Post by Markus Galda

Today marks my 18-year anniversary 🎉 with SAP - the age we typically associate with adulthood. And in many ways, that feels like an appropriate milestone to pause and reflect. Looking back, these years have been nothing short of a rollercoaster. I've had the privilege to work across different roles - from consulting to sales and now product management. Along the way: ups and downs, sharp turns, new “rides”, disruptions, inspiring topics, challenging situations, and countless enlightening customer conversations. For all of that, I'm deeply grateful. What has truly made the difference, though, are the people. The friendships and personal bonds built over time have been the glue that kept me connected to this company more than anything else. My journey has not been a straight line - and the past year in particular has probably been the most challenging for me personally. Organizational changes, strategic shifts, and of course, the massive impact of AI have reshaped much of what we do. Letting go of results, directions, and initiatives that had become close to my heart was not easy. It inevitably led me to ask myself: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺?💭 The answer isn't crystal clear - and maybe it doesn't have to be. As an emotional and passionate person, my “why” is shaped by many soft factors: the people around me who share the same passion (especially in maintenance scheduling), my history within SAP, the trust and friendships built over time - and the curiosity for what lies ahead. Looking forward, I realize that these 18 years may also mark something like a halfway point. If that's true, then these are not just the years behind me - but also a reminder of the journey still ahead. And when I reflect on the past, one simple thought remains: 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮! 🙏 To my colleagues, friends, partners - and most importantly, my wife Dr. Liane Galda and kids. Your support, trust, and encouragement have made all the difference. Without these relationships, mentors and managers that I've learned so much from - and still do - I wouldn't be where I am today, nor would I have had the strength to navigate the tougher moments. So here's to the past 18 years 🥂 - and maybe (hopefully!) to the next 18. They will undoubtedly look very different, shaped by new challenges, technologies, and ways of working. I'm especially excited to take my first steps with agentic workflows and explore how they can transform the way I work in the weeks to come. On to the next chapter. #anniversary #18yearsandcounting #grateful #thankyou #SAP #maintenancescheduling #thenextchapter #continuouslearning #FSA Stefan Andreas Jaeger Steffen Zell Clemens Kühne Andre Labahn Holger Sander Uwe Seidel Frank Baranski Thomas C. Handke Clemens Schnellert Markus Seidl Peter Flohrer Bianca Ziegler Stefan Meinhardt Laurent Douek Andreas J. Wagner Joachim Köble Thomas Ruhl Ralf Vath Viktor Kehayov Ryan Jones Paolo Manfrin Dominik Mark Metzger Ye Li