SAP Learning Insights

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May 2026

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Digital- and Social Learning Stories

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May 13, 2026Episode 6419 min

Certification Reimagined – with Claudia Kischa

In this episode of SAP Learning Insights, our host David Chaviano welcomes Claudia Kischa. Claudia is an expert for SAP partner certification and learning adoption from the SAP Headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. The conversation dives deep into the transformative changes that SAP certification has undergone recently, transitioning to a more practical and engaging model that reflects real-world scenarios, ultimately benefiting learners and partners alike. The goal is finally to have more capable, job-ready individuals who can navigate the details of SAP systems with confidence.Claudia highlights annual recertification, AI assessments toreduce anxiety, and the importance of SAP Learning resources for success. At the end, Claudia of course shares her final words of wisdom with you!SAP Certification reimagined: https://learning.sap.com/get-certified/reimagining-certificationSAP Certification: https://www.sap.com/training-certification/sap-certification.htmlSAP Certifications: https://learning.sap.com/certifications?page=1Partner Learning Managers: https://community.sap.com/t5/partner-learning-managers/gh-p/partnerlearningmanagers Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/ The SAP Learning group: https://community.sap.com/t5/sap-learning/gh-p/learningVisit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/Download transcript

March 5, 2026Episode 6228 min

What is SAP - with Bob Szymanski

In this episode of SAP Learning Insights, David Chaviano hosts Bob Szymanski, a university professor from Georgia Southern University and a prominent voice in integrating SAP into academic curricula. The conversation is about the fundamental question: What is SAP? David reveals his desire to present SAP in a beginner-friendly manner, and Bob takes this opportunity toshare his insights, experiences and easy to understand examples. Bob presents a clear, straightforward definition of SAP, describing it not merely as software, but as an enterprise information system that enables business processes. He shares sources for getting more knowledge and insights and at the end, he of course provides his final words of wisdom. Bob Szymanski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-szymanski-599b8ab/SAP - https://www.sap.com/Bob's book on Enterprise Systems: https://www.amazon.com/Enterprise-Systems-Cornerstone-Integrating-Organizational/dp/1777204992Student Zone on learning.sap.com: https://learning.sap.com/studentsSAP University Alliances (SAP Community): https://pages.community.sap.com/topics/university-alliances Learn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAPLearning Hub, student edition. (https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493) Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/ The SAP Learning group: https://community.sap.com/t5/sap-learning/gh-p/learningVisit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/Download transcript

February 3, 2026Episode 5930 min

Update – Finance and Accounting with Stefanos Pougkas

In this episode, David Chaviano met again with StefanosPougkas from SAP to talk about the evolution of SAP's financial offerings. They explore the core functions of SAP Financials, the shift to SAP Public Cloud solutions, and the importance of foundational accounting knowledge for newcomers. Stefanos highlights the impact of AI on automating financial processes and encourages embracing a fit-to-standard philosophy in cloud environments. We conclude by discussing the future of finance consultants amidst evolving market demands, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to excel in SAP finance. And of course, at the end of the episode, Stefanos shares some words of wisdom. Exploring Accounting & Financial Close:https://learning.sap.com/learning-journeys/exploring-accounting-financial-close Applying End-to-End Business Processes inSAP Business Suite: https://learning.sap.com/learning-journeys/applying-end-to-end-business-processes-in-sap-business-suite SAP Certified - Implementation Consultant- End-to-End Business Processes for SAP Business Suite: https://learning.sap.com/certifications/sap-certified-associate-implementation-consultant-end-to-end-business-processes-for-the-intelligent-enterprise SAP Learning site – Performance-basedCertification: https://learning.sap.com/get-certified/reimagining-certification SAP Community Blog: ReimaginingCertification: https://community.sap.com/t5/sap-learning-blog-posts/reimagining-certification-for-the-way-we-work-today/ba-p/14261141 Financial Management | SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/products/financial-management Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/ The SAP Learning group: https://community.sap.com/t5/sap-learning/gh-p/learningVisit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/Download transcript

January 16, 2026Episode 6022 min

Career Spotlight – Becoming an SAP Consultant in Sourcing and Procurement with Akshay Patel

In this episode, David Chaviano discusses Akshay Patel's journeyfrom electrical engineering to becoming a junior SAP consultant at Syntax,Canada. Akshay shares how his diverse experiences sparked an interest in SAPconsulting, leading to formal training and certifications in sourcing andprocurement. He highlights the challenges of entering the job market and thepersistence needed to secure his position at Syntax. He reflects on his growththrough hands-on projects and client engagement, while also addressing the roleof artificial intelligence in the future of consulting. Akshay concludes with hiswords of wisdom for aspiring SAP professionals, emphasizing the importance offoundational knowledge, practical experience, and determination. Learn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAPLearning Hub, student edition. (https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493Syntax: https://www.syntax.com/ Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/ The SAP Learning group: https://community.sap.com/t5/sap-learning/gh-p/learningVisit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/Download transcript

December 16, 2025Episode 5920 min

Tales from the go-live – BTP, Clean Core and a Near Perfect Go-Live with Sebastiano Marchesini

SAP BTP expert Sebastiano Marchesini shares his story of a near-perfect SAP S/4HANA go-live. Working with a famous food and beverage company, his team built a BTP extension to automate invoice processing using AI. Sebastiano credits theproject's success to high customer involvement, where constant collaboration and consistent testing ensured a smooth rollout. He emphasizes the "Clean Core" philosophy—using frameworks like CAP (SAP Cloud Application Programming Model) to build future-proof solutions that won't break with system updates. Learn about the unique go-live atmosphere fueled by snacks, Lego, and freshly baked cakes from the client’s test kitchen! And at the end of the episode, Sebastiano shares his words of wisdom.Sebastiano on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiano-marchesini/SAP BTP: https://www.sap.com/products/technology-platform.htmlLearnhow students can certify in SAP for free with SAPLearning Hub, student edition. (https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/Visit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/

