Ukrainian Independence Day: Stories of Resilience from SAP Ukraine Team Members

Independence Day is a time when countries celebrate their freedom and the journey, they took to become independent. For Ukraine, this day is not just about remembering the past, but also about the strength and bravery of its people today. This year, and the one before, has shown us the true meaning of courage and helping one another. Many in Ukraine have powerful stories because of the tough times they live through. Even when things are hard, we keep going and do our best.?

On the occasion of this day, we want to share these stories of SAP Ukraine employees to show how, together, we hope and work for a peaceful future.

Ganna Mikulytska, Managing Director, SAP Ukraine: “Allow me to thank everyone who stands by Ukraine”

Ganna Mikulytska became the MD of SAP Ukraine in July 2022, when the team was finally able to find new directions and stabilize minimally. Adaptability and flexibility became the virtues that made it possible to accept all the challenges of a difficult period. Looking at her photo taken on the first day of work at SAP, Ganna allows herself a slightly ironic smile:

Could I have thought that day that in a year I would have to work, for example, without ever seeing the full team live due to the distance, due to the requirements of wartime? I also did not imagine that my learning curve would become absolutely vertical because the situation would not allow "taking your time". I also unexpectedly became a proud popularizer (and, well, also a humble participant) of the successes of Ukrainian companies in the digitalization of wartime on the international arena. And also, like many, many Ukrainians during winter blackouts, I learned to work from a gas station, from a shopping center or directly from a car in a large parking lot - because these places have powerful generators and Wi-Fi. And of course, I never thought that I would have to spend sleepless nights in a bomb shelter and show up in the morning with a smile for an offline meeting with a client in Kyiv.

However, what really impresses me is the resilience of each member of the team, individually and as a whole. Working literally 24x7, without complaints, with so many inconveniences - #SAPUkraine is working at full capacity! I would like to thank not only the employees but also all our compatriots for their strength and support.

Therefore, it was necessary to quickly adapt to unprecedented circumstances in order to maintain productivity. Each of the Ukrainians has developed certain mechanisms of psychological protection. These are from SAP Ukraine MD:

First, it is worth limiting the viewing of news about the war: it seems that we all have the FOMO syndrome (fear of missing out). My personal observation: It is difficult to objectively imagine Ukrainian reality while abroad, so foreign mass media should not be the only source of information about it.

And immediately the second insight: how to resist the temptation to look at the news all the time, if reading serious books has become even more of a challenge for many? For example, my concentration time required for such reading has become significantly shorter. Therefore, I switch to offline activities, during which it is impossible to be distracted by the phone: visiting the theater and excursions, watching family films (avoiding triggers: I psychologically could not finish watching the dramatic "On the Western Front Without Changes").

And, of course, volunteering, which has become a part of every Ukrainian's life, is also a very effective way to strengthen oneself psychologically. I will highlight this in the third point. To quote Tom Cruise, who actively popularizes the Code of Bushido: ‘If there’s no one there to help, go out and find someone to help’. There is always someone worse off, and no matter how much you might need to help yourself, go out, find that person, and help them! The way Ukrainians help each other is truly inspiring.

These past 18 months have also shown how many friends we have around the world. Let me thank everyone who stands by Ukraine and welcome you to continue to stick with us - your support is very much needed until we win!

At SAP Ukraine, we're more than colleagues; we're family. Among us are six heroes who serve both SAP and our nation's Armed Forces. As they protect Ukraine and Europe at the front lines, we at SAP stand firmly behind them. We're working towards a brighter future, ensuring they return to a better place. To these six and all servicemen and women: thank you. Your courage inspires us daily.

Vyacheslav Nykytyuk, Product Expert, joined the Territorial Defense Forces: "Having the support of loved ones gives strength when standing at the front”

Among the employees of SAP Ukraine are those who defend their country at the front. These individuals, who once had no military background, stepped up from day one to confront the aggressor. We always keep them in our thoughts and do our best to support them. On February 25, 2022, Vyacheslav, along with peers from the shooting club, joined the Territorial Defense Forces.

Already in March-April 2022 as part of a rapid response group, I was serving on the left bank, in the Dnipro district, and then I was mobilized into the 128th separate TRO battalion (mil.? Territorial Defense Forces battalion). My first rotation took place in Slobozhanshchyna. In the summer of 2022, under constant fire, my comrades and I strengthened the companies that held the defense, engaged in reconnaissance and aerial reconnaissance, and adjusted artillery fire. There, at the front, our unit was formed in the form it is now. And already on the second rotation, in March-June 2023 near Bakhmut, we began to perform a much wider range of tasks, up to mortar work and night sniper missions.

I'm now the leader of my team. Scouts can do many different jobs at once. The hardest job is flying drones when the enemy tries to block them with strong signals. We try to do our job and keep the drone safe.

Hearing about the loss of close friends in the army is the hardest thing. Many things help us stay strong in our minds, but the biggest help comes from family, friends, and workmates. Some of these workmates become like family because of the war. Their help, in kind words or money, makes a big difference. It helps us think clearly and remember why we are fighting.

