SAP Social Sabbatical Journal #2: The Art of listening, seeing and learning.
Greetings everyone!
I wanted to drop in and share some insights about the first week of our SAP social sabbatical in Casablanca. I must say, this has been an extraordinary experience, and if I had to put a headline to this week, it would be: “the art of listening, seeing and learning”.
I arrived in Casablanca the first of the group, so I already had some familiarity with the city. Casablanca and Morocco were not new to me, as I had visited the country multiple times. However, one vital skill I had to quickly relearn upon my arrival was how to safely cross a street, avoiding being caught by a car. I found myself observing the locals and following their lead, sticking close to someone who seemed to have mastered the art of crossing the streets undamaged.
Most of my colleagues arrived on Saturday. It is truly fascinating to connect with colleagues from so many diverse nationalities (China, India, US, Germany, Brazil, UK, Canada, and Spain), varied backgrounds, and different generations, all coming together for a shared social mission. Hats off to our CSR team for making this happen!
We are staying in a highly stylish hotel in Casablanca, where each of us has a mini apartment comprising a bedroom, a living room, and a kitchen. Our hotel is located adjacent to Mohamed V Stadium, and on our very first Sunday, we were introduced to the fervor for soccer in Casablanca, featuring the Wydad and Raja soccer teams. I had no prior knowledge of the significance of soccer in Morocco, especially in Casablanca. From my hotel window, I observed crowds of fans walking to the stadium, singing songs to set the mood before the match.
Our hotel is surrounded by great restaurants too, as Casablanca has a vibrant restaurant scene fueled by both locals and visitors. We took the opportunity to explore the area on Saturday for both lunch and dinner, and we received plenty of recommendations.
On Sunday, we held our in-house kickoff event at the hotel, and from the very first day, you could sense an electrifying and focused energy within the group. Twelve highly motivated, kind, curious and courageous individuals came together with a genuine concern for one another. I feel privileged to be a part of this experience with them, and they inspire me tremendously.
We had an incredible day building connections and preparing for the major kickoff with the host teams, scheduled for Monday. Monday marked our very first day with our host project. The kickoff event happened at the SAP office in Casablanca and featured four teams with four inspiring projects: Al Jisr Foundation JADARA Foundation (ONG) , Maroc Impact and SEASKIN
Following the kickoff, our team gathered and began working on our commitments for the first week. Our team consists of three members with diverse backgrounds in marketing, business development/sales and customer support. We bring a wide range of skills and personal traits to the table, and we have found a way to harness everyone’s strengths. I am truly privileged to work with Misha and Allen. Misha is a super caring person with a fantastic sense of humor, but her best-kept secret is that she is one of the most efficient people I have ever met, and her resourcefulness seems boundless. It’s truly impressive. Meanwhile, Allen is our team’s empathy guru. He is reflective, highly organized, warm, and an outstanding listener, consistently demonstrating a genuine concern for others. We have a great mix indeed!
On a personal level, I’ve undergone significant learning over the past week, especially through our listening exercise. Listening goes beyond just hearing; it involves caring and paying attention to the person and their words without the urge to translate, compare, or pass judgment — just pure listening. It’s a challenging practice, and indeed, one of the most difficult things is to truly listen to one another.
During this initial week, we collaborated with Nawal, our host, to define and align the scope of our project in Casablanca, establishing the desired outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs). The act of listening also forged connections, and we observed the transformation of our relationship with Nawal. In the beginning, she shared insights into her project, its inception, organization, challenges, brand strengths, and values. However, as the days passed, we delved deeper, and she opened up to reveal her passion, introducing us to her new brand, Rhea. Her eyes sparkled, radiating energy and happiness as she unveiled her dreams. This marked a breakthrough moment that will forever stay with us.
Another significant lesson from this past week is the importance of being reflective, rather than reactive. We often have a tendency to respond impulsively, as if we’re conditioned to seek quick solutions or provide immediate answers without taking the time to reflect. Being reflective involves taking a step back, pausing, and carefully contemplating your actions and decisions before acting on them. I’m truly embracing this slower, more self-aware approach, which allows me to offer a more thoughtful and considered response.
On Wednesday, we held our extended team meeting with Pyxera to exchange our initial impressions and ensure everyone was doing well. Later in the evening, we received a kind invitation from one of our host organizations, Maroc Impact, to join them for dinner at the founder’s house. A big shoutout to GHIZLAINE MAGHNOUJ ELMANJRA for hosting an incredible dinner and providing us with such a warm reception.
The following day happened to be October 12th, the National Day of Spain, which commemorates the discovery of the Americas and also celebrates Our Lady of the Pilar, which happens to be my name day. To mark the occasion, we decided to dine at a Spanish restaurant in Casablanca called Don Lucas, tasting a variety of Spanish goodies, including paella. We had an absolute blast. This team is simply the best!
Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to explore Casablanca’s Medina with a guide from Casamemoire, a non-profit organization committed to preserving and promoting 20th-century architecture in Casablanca.
Then, on Sunday, a group of us hopped on the high-speed train to Tangier for a day trip. It was a fantastic way to wrap up the week in one of Morocco’s oldest cities, known for its tangerines and Moroccan Mint Tea, serving as the final resting place of Hercules, and home to over 30 different nationalities, international spies, and a vibrant artistic community of expatriate writers and artists like Paul Bowles, William S. Burroughs, Matisse, and Tiffany. This is what gives Tangier its reputation as a dynamic and creative city. Our day concluded with a view of the Strait of Gibraltar, a gateway between two continents, Europe and Africa and my home country, Spain.
Stay tuned for the next blog entry. Since then, have a great week!
#SAP #socialsabbatical #Morocco #casablanca #Seaskin #Pyxera
