"Life is lived forward, but understood backward." -as the philosopher wrote... Søren Kirkegaard.
So I took a chance catch up with some of my fellow mentors to reflect on what our experiences are looking like:
"Its been close to a year now since the 12 of us were chosen to be SAP student mentors and the journey has been incredible! We organized workshops and mini-contests for students which were greatly supported by SAP. They provided us both with faculty and goodies. We too learned a lot about IoT and SAP Lumira. We were also privileged to be a part of TechEd this year and had the opportunity to set up a stall. As a part of TechEd we got to meet a lot of eminent personalities at SAP, one being Bernd Leukert - the head of strategic Innovation. Overall the program has helped me discover my potential to the fullest and how I could use it help others. I am looking forward to continue to contribute more to the community in more meaningful way. It was a great opportunity and although my relationship with SAP started with the Lumira contests, being a SAP mentor just added a very different flavor to it."
Ketaki Rao, INDIA
"The experience is more like working with a group of erudite experts, and getting supports I need possibly from any fields, while the challenge is to utilize these resources, and to bring about innovation unprecedentedly. Working as a Student Mentor motivates me to communicate with people from different area. Sometimes local support is more reliable and feasible, considering special condition of individual country/area. I hope SAP community could reinforce the effects network outside Europe."
Megan Liang, CHINA
"Being a Student mentor has helped in the transition from being a student to a professional. This SSM program gave an opportunity not just to understand SAP technologies better, but also to share our knowledge and experience with other students and inspire them. Events like Teched and Techniversity helped in interacting and building our connections in the professional world."
Nikhil N Jannu, INDIA
"I really have had a great experience being SAP mentor student, I think it was a great 1st approach to get to know SAP better, I'm really thankful to be given the opportunity to play this student Mentor role, I keep working hard on my project: First SAP Inside track to be hosted in Mexico city, it has been a great challenge to be able to do my current responsibilities and work in this project with SAP. Im looking forward to keep contributing to SCN, and maybe get more involved professionally with SAP."
Daniel Kleiman, LA
"Only 7 months in and besides giving a quantum leap to my entire way of thinking as I become a full professional in the digital economy-- being a student mentor has given me opportunities to both understand & utilize community resources that exists for startups & community development: specifically startup ecosystem and SAP. Being able to help early startups make meaningful connections to SAP ecosystem is what I am passionate about. As a student mentor I have had multiple occasions to achieve this impact already this year-- It is an ongoing inspiring journey to both discover and be part of a global team who is dedicated to serving the SAP community in a fast moving industry. Having been able so far to connect with, learn from, and walk with the pro mentors as they interface with their topic need -- I'm impressed what a difference devoted & well-skilled people (who are busy) can achieve when they are willing to spend time to elevate the conversation for better impact. I'm inspired more than anything, and I look forward this remaining half year to making it easier for more startups to naturally rub shoulders with topic interested SAP customers."
Ben Christensen, first EMEA, now NA