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Sergiy Katerinich, Product Expert: “I told myself I would never show how the war wears me out”

When our friends and coworkers from other countries think about our lives during war, they find it hard to believe we can adjust to it. Truly, it's tough, and many of us put in effort to cope. At SAP Ukraine, we take care to give our team the right support for their mental well-being. Serhiy Katerynych shares his journey of building strength in these times.

From the start, SAP proved that its top priority is its people. Our team in Ukraine felt strong support from the Management Board as well as from leaders in the CEE market unit. They understood how serious our situation was and gave us the time we needed to handle safety and planning. This support was comforting. But, like many others, my way of thinking changed. With the war making it hard to plan, I started living by the idea of "making the most of today." To feel more confident, I learned basic first aid, war psychology, and how to handle war-related stress. The turning point for me was learning about positive psychology. I took an online course on resilience by Alla Klymenko. Now, I think everyone should take this course. It teaches how to keep a healthy mind.

This course on resilience also supported me in a crucial task for many of us in Ukraine - volunteering, which demands strong mental endurance. I've participated in fundraising before, but the events of winter 2022 pushed me deeply into crowdfunding. Fortunately, many people took over the logistics, but they needed money to implement the relief projects. So, my goal was to optimize and cover the needs of the family and divert the rest to the army, but of course, it was never enough, someone always asked for more and again. I had to stay consistent, not wait for recognition, not get tired, not burn out. There were many people who tried to undermine my commitment, but I promised myself that they would never see me war-weary.

We are used to many things: regular threats to use weapons of mass destruction, air raid alarms during the night, close-range explosions of anti-aircraft missiles, and reports of casualties. But I always think back to those in the trenches. It is important for us to build strong mutual understanding between civilians and the military, and not to lose sight of our common goal - to win and rebuild Ukraine. We must find a common language for the whole country.

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Maryna Repetska, Digital Hub Manager"When you are asked how you are doing, you can answer politely or honestly."

The question "How are you?" to us, those whose homes have been invaded by war, others show care and support, but sometimes it is not easy to respond to them. Maryna Repetska, for whom the beginning of a full-scale invasion coincided with a new position in the company, talks about her experience.

Working during the war is difficult and sometimes there are awkward moments when one of my colleagues calls and starts a conversation with a simple question: "How are you?". Every time, you always consider what answer to give: the honest one, which can be long and gloomy, or the polite one: "OK". It is inconvenient to conduct phone conversations from a shelter or a corridor. But work helps me survive this forced experience in a more or less adequate state. It helps me not to drown in the inevitable negativity around me and to continue to earn money so that I can contribute to our victory!

The first months of the war, which coincided with the change of position and command, were the most difficult. There was a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty about everything, which is quite natural in a new place, but the war increased it many times over. The support of the team and especially my manager helped a lot. When you feel genuine care before your official first day of work has even started, it makes a big difference!

By far, nighttime missile attacks have the biggest negative impact on performance, as energy is scarce the next day. But when you know that you bring value, that you are valued, it gives a lot of internal motivation. In addition, the war gave us a clear understanding that we have only one life and it is better to enjoy it when we have the opportunity. For example, I now do not deny myself the opportunity to see new places or try things that I have not done before. It can also be some unusual things, like flying in an air tube. Or something basic and necessary, like spending time with friends when, for example, we go to concerts, even knowing that the show can stop at any moment due to an air alarm.

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Victoria Bulavina, Senior Solution Account Executive, CX, Ukraine: "Everyone showed concern for me, and it moved me deeply"

Victoria joined SAP Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion. She hasn't met the team in person; all introductions, training, and work have been online.

I really dreamed of working at SAP, and right before the start of the full-scale invasion, I finally received an offer, left my previous place of work, and was ready to start a new phase in my professional life. For this purpose, I specifically came from safe Lviv to Kyiv just three days before the full-scale invasion. In fact, no one was prepared for the events of the morning of February 24, and neither was I. I felt great uncertainty about whether I would be able to cope without having my old job, and possibly without getting a new one - because the offer could be withdrawn due to force majeure. Fortunately, this did not happen. Having the full right to refuse the previous agreements, my management made a very humane decision to keep them in force and hire me. Moreover, both the board members and the recruiter who hired me - all wrote to me with concern and offered help, and this approach really impressed me.

During the first months, Ukrainians lived mainly in bomb shelters, emotionally this period was very difficult. But at the same time, I had the understanding that my onboarding is ongoing, that I have to learn, that I have my dream job and I have to cope with it - this motivated me to live in the "here and now". Until the beginning of the summer of 2022, I lived in Lviv, although the company provided everyone with the opportunity to relocate to neighboring countries. During this period, we communicated with colleagues online. A few months later, our Managing Director, Ganna Mikulytska, appeared to us, and we all seemed to be embraced - we had live, warm meetings because she is empathetic in her own right, and being a Ukrainian, she subtly understands our needs and priorities.

A year and a half of full-scale invasion could not help but affect the sales figures - it is in this field that Victoria works in the Ukrainian market segment.

