cases and knowledge by giving a presentation, whether onsite or online. I've successfully encouraged numerous individuals to deliver their first presentation. They enjoyed the experience and have continued doing it. It's these small achievements, the thrill of giving a first talk and developing an appetite for sharing, that I truly love to witness.
In my current role, I am required to engage with many people and clients, and this often involves a lot of meetings about partnerships at my new company. It's fascinating because, in many of these meetings, even if I don't lead them, I often hear, "I know you, I saw you at the event we attended or the one we planned together." These moments help break the ice in meetings because they recognize me as someone who is willing to share ideas and insights without any reservation.
Recently, I was called into a meeting where someone recognized me, which made it easier to connect. It became clear that the people I interact with understand that we're not just here for the money but to genuinely share what we're doing, offer tips, and show our project progress. This helps in forming more amicable and easygoing relationships. It's quite rewarding when others acknowledge that willingness to share knowledge openly, knowing that everyone is gaining from it
MS: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Manuel Robalinho: The support from the SAP team for community engagement has been outstanding and very welcomed. It's already bearing fruit, as evident by the number of such events taking place in Brazil in 2025. Your efforts and the 'reorganization' you implemented in terms of groups, influencers, and participation in events are excellent. I have honestly witnessed your work, and despite not knowing how things were coordinated in the past, it has been very beneficial. Congratulations to you and the team!
Your involvement and engagement with companies and community leaders have made a significant difference. It has allowed us to overcome barriers and given us the credibility to organize successful events. People now see the events marked on the SAP calendar as worthwhile, which gives reliability to the organizers.
Last year, I noted with great appreciation your participation in events, which was very beneficial as it provided immense credibility and helped engage many people. This, in turn, encourages more people to attend, participate, and contribute to events, whether through presentations or sharing ideas.
Additionally, actions like sharing small video clips or announcements about events, such as one promoting an event in Warsaw, have been effective in drawing attention and encouraging community engagement. This kind of partnership enhances the credibility of events and benefits everyone involved. SAP gains recognition for distributing product knowledge and brand awareness, while we benefit from increased participation and support in organizing our events, ultimately enriching the whole community. Furthermore, universities are now showing interest in engaging with SAP, which is very promising. Last year, they attended the event and were impressed, and now they're reaching out to me to explain more about SAP, showing how this engagement continues to expand positively.
MS: Thank you so much for having this interview with me and sharing your experiences!
