How One SAP Leader Supported a CEO Navigating Leadership Transition

When Maggie Ramaiah, a Vice President at SAP, first came across the opportunity to volunteer her skills with a social enterprise through the MovingWorlds platform, she didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve always been a big believer in sharing my knowledge, expertise, and skills with whoever it can benefit,” Maggie shared. “It’s not about waiting for a big moment—it’s about realizing that even small deliverables can make all the difference.”

After participating in a similar program at SAP, Maggie saw firsthand how critical resource constraints can hold small, mission-driven organizations back. That insight inspired her to go deeper—and led her to her most recent project supporting XPAND, a social enterprise undergoing a pivotal leadership transition.

Supporting a New CEO, One Relationship at a Time

XPAND had just appointed a new CEO—stepping into the role after the departure of the organization’s long-standing founder. Maggie was matched with the incoming leader to provide strategic coaching and team support during this key moment of change.

“The objective was simple, but powerful,” Maggie explained. “Support the new CEO by sharing leadership practices that worked for me. Help her better understand and manage her team. Create a work environment where people could flourish and trust their new leader.”

Maggie brought her full toolkit to the experience—drawing on years of people management expertise, coaching methodology, and a relationship-intelligence framework called SDI (Strength Deployment Inventory). “Unlike other tools, SDI focuses on relationship intelligence—our motivations, strengths, and how we move through conflict,” she said. “It created a shared language the team could use to better understand each other.”

Through a series of virtual sessions, Maggie helped the CEO and her direct reports build trust, deepen communication, and co-create a more connected leadership culture.

“The Growth Mindset Was Inspiring”

For Maggie, the highlight was the team’s openness and the CEO’s commitment to growth.

“It was incredible to see how open the team was to new ways of working,” she reflected. “The new CEO brought a growth mindset—and the entire team met her there.”

That commitment helped XPAND create ongoing systems for team development, built to last long after the two-week project. “The SDI platform itself is something they can continue using for team check-ins and conversations,” Maggie noted. “It gave them a foundation.”

A Perspective Shift for a Corporate Leader

As a VP and faculty member at SAP, Maggie coaches early-career talent every day—but this experience helped her see organizational dynamics from a different lens.

“In a large company, changes at the CEO level don’t usually affect your day-to-day,” she shared. “But in a small organization, a leadership change has ripple effects. Working with XPAND made me appreciate my own leaders even more—and how much intention goes into making those transitions smooth.”

It was a valuable reminder that impact goes both ways. “You’re not just giving your time,” Maggie said. “You’re learning too.”

“Don’t Wait for a Big Opportunity”

Maggie’s biggest takeaway?

“Don’t think too much. Just dive in,” she said. “You will not only be helping an organization, but also learning a lot from these experiences.”

And for those holding back because they think they need a huge window of time or some life-changing skill to share?

“Don’t wait for a large opportunity to make a change,” she advised. “Every small act of service will support someone in a big way.”

Ready to Put Your Skills to Work?

Maggie’s story is a powerful reminder that you already have what it takes to make a difference—you just need to take the first step.

Through the MovingWorlds platform, professionals from companies like SAP are matched with social enterprises tackling the world’s biggest challenges. Together, they co-create solutions that accelerate impact—and build leadership in the process.

If you’re ready to use your skills for good (and grow while you’re at it), join the platform today and start your own journey.