Spreading my wings
It’s never easy making change in our own lives, even when we’ve been told that we’ve been a change agent for so many others. This is also not the first time I’ve written a blog post about major change in my life. In the past almost 10 years I’ve been in Germany many things have happened, some good and some bad.
I learned the language, wrote a book (or two), started speaking, became the host of the awesome SAP TechEd Demo Jam event. I got married (as well as divorced) and had the most important change ever – my two children. I’ve changed jobs and joined SAP. I then changed within SAP and then again. Created the Innovation Weekends, drove the Clubhouse. I started my show and hosted not one, but two 24 hour long marathons with a 3rd in planning for 2011. Became a member of the Enterprise Irregulars and help found the Enterprise Geeks. I helped create and became a charter member of the SAP Mentors and will be one of the first joining the SAP Mentor Alumni at the end of this year. I’ve been to half a dozen or so SAP SAPPHIRE events and almost 20 SAP TechEd events.
But now it’s time to close this very large chapter of my life and begin a new one. I think it was a good chapter, I think I’ve accomplished a lot of things at SAP and with the SAP ecosystem and influencers. I think I’ve made a mark, a good one and I’m proud to have called SAP my home for the past almost 6 years. So this was not an easy decision, it was not one that I did on a whim or with the flip of a coin but it’s a carefully thought out and considered decision that I have mulled over and finally decided it was a good decision.
It will be tough walking away from so many great friends and those that have helped shape me both personally and professionally. I certainly can’t nor will I try to mention everyone who has helped shape me, those who have know you have and know that I appreciate it – however there are at least a couple that I want to point out who have helped prepare me for my new adventure, even though neither of us knew it was coming.
From outside of SAP,
Dennis Howlett
Dennis has always lent me an ear over the past few years and pushed me hard to ensure that I just didn’t stop with “because it’s cool” but really to drive to understand the business purpose behind something and to be able to confidentially present it.
James Governor
James helped me see chances and opportunities and understand risks.
Thomas Otter
Thomas helped me to understand the broader Enterprise world and life beyond the spargel fields.
Jon Reed
Jon has been a confidant and friend through the good times and the bad and helped me to bring my thoughts and theories around “Path to Recognition” together and present them for others to understand.
There are of course so many others but again its so hard to mention everyone so please understand if you were not mentioned it does not mean you did not impact me…
From inside of SAP,
Mark Finnern
Mark believe it or not made me first realize the world beyond code that I was happy living in and working in. Sure he and I butt heads all the time but it does not change history nor the fact I still call him a friend.
Philippe Rossett
Philippe and I often share a joke every year at TechEd and he often reminds me that “you might be good up there but I discovered you” in terms of the Demo Jam event and through Philippe I’ve learned more than I ever though about organizing and planning events. Logisitics, team work, production and the entire art of putting on a show.
Kaj van de Loo
Kaj, inspired me and enabled me to drive my ideas and to make them happen – through him Innovation Weekend and Innojagd became reality and this year the world saw innovation come pouring out of SAP.
Andrea Kaufmann and Stacey Fish
Two of the most amazing people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and both have taught me so much about communications and relationship management. Their dedication to the work, to influencers and the details surrounding every event is awe inspiring! Thank you Andrea and Stacey!
Mike Prosceno
Mike has been a rock for me throughout my SAP career and I’ve been a quasi member of his team now since 2007 and when I finally joined his team late last year I felt I was there, I had arrived. So making this decision became even harder but over the years I learned a lot from Mike and I learned that sometimes the choices we make or those presented to us are not what we expected and sometimes what does happen does so because life is basically a collection of things that move “accidentally on purpose”. Thank you Mike for supporting and understanding!
There are of course many others at SAP who have impacted me but again I can’t list them all. As I said those I just listed have unknowingly (even to myself) prepared me more than I could have imagined for the adventure ahead of myself.
Another group guys who have kept me grounded to reality over the past 2 years as the not so happy things started to happen and who have stuck by me with this decision as well and challenged me on my decision are the Enterprise Geeks.
Enterprise Geeks (sans Dan)
Dan
I’m honored to be part of this group and look forward to the continued journey with them!
So yes, I have decided to make a new leap in life and have decided to move on. You can probably see now why I’ve let the show slip some this year but rest assured it will pick back up again with a renewed vigor as I begin to look at the Enterprise space as a user of the tools and not an evangelist or developer of them. I have my work cut out for me already as I join a dynamic and growing company here in Mannheim, Germany, called ADTELLIGENCE (see them also on Facebook). They are doing some amazing work and I’m excited to be part of it here in a few weeks.
It’s a dynamic young company and I see a lot of promise and opportunity with them so I’ve accepted their offer to join as Vice President of Marketing and Communications and to head that section of the company. It won’t be an easy task but it will be a challenge that I am looking forward to. The team already there seem to be a great group, I’ve not had a lot of time to get to know them yet but my first impression was a good one and those who know me also know my “vibes” so these guys send off a good vibe!
I won’t be transitioning over right away though I will be staying with SAP for several more weeks for knowledge transfer and to ensure our bloggers and influencers are still getting the info they need until someone else steps into my role and I will be on vacation this summer. My official last day at SAP is August 31st and my first day at ADTelligence will be September 1st.
I hope you will join me on this journey and I look forward to seeing how this new opportunity melds with my existing networks and friends!
And maybe there are forums etc in Australia that you can finally come to!
Craig,
i can’t believe it. SAP without Craig ? Is that possible ?
Anyway. SAP looses a good person, but Adtelligence will get a good person.
Good luck and success in your new job.
Regards,
Hans
Craig
Good luck on your future endeavors. World is too small and am sure we will bump in to each other again. Thanks for all you have done to the community. Demo Jam will not be the same without you. You will be missed. Will you make it to TechEd this year though?
KK
Thank you Craig for the kind words. I am sorry to see you leave but I’m also extremely proud and happy for you that you’re “spreading your wings” in a way that is best for you. Stay connected my friend. I wish you all my very best wishes for the future!
Hi Craig,
Great to hear that you found as it looks like an ideal new position. As the one that got you on board with SAP that makes me really happy to see you strive.
As I tweeted, it is a little known fact, that even I forgot at times, at the total beginning of the SAP Mentor initiative, I took a leave of absence to be with my wife and the new born Nina for 3 months. In that time you developed the SAP Mentor initiative and therefore were instrumental for its structure and success.
Thanks so much also for all the other community and engagement initiative that you were driving before and during your time at SAP.
Good luck with your new gig, Mark.
Good luck Craig! I will continue to make the Innovation Weekends live beyond you.
Craig
I wish you all the best with you new job.
Robert Frost said it best.`
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Congratulations Craig! What an exciting move and I’m sure you will love it, live it and own it
Hopefully that makes sense! All the best, Laura
Congratulations, Craig! You will be sorely missed.
Craig, You have been an unstoppable force in so many communities and have enriched so many lives and experiences during your time here at SAP. Thank you for all you have done.
As we Irish like to say at times like this…May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
It’s not goodbye but rather see you later
Cheers,
Denis
Congratulations Craig! You have broken through another barrier. From now on you will be remembered (amongst other things) as the egeek developer guy who went on to become a Vice President of Marketing and Communications. A true breakthrough!
I wish you continued success – and may you live in interesting times.
So long and thanks for all the fish!
Cheers
Graham Robbo
@craig – honoured that you include me in your roll call and proud to call you a friend. It should not be any secret that we’ve talked about this and many other things (often on my dime goddamit !!) but heh – you know I wish you all the very best in your new challenge.
My parting shot – don’t be a stranger because true friends are for life – not just for a DemoJam mention.
Craig…good luck my friend…congratulation and have fun! but still I hate you for leaving SAP -:P No SAP event will be the same again without you -:’(
Greetings,
Blag.
Congratulations Craig & wish you all the very best of luck at ADTELLIGENCE & beyond!
~Suresh
Congrats old friend! We have much to discuss.
Good Luck!
Dear Craig,
What shall I say… So happy, I had the chance to work with you, so sad, to see you gone. Sitting in an office with you and later with you and Rui has always been inspiring and motivating and productive and we had so many good laughs. Thank you!!!
I wish you all the best for your future and really hope, we stay in touch.
Auf Wiedersehen, Mr. Demo Jam!
Karin
Congrats Craig!
It’s been a real pleasure getting to know you over the past year. You sure left your footprint at SAP.
Craig,
Each one of us invests a lot of effort to enter a good company.
You have equally put in your thoughts nicely even while leaving..
Of many other achievementsin future, you may become an example of, what Peter B.Vaill said,making “Learning as a Way of Being”, I feel !
Wish you all the best !
Anbazhagan
Wow! Congrats and you will be missed!
Craig,
I want to thank you for being my guide and inspiration within SDN/SAP over the years. Even a grumpy old man as I enjoyed it very much. I’m sure that everybody will miss you but I’m certain that ADTELLIGENCE will have a big new asset with you.
Have a good time!
Eddy
Craig,
CONGRATS! All the best in your new adventures!
Cory
Not only is a brand taking leave of SAP but a “sui generis” one.
I looked up “sui generis” in the German wikipedia and liked what I think it said about this latin phrase:
“wörtlich bedeutet er eigener Gattung/eigenen Geschlechts oder einzigartig in seinen Charakteristika”
Bablefish translation to English follows:
“literally it means own kind/own sex or singularly in its characteristics”
Yep. That about sums unique. One of a kind.
A trailblazer and a firebrand. And a brand.
Go well.
Marilyn
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