Navigating the Gray: Some reflections on creating a path when there isn’t one
By: Greg Garnhart
Tags: Sap, Uncertainty, Navigating The Next, Development, Silicon Valley

Me, unabashedly hopping on the sourdough craze

I have been counting myself lucky these last six months. In the midst of one of the most tumultuous times that I (and many) have experienced, I have found my personal path to be clear — even reliable. If you had suggested that accepting a role across the country would have made my transition into adulthood easier, I would have doubted you. Initially, I was drawn to the role and program for its ability to force me outside of my comfort zone. And while I have certainly been challenged, I have found my job — my routine — to be something that provides me with stability in a time of much-needed change.

My workday begins at roughly 8 AM — I like an early start. I find I work more efficiently in the morning, so after brewing a generous mug of coffee, I retreat to wherever I may be working and begin what is often some form of testing. In this initial six-month rotation, I am working on SuccessFactors, a comprehensive Human Resources management tool. The platform takes care of everything from performance management to goal setting. I personally work on the recruiting team — developing and working on the tools that got me my current job.

Though hundreds of people work on SuccessFactors (SF), my team consists of nine individuals. Made up of about seven software developers, our product owner, and our manager, our team works well together! We certainly have our labeled roles, but I have seen many people step in to assist a teammate when there is a need.

Given its vast codebase, SF is working to establish a set of software tests to ensure stability for both current and future releases. As a result, I am developing automation tests — turning manual tasks into tests checked via code.

While it can be infuriating at times, I’ve been surprised by how well testing has helped me learn the ins and outs of SuccessFactors. Most of my previous work has been focused on small, personal projects or small(er) internship projects. Working on an application made of well over 100k git commits requires a deep understanding, and testing seems to be a good way to gain that knowledge. Having committed about 100 commits to our repo, I know I have a long way to go, but the process has been a fantastic introduction to the methods SF employs.

Meetings usually begin mid-morning to late afternoon, but our group tends to be flexible. That said, we are not a meeting heavy team — we normally only have SCRUM meetings. From a scheduling standpoint, that means our only daily meeting is standup. I have a few other touchpoints during the week, ranging from 1:1s, Silicon Valley Next Talent Fireside Chats, to team catchups (where we relax and get to know one another a bit better). Otherwise, my schedule is open.

If you read between the lines, you can quickly figure that most of my time is not taken up by meetings. Though I certainly have goals and objectives, tasks are a bit less defined than your average college project. Learning how to thrive in an environment like this has been a great exercise in dealing with uncertainty — and given the world around us, it is a lesson that I have sincerely welcomed.

For me, “dealing with the uncertainty” has slowly been turning into “seizing opportunity.” If I have a free hour on my schedule, I start by looking to make myself useful. While it varies, this often looks like offering to help on similar tasks or considering potential product innovations. If these two initial steps are checked off — which is a rarity, I might add — I often find myself scheduling calls with members of my team or peers in the SVNT program. Other times, I’ve found myself taking advantage of SAP’s corporate subscription to Pluralsight — an online learning tool that has content on numerous tech stacks.

Regardless of one’s methodology, shifting to the “corporate world” means that uncertainty will look different than it has in the past. Being able to shape that uncertainty into something that becomes a chance to better yourself, your team, or whatever you may be working towards allows us to welcome uncertainty, as opposed to shy away from it.