There’s a particular kind of wisdom that only comes from staying long enough to see things change.
Satvinder Singh has seen SAP evolve from its earliest days — SAP 3.1G — to the complex, high-pressure transformation environments we know today. But when he reflects on his 27+ year journey, it’s not the technology that stands out most. It’s the people. And, eventually, himself.
From Chemical Plants to Code
Born in India and trained as a chemical engineer, Satvinder’s early career was rooted in process, precision, and problem-solving. He worked as a shift engineer in sulphuric acid and carbon bisulfide plants — environments where mistakes had real consequences. Yet even then, something else was pulling at him.
“I had inclinations towards IT,” he explains. “Particularly an area where I could utilise my engineering and process skills, and also do some sort of automation.”
That curiosity led him to SAP PM, at a time when ERP itself was still emerging. What started as training soon became a lifelong career — one that would take him from India to Singapore, and eventually to Australia, where he would work across oil and gas, mining, rail, construction, government, and healthcare.
“I never went back,” he says simply. “A lot of engineers do. I didn’t.”
The Quiet Power of Listening
As Satvinder moved from consultant to program director, his philosophy stayed grounded in something deceptively simple: go to the people doing the work.
One of his most meaningful projects was with Sydney Trains, where he travelled site to site, speaking directly with frontline staff.
“Once you understand their pain points, and if you can apply solutions around that… the smile on their face, the gratitude — that was very, very satisfying.”
Sometimes, appreciation came in unexpected forms: thank-you emails, small gifts, produce from someone’s farm. But what mattered most was knowing the solution genuinely helped someone’s day.
That same approach carried through his work at Queensland Rail, Golding Contractors, and the Department of Human Services — always anchored in doing the right thing, at the right time.
Why Healthcare Changed Everything
Despite decades across heavy industry, Satvinder describes healthcare as the most demanding — and most humbling — environment he’s worked in. “In healthcare, you have to be spot on every time,” he explains. “You’re dealing with day-to-day people.”
From asbestos management and mould risks to operating theatres, lifts, chillers, and air conditioning — every maintenance decision has a direct impact on patient safety. There’s no room for shortcuts. “You don’t just resolve it,” he says. “You make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
That level of responsibility sharpened his ethics, his attention to detail, and his sense of accountability — not just to systems, but to human lives.
Burnout, Honesty, and Learning to Pause
For someone known as a “straight shooter,” burnout came as a shock. “I had been burned out on more than one occasion,” Satvinder admits. “Long hours, deadlines, politics — it all comes as part and parcel of management.”
Earlier in his career, he dealt with pressure by absorbing it. Pushing through. Saying nothing. “I never asked for help,” he says. “I just sucked it up. And one day, it became too much.”
What changed everything was learning to slow down — and to separate himself from the problem. He reflects:
“Take one step at a time. Chill out. Identify the real core issues. Resolve the issue rather than becoming a part of it.”
Meditation became a turning point, especially during COVID, when work blurred into every hour of the day. “Once you shut down your computer, just forget about the job. Have a hobby. Have something else in your life.”
The result? A calmer, more composed leader — one he’s genuinely proud of becoming.
Leadership Is Not Doing Everything
When asked what advice he’d give to ERP leaders today, Satvinder doesn’t talk about frameworks or methodologies first. He talks about honesty.
“Communication is not just emails or presentations. It’s about being honest, straight, and effective.”
And then there’s delegation — something he learned the hard way. “You are the captain of the ship,” he explains. “You’re not the one putting in the fuel, doing security, or being the chef.”
Leadership, for him, is about trust. Letting others do their jobs. Staying focused on direction, not absorption.
To Newcomers and Those Starting Again
Satvinder’s advice to newcomers, career-changers, and those quietly doubting themselves is both firm and kind. “Believe in yourself,” he says. “You are better than many more.”
But just as importantly: be kind — not only to others, but to yourself.
“Identify your limitations. Admit where something is not your expertise. There is no harm in saying that.”
And in an industry that often rewards confidence over honesty, his message is refreshingly human.
Why He Keeps Sharing His Story
Today, Satvinder is driven by a desire to give back — through speaking, mentoring, and sharing the lessons he learned the hard way. “I’ve come through a lot of hardships in life,” he says. “I didn’t become a leader from day one. I had to develop that skill set.”
People still reach out to him after conferences. They email. They ask questions. They look for reassurance.
“My experience is not necessarily their experience. But they can learn something from the mistakes I’ve made — and maybe not fall into the same traps.”
And perhaps that’s the quiet legacy of a long ERP career well lived: not just systems delivered, but people helped — including, finally, yourself.
Connect with Satvinder on LinkedIn