December 1, 202536 min

InternView – Navigating Early Careers at SAP - with Domenic Glass

In this episode of our InternView mini-series, host Eden met with Domenic Glass, HR Senior Recruitment Consultant at SAP, to explore the world of recruiting for early talents. Dominic shares his journey from sociology studies to becoming a recruitment expert, offering invaluable insights into what makes SAP unique for early-career professionals. He emphasizes SAP’s collaborative ethos “We rise by lifting others” and provides actionable tips for students looking to move into the tech industry. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or exploring career opportunities, this episode offers insider perspectives on what recruiters really look for in early talent candidates. It’s perfect for students, recent graduates, and anyone interested in understanding the modern recruitment landscape at one of the world’s leading technology companies.Learn more about the SAP Internship Experience Program (iXp): Internships & Internship Experience Program (iXp) | SAP CareersExplore the various student opportunities at SAP: Students Jobs & Internships | SAP CareersLearn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAP Learning Hub, student edition. (https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/Visit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/Download transcript

October 29, 202529 min

Tales from the go-live – Halloween Edition with Rebecca Murray

In this special Halloween episode of SAP Learning Insights, Rebecca Murray from Syntax returns to share the scary side of SAP implementations. Unlike her previous success stories, Rebecca reveals what might happen when a go-live doesn’t go according to plan. Rebecca walks us through a particularly haunting weekend cutover and other scenarios where many things that could go wrong seemed to happen. From loading two-week-old data files during a critical system migration to team members sleeping through 2 AM alarms, she illustrates how even well-orchestrated go-lives can quickly become a “comedy of errors.” In addition to her first story, Rebecca shares a rapid-fire list of other go-live mishaps she’s witnessed: stolen laptops, power outages, missing configuration files, team members leaving projects just before go-live, and even panic attacks during go/no-go decisions. But Rebecca emphasizes that while hiccups are common, major issues are typically caught before GoLive through proper planning and mock exercises. And in the end, she shares some encouraging final words of wisdom. Rebecca Murray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamurrayhcm/Syntax: https://www.syntax.com/ Learn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAP Learning Hub, student edition.(https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/Visit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/

October 1, 202524 min

InternView – SAP's Path to Success: Inside the SAP STAR program with Markus Bell

Join host Usaid in this episode of InternView talking with Markus Bell, SAP’s Global Head of STAR (Student Training and Rotation), to explore the comprehensive world of SAP’s STAR program. With over 20 years at SAP, Markus shares how this program has produced over 3,000 graduates, including two current board members who started their careers as STAR students. Discover what sets this program apart and learn how they operate across 14 countries, offering students real-world experience through customer interactions while developing both technical and soft skills. Learn more about the SAP Internship Experience Program (iXp): Internships & Internship Experience Program (iXp) | SAP Careers Explore the various student opportunities at SAP: Students Jobs & Internships | SAP Careers Learn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAP Learning Hub, student edition. (https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493 Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/ Visit the SAP Community:  https://community.sap.com/ Download transcript

September 5, 202535 min

Tales from the go-live - GROW with SAP - with Rebecca Murray

In the debut of our mini series “Tales from the Go Live”, David Chaviano welcomes SAP partner consultant Rebecca Murray from Syntax. Rebecca shares how her team delivered a GROW with SAP deployment to a customer whose main operations sat deep in northern Canada. Rebecca outlines the GROW with SAP methodology; leading with best practices in S/4HANA Public Cloud, layering minimal customer-specific configuration, and pairing it with SuccessFactors reaching every employee. Over 14 months, a lean team of 12 specialists implemented and rolled out ERP and HR capabilities with mostly remote delivery, targeted on-site visits, and post–go-live hypercare to stabilize payroll, billing, and period-end close.Rebeccas biggest lesson learned: active listening is crutial when tailoring best practices to a customer’s definition of success. For newcomers, she advises exploring different roles (technical, functional, strategic, customer-facing) and following your curiosity to build a rewarding SAP career. Rebecca Murray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamurrayhcm/GROW with SAP: https://www.sap.com/products/erp/grow.htmlSyntax: https://www.syntax.com/ Learn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAP Learning Hub, student edition.(https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/Visit the SAP Community: https://community.sap.com/ Download transcript

August 15, 202529 min

InternView – Inside SAP's Internship ExperienceProgram with Christine Archer

Welcome to our new SAP Learning Insights mini series “InternView”, a student-led podcast offering an insider’s look at SAP’s internship and early career opportunities. In this debut episode, hosts JoAnn and Eden met with Christine Archer, Global Head of the SAP Internship Experience Program (iXp), for an in-depth conversation about intern life and career development opportunities at one of the world’s largest software companies. Discover how SAP is pioneering new approaches to internships, helping over 2,000 interns each year unlock their full potential through the SAP Internship Experience Program (iXp). Learn more about the SAP Internship Experience Program (iXp): https://jobs.sap.com/content/internships/?locale=en_US Explore the various student opportunities at SAP: https://jobs.sap.com/content/Students/?locale=en_US Learn how students can certify in SAP for free with SAP Learning Hub, student edition. (https://community.sap.com/t5/beginner-corner-blog-posts/free-sap-certification-and-practice-systems-for-students-amp-lecturers/ba-p/14052493 Visit SAP Learning: https://learning.sap.com/ Visit the SAP Community:  https://community.sap.com/ Download transcript