Tiago Dreams Hard

Every employee has a story about how he or she came to be part of the SAP global family, but few have persevered as tenaciously as Brazilian colleague, Tiago, to get an SAP ID Number.



Everyone has a dream. For some it is to have a successful career or travel the world. Others want to raise a big family or create a beautiful garden. Dreams encourage us. They give us a reason to wake up every morning and continue our journey.
But how far can a dream take us? Tiago, an intern hired recently to the globalization banking team at SAP Labs Latin America, is living proof that if you can dream about something, then you can also make it
happen.


Tiago, SAP Brazil

From parking cars next door...
Many employees at SAP Labs in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, knew Tiago  when he was working in the parking lot next to the building. Despite the difficult working conditions, Tiago was always friendly and respectful. And although life was hard, nothing could take the smile off his face.
Tiago often simply did what he considered was the right thing to do. For example, to keep customers from getting wet in the rain, he purchased an umbrella. “I always saw people getting wet, often carrying documents,” remarked Tiago. “Then I thought, I am there to serve them, so why not make this simple gesture and improve my service?” Attitudes like this weren’t really appreciated by Tiago’s supervisor, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t enough for him to do only what he was asked to do.
Tiago befriended employees from the Lab and asked them what the company does. The stories about SAP’s business interested him, and he dreamt that one day he could also work there. His friends recommended that he learn to speak English.
Time passed and Tiago began to study and practice English by himself. Many of employees received a “good morning” from him when getting out their cars. He was determined to learn the language, so he read books, listened to music, and watched movies.

… to cleaning the office …
One day, Tiago was offered an opportunity to work for the company that cleans SAP Labs Latin America. Asked if he minded cleaning the building, he responded: “Of course not! I accept the job.” Tiago wanted to be on the inside of SAP Labs, no matter what the job entailed.
For eight months he cleaned the office with dedication, always greeting employees and being cordial to everyone he met. His positive attitude was responded to by some with jealousy and envy, but Tiago never gave up. He always did what he thought was right, converting some of the negativity he experienced into positive energy to help him achieve his goal.

… to helping internationalize SAP products
Then one day, while cleaning the coffee corner on the second floor, he asked a good friend “What do I have to do to get a position with SAP?” The friend replied: “If you want, I can interview you right now.” That day, someone saw in him an opportunity. That simple question will remain in his memory forever. A few days after completing his CV, he began working as intern at the Globalization – Banking team.
After much struggle, after going through difficult working conditions, after so many obstacles that life imposed to him, Tiago persevered and achieved his goal.”From the beginning, I imagined myself in here and made it a goal in my life,” he said. “I was sure I could do it because I focused on it, I could see my future work here.”
Today he thanks each one of those SAP colleagues who, from the days when he worked at the parking lot, believed in his potential and helped him to realize this dream.

By:  Jessica Pedroso
SAP Roving Reporter