I was asked to "Blog It Forward" by my colleague marcusm . What a great idea! I really enjoy reading blogs - imagine my enthusiasm for beginning to write my own!
First, a bit of background: I'm a new graduate of SAP's Sales Graduate Academy (or SGA, now the PGA) in Scottsdale, AZ. Originally from Lufkin, TX, I enjoy traveling, camping, reading, football, technology, friends, and family. I'm also a diehard Texas Aggie.
I now work in a presales role for the Manufacturing / SCM / Sustainability LOB team and my focus is SAP MII, or Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence. My job involves two key facets:
- Understanding customer business processes and pains across a variety of industries
- Delivering relevant & game-changing scenarios in the SAP system landscape
Combining these two functions is like solving a Rubik's cube: initially challenging, but incredibly rewarding when the pieces start to fall into place. Every day I get to stretch my creative muscles and learn new things... what's not to like?
My "Blog It Forward" questions from Mark:
What was your dream job as a kid?
James Bond. Really!
In my mind, he had it all. Traveling the world. Using state-of-the-art equipment. Working with interesting people. Learning and using a wide variety of skills. Acclimating to and thriving in any situation. Those are the aspects of his position that appealed to me then and appeal to me now. I find myself now in a position to do each of these things, although that last one takes constant practice.
And let's be honest - if an iPhone isn't a James Bond device, what is??
What is your favorite place in the world?
I had the opportunity to visit Hawaii with my family a few years ago, and I've been trying to go back ever since. The people I met were fascinating, the landscape was beautiful, pineapple never tasted so delicious, and the possibilities were endless for things to do. I went scuba diving in a scuttled ship and saw sea turtles. We went whale watching... and the whales delivered! And I learned a valuable lesson along the way: when visiting Hawaii, bring golf clubs or leave with regret. :smile:
What is the most fun project you ever participated in and why?
I participated in The Big Event while at school and had a blast. The Big Event is a one-day service project, ocurring in Spring every year, that gives the students of Texas A&M University the opportunity to say thanks to the greater community by completing various tasks at local residents' homes. The scale of the operation is staggering, with over 1,600 jobs completed and 17,500 students participating last year alone.
What made it fun was the people involved. One year, my team did yard work for a wheelchair-bound woman who lived alone. We raked, mowed, weeded and picked up trash. Her positivity and simple appreciation were overwhelming - she told us her yard was the nicest it had looked in years! As cheesy as it sounds, I always looked forward to The Big Event because it humbled me. It gave me an appreciation for the impact we all can make on another's life.
In keeping the BIF going, I am asking the following questions:
- What was your dream job as a kid?
- What is your favorite place in the world?
- What was the most fun project you ever participated in and why?
Your turn wayne.schroeder, randy.sell, domingo.pacheco !