Durham, NC, United States
Meet Amber, MVP and host of Salesforce Saturdays
It’s so powerful to have a space where a community can get together without anybody being in charge, with everyone working towards improving themselves.
When did you begin working with Salesforce?
I entered the Salesforce universe in 2008. I was running the customer service department for a startup. We needed a new CRM, and we chose Salesforce. I was part of the implementation team and eventually, I ended up moving over to the IT department to run Salesforce for the whole company. During my time there we went from 75 users to over 300.
How did you first learn about Trailhead?
At the time I had been running user groups teaching Salesforce and was struggling to make Salesforce accessible to some students. When Trailhead came along in 2014, it was a huge moment, and it made total sense. It was exactly what we needed. Like the Ziploc® bag, I don’t know how we functioned before we had it.
How do you make time for Trailhead?
Every Saturday from 9am-1pm, my mother and I host Salesforce Saturdays at a local coffee shop that has excellent coffee and waffles (because you can’t learn without waffles). I have a day job and a life, but I’ve dedicated Saturday morning to Trailhead and being there to help others find Salesforce. I stay motivated to continue learning by making it a community event. Salesforce Saturdays are so motivating. It’s so powerful to have a space where a community can get together without anybody being in charge, with everyone working towards improving themselves.
Which Salesforce project are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the work I’ve done with nonprofit organizations. When I am able to help a nonprofit organization be more effective and efficient in their day to day, that makes my heart sing.
I’m in awe. I don’t know of any other platform or organization that inspires this kind of giving. There is some magic to it.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I’m inspired by this community, how it’s grown, and how it continues to include people with all backgrounds. I’m grateful everyday that my career lets me be a part of this and that my job encourages me to participate and play with folks who really give a crap. People who are willing to brainstorm Process Builders in a Google hangout with you for an entire hour. It’s just awesome. I’m in awe. I don’t know of any other platform or organization that inspires this kind of giving. There is some magic to it.
What does being a Trailblazer mean to you?
Being a Trailblazer means being proactive, stretching yourself to learn about things that you wouldn’t necessarily otherwise know about. The resources available via Trailhead allow us Trailblazers to learn new things and become better participants in this awesome Salesforce community. The more you know, the more you can pitch in and help others in the community. Oh yes, and earn a shiny new badge. If I’m being honest, it’s all about the badges.
What advice do you have for new Trailblazers?
Jump in, get your feet wet. Start small, begin at the beginning. Do not feel like you have to earn all the badges at once. Once you get past the foundation you can go in whatever direction you would like, focus on what matters to you. There is a huge community that is willing to help you. You just have to be able to take the first few steps. For some, starting with Salesforce can be intimidating, but it gets unintimidating real quick when you see Astro.
