Take Notes: An Interview with Two Demo Jam Winners
Connections ’19 has come and gone, but the insights and inspiration are still fresh. Between Yo-Yo Ma discussing how to channel passion and an absolutely B-A-N-A-N-A-S party with Gwen Stefani, there were also 450+ breakout sessions, including two exciting Demo Jams.
First coming onto the Salesforce scene in 2015, Demo Jams are a fast-paced, game show-style competition where up to six partners have only three minutes to demo their apps live (no slides allowed). The Demo Jams at Connections showcased 12 of the hottest commerce and marketing technologies with Klarna and Forter emerging victorious.
I caught up with the two superstars that earned trophies—Hannah Bravo, Commercial Director at Klarna and Stephanie Campanella, Senior Customer Success Manager at Forter—to discuss their participation. And, on a personal note, it was amazing and inspirational to see two women bring home the wins. Keep reading to see what they had to say about the experience.
Tell me about yourself and your company.
Hannah Bravo: I’ve been working in payments my entire career, but when I joined Klarna three years ago, it was my first introduction to the “tech” part of fintech. What a ride it’s been! Klarna is a high energy, fast-paced company with an incredible focus on creating the smooothest (yes, three Os) user experience in the game.
Klarna drives incremental sales for over 130,000 retailers globally by allowing their customers to pay later. We’re on a mission to change the way people feel about payments.
Stephanie Campanella: I have worked in the start-up space for almost 12 years and I absolutely love working with customers. What drove me into Customer Success was learning how customers grow and maintain their business, and where a product or service (or Forter decision!) can help in their business strategy and future plans. When I’m not supporting customers in our office, I really do enjoy long walks on the beach and spending time with my husband and two small daughters. Fun Fact: We’re an entire family of “S” (Stephanie, Salvatore, Sophia, and Savannah).
Forter’s mission is to build trust in e-commerce by eliminating fraud for online merchants and marketplaces. To do this, we deliver highly accurate and fully automated fraud prevention in real time. Our approach makes the customer experience easier and more secure, both of which boost revenue.
How did you feel about being selected to demo for your company?
Stephanie Campanella: I was nominated by two colleagues on our sales team for the demo. They thought I brought the most energy and would do really well in front of the crowd. I was honored to be chosen, but was even more surprised that I won!
Hannah Bravo: I was nervous, but honored to represent Klarna!
How did you prepare for the Demo Jam?
Hannah Bravo: I collaborated with a few amazing colleagues internally to prepare the demo itself and align on the story we wanted to tell. Then I spent 30 minutes beforehand looking at the demo and identifying what points I definitely did not want to miss in the three minutes.
Stephanie Campanella: Once we discussed the idea we were going for, we designed our script and a story which I practiced every day for about two weeks (I even practiced presenting with my team, my family, and even my next door neighbors). My biggest concern was the three-minute limit, and making sure we conveyed what we do in that short time!
Most enjoyable part of the experience?