One Year at SAP!

It's been one year since I started at SAP! One whole year. 365 days. And what a whirlwind blessing it has been.

If there is one word that describes this past year, it's?growth. A whole lot of it. More than I’ve ever felt. And if I seek reflection on the year, it’s granted me strength and transformation. From the anxiety, stress, and mom guilt that overcame?me many times to trying to manage work and home, it has really helped me find myself, who I really am and who I want to be. For me. Not for anyone else, but for me.?

There are three distinct moments throughout the last year that have contributed to this said growth that I'd love to share. And if you are in a similar situation, my hope is that these moments serve you in some way:

1.?Embracing a new culture. After being at a company for 10+ years, I was used to a certain culture and way of working that I naturally brought with me. And that’s the beauty of starting at a new company – you can bring best practices with you and apply them every day. But I learned one important lesson – it’s all in the how you bring those insights and ways of working. It took me a good 5 months into the job to realize this, take a step back and embrace the culture. Better understand the why behind the way things are done. I learned to meet SAP where they are today while applying my knowledge I had gained in my career. But you can’t bring all of it at the same time because it may not fit into the culture at that time. The second I figured that out, I felt like I could thrive. And I’ve come to love the SAP culture and have learned a ton from it. Even though I’m still getting used to the time zones and 5AM wake up calls!

2.?Becoming Chief of Staff.?I started at SAP as our Chief Marketing Officer's executive communications lead. Similar to what I did for her at Microsoft. I loved the role, the competency, and her! But I quickly realized, I was supporting her at a new, higher level. So, I had to think differently – think bigger.?Which accelerated my growth in the role, forced me to expand my team, and think differently about how she should be represented. Definitely a learning curve. About 7 months into the role, I transitioned to becoming her Chief of Staff, which led me to understand how the business operates and where we can optimize.

As I made this transition to this larger role, I learned that with growth comes uncomfortable moments – many of them. Not only at work but at home. I don’t believe work/life balance is real – there is no balance. There are only choices – choices to prioritize work and choices to prioritize family. But they can’t happen all at once – it’s not possible. Realizing that has helped me. I’ve learned to fail fast, learn, and keep putting one foot in front of the other. And lastly, I learned to be confident in the decisions I make based on the knowledge I have in that moment. And if the decision changes with new knowledge, be okay with that. ??

3. Seeking Support. Saving the best for last. I started therapy. And it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. With growth comes layers of learnings about yourself. I came to a point where I lost my light. Lost my sparkle. Was grinding every day and didn’t feel like myself – the positive Lauren. I missed her. So, I took a leap of faith and found a therapist who I love. I learned how to validate myself vs seek others validation or approval. I learned how to fail, pick myself up and move forward vs deeply criticize myself. I learned how to listen to people more and empathize with them. But most of all, I learned that I need to focus on what I want. Out of work. Out of my family. Out of my friends. Out of life. And I’m still a work-in-progress on this front but with this extra support, it has already helped me assess and analyze who I am and what I want more than ever before. If you’re on the fence about therapy, I will tell you – go! I was the girl who always thought I was mentally strong enough to pull through anything – wrong. A great therapist is like your first cup of coffee in the morning – you look forward to each session and when it’s done, you feel ready to conquer the world.

Before I close, I want to recap a few nuggets of knowledge I've gained over the last year. You may already have these in your back pocket but if you don't and are needing this, I hope it helps.

1. Be kind always. You never know what others are going through.?

2. Believe in yourself and your abilities. There's a reason you are where you are today.

3. Less worry, more focus on YOU. Look for validation from yourself, not others.

4.?Don't take yourself so seriously. There is no one like you. Remember that.

5. Work does not define you. You, your family/friends, and your job are all part of you.

6. Gratitude makes a difference. Always say thank you at the end of a meeting or email.

7. You don't have to do anything on your own. Seek support and help whenever you can.?

8. Take the time to observe excellent leaders - how they operate and communicate - it will be the most valuable learning tool for you.

9. Be OK to fail. And when you do, fail fast, learn from it, and move on.?

10. Feedback is a gift. Take it. Good, bad, or ugly - always take it. Listen, reflect, and improve.

11. Leadership is a privilege. Be generous with your time and talent. Serve your people. Show them their super-power’s every day.