My personal story as shared with the marketing team at SAP during our annual kickoff meeting.

1. Ginger Shimp
Senior Marketing Director
SAP North America Marketing
Marketing Kick-Off Meeting
January 24, 2017
Work Life Balance

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Horses sweat and men perspire, but proper young women glow.
I was asked if I would share with you the story of my son.
I said, “Absolutely!”
Then I found out I only had 5 minutes.
Umm, no way. I’m a mom. Can’t possibly cover that subject in 5 minutes.
So instead I want to talk to you about sweat.
As anyone raised in the South knows, “Horses sweat and men perspire, but proper young women glow.”
We’re told that anything worthwhile requires “blood, sweat, and tears.”
We believe that working up a good sweat in the gym is a badge of honor.
And yet we’re told, “Never let them see you sweat.”
We dread breaking out in a cold sweat.
We’re reminded to “never sweat the small stuff,” but there’s precious little instruction on whether it’s okay – or even beneficial – to sweat the big
stuff.
That’s how I was raised. To be independent.
Then in 2012 just after Thanksgiving, as I was driving from my home in Happy Valley to MetLife Stadium in NJ to manage an industry forum, I
got a call telling me that my husband had about three weeks to live.

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Never let them see you sweat.
Yeah. Cancer sucks.
I called my boss to tell her I was bailing on my event. Without missing a beat, she kept me on the phone while she dialed a colleague from her
cell. He cleared his calendar, changed his clothes, and jumped into his car to go fill in for me. Thank you, Andy Williams. You are a true
gentleman.
My boss stayed on the phone with me for more than an hour while I bawled in the most unprofessional manner while driving hell bent for leather
through a snowstorm to get back home. I think she just wanted to know where to send the EMTs when I ultimately crashed my rental car.
Regardless, she interrupted her day, no questions asked, to be there — really be there — for me. She couldn't be here today but thank you,
Katheryn Ferguson. You may not have saved my life that day, but you saved my sanity.
It turns out the doctors had misdiagnosed the type of cancer my husband had and so we began a course of treatment.
And I found myself shuttling my eleven-year-old son back and forth to University and making certain he had his homework done. And when I
wasn’t researching chemotherapy side effects … and building spreadsheets and setting alarms to keep a staggering number of medication
doses straight … and wiping down doorknobs and light switches and handrails and drawer pulls and faucets with disinfectant wipes … and
consoling relatives … and coordinating with insurance companies … and figuring out how to change the filter on the air conditioner at home …
and baking lasagnas and casseroles for a friend’s husband so he had some home cooked meals while she was in the hospital for a month or
more … well, then I was taking conference calls while sitting vigil at my husband’s bedside Thank you for that, Michelle Cooper. More than you’ll
ever know.
Many of you may recall that I had sent out an email asking you not to ask me about this. If I brought it up first, fine. But otherwise, no. I could
handle this and I wasn’t about to let you guys see me sweat.
I wasn’t going to let anyone see me sweat – not my husband, not the doctors, not my son,

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There are a lot of sweaty people at SAP.
That’s when something small, almost trivial, happened that stopped me in my tracks and took me to my knees. A co-worker emailed me. He
said, “Ginger, I’ve got your back on this. I can format spreadsheets. I can build presentation decks. I can cover events. I can craft emails and pull
lists. I may have to work long hours to get it done, but if you need the help, I’m there for you. You just let your team know that I signed up for it.”
That was one of the greatest kindnesses I’ve ever experienced in my life. And here’s the kicker: I’d barely ever spoken with him. Wouldn’t have
known him had I been trapped in an elevator with him. Thank you, Andy Vavra. I have no words.
Since that time, I’ve become aware that many of my co-workers have also experienced significant personal trials – many, but not all of them, are
health related. Some challenges are so personal and painful that they aren’t widely shared, and coworkers are left to wonder why that superstar
performer is suddenly falling behind.
Here’s the thing: we may not be aware of what someone else is dealing with. We’re all sweating from hard work, and sure, some are just
sweating the numbers, but many of us are sweating personal challenges. I have great pride in working for SAP and great faith in my coworkers.
So if I hear about someone who’s facing a tough time, I try to be there for them. I try to be that person who says, “If I can handle that load for you
– if I can attend that meeting for you – if I can run that report for you – I will be there for you. Hell, I’m from the South people! And I was the PR
rep for several 4- and 5-star Chicago restaurants. I can cook for you! And if I can just offer a little friendly distraction or keep you company in the
hospital, I will do that too.”
I guess I’m just trying to say that there are a lot of sweaty people at SAP. In fact, I suggested that HR stock the restrooms with antiperspirant.
They swear they’re looking into it. Joe, can you follow up and get back to me on that? Thanks.
It turns out that my husband, who is brilliant and can do damn near anything he attempts, actually sucks at dying. He says he’s immortal and if
he’s ever proven wrong … well, he won’t be here to know it so the joke will be on us.

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We are the corporate version of antiperspirant.
My son is 15 years old now and half way through his junior year at Penn State, with straight As.
My point is that when I was sweating buckets, my SAP family was there to help with the overflow.
I learned to accept help.
Then I learned to ask for help
And now I’m paying that forward.
So, let me bring it home for you all, especially for the newer employees here today. If there comes a time that you are sweating bullets, know
that I’m here for you. We’re all here for each other. I know it's quite fashionable to denigrate "Corporate America" but this “big corporation” is
teaming with family. We are the corporate version of antiperspirant.
And if it’s too personal to share the details, just tell us you’re glowing. We’ll know you’re hurting and we’ll be there for you.
###

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Thank you
Ginger Shimp
Senior Marketing Director
SAP AMERICA, INC.
3999 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA 19073
814 / 350-0019
ginger.shimp@sap.com
Join me online: Twitter | LinkedIn

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