Economically, it is difficult for our current and potential customers, their purchasing power, and therefore demand, has decreased. Currently, finding and encouraging new clients is the biggest challenge for me: despite a lot of previous experience, I can't influence the situation, it's frustrating, but I'm trying to find a solution. Of course, the general information field, night attacks, and sad news - all this cannot leave anyone indifferent. And then sport comes to my aid - it relieves stress, gives me energy, and sometimes cool work insights come during training.

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Volodymyr Vasylyna, Marketing Analytics Manager: “When you focus and finish a task, the satisfaction feels unique in these times”

For Ukrainians, the winter of 2022-2023 was literally the darkest in the entire history of independence: the enemy attacked the energy infrastructure, blackouts lasted for hours, and work became extremely difficult. Volodymyr Vasylyna also considers these few months to be the most difficult.

Besides the first days of the full-scale invasion, the few months in the fall and winter, when the enemy destroyed the energy infrastructure, were difficult. The morale was unstable, and the mood was depressed. First of all, walking in nature and limiting the time spent on social networks helped to stand up and not break down. In fact, it turned out to be fundamental - to consciously limit the consumption of information, because otherwise one felt constant anxiety, which became the background. I also unexpectedly discovered journaling. I simply wrote down in a notebook all my thoughts, and experiences, described events, and remembered small joys. That's how I managed to curb the flow of thoughts and emotions, to calm down.

In the end, surprisingly, the work itself also helped, because when you manage to focus on the work process and complete the work task, you feel at least some satisfaction, which is so rare in our turbulent period.

Helping others, Volodymyr says, also restores faith in one's own strength and gives one the drive to move forward. He notes:

Before the full-scale invasion, I had never volunteered. However, on February 24, 2022, the stepfather of my girlfriend Nastya was mobilized into the army. He is a tanker. Later it turned out that his company was in critical need of at least some kind of auxiliary transport because there was none. We had to cover this need on our own, so already in May, we started collecting the first minibus. The required amount was received very quickly, largely due to the incredible support of SAP colleagues in Ukraine and other countries. Well, Bus lived a bright, but short-lived life. It was very useful to our guys on the front lines until it became completely unusable - even repairs will not help. Therefore, a year later, this summer, we were collecting for a pickup truck. At the same time, of course, like most people around me, I participate in charity meetings organized by friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. However, I always feel as if I am not doing enough. We need more and more often".

Olga Petrusenko, SAP Business Solution Architect: “When you help others, there is no time to be afraid”

Participation in charity fundraising and humanitarian projects has become the norm for ordinary Ukrainians and for the absolute majority of companies. SAP is very active in social partnerships and supports good causes. One of these projects was grant support for the activities of the UAnimals Foundation, which takes care, in particular, of rescuing animals from occupied and war-affected territories. The initiator of this cooperation was our employee, Olga Petrusenko.

In the first weeks of the war, the evacuation of people and animals from the occupied territories was one of the priority directions of volunteering. Having a cat and a dog at home, I understood how helpless domestic and domesticated animals are. Therefore, first of all, I transferred money to support zoos and animal protection organizations. The UAnimals Foundation was among them. To speed up the funding process, I initially sent money directly to the fund employees' cards and later through bank accounts. When the CSR program restarted, I naturally progressed to work with the UAnimals Foundation, helping them get an SAP grant to move animals from risky areas. We're still finalizing the fund allocation. Meanwhile, I personally keep donating to their website and urge my colleagues to do the same. https://uanimals.org/.

Olga notes that the stable work of the company, permanent employment, and timely salary became, without exaggeration, factors of survival during the war.

The opportunity to work distracted from stupid thoughts and the regular payment of salary (a big "thank you" to the company for this) made it possible to live and not think about price increases, when gasoline, in its temporary absence, became twice as expensive, and the drop in the hryvnia exchange rate led to the general increase in prices. However, blackouts, lack of communication, and heating affected everyone. There is no electricity - the life of a modern person stops or is greatly complicated. A categorical and unequivocal dependence of the quality of life on the presence or absence of electricity was revealed. During the day, I went to work in various co-working spaces and points of invincibility. One of my permanent "offices" became the point of invincibility on Kontraktova Square. There was electricity and even coffee. But there was a nuance: during the air raid, all those present had to go outside, where it was quite wintry to wait for the repulse. In order to solve the problem with the Internet and power and to work at home, I bought several different powerbanks, and for the New Year I gave myself a Bluetti generator.

And yet, according to Olga, active participation in work processes and the support of colleagues are crucial factors that fuel resilience in these times.

Back in January, during the period of active blackout in Ukraine, colleagues from SAP IBU Oil&Gas offered me to make a report at the annual International SAP Conference for Energy, which was to be held in April, on the topic "Restoration and development of energy industry of Ukraine." On the one hand, this invitation was very interesting for me personally, and on the other hand, I saw it as an opportunity to tell my colleagues in Europe, as they say, firsthand, about everything that is happening in Ukraine, including the energy sector. And give an idea of what opportunities Ukraine has in terms of production and supply of energy carriers to Europe.

Unfortunately, no one can predict the exact date of the end of the war, but we are sure that together we will bring this day closer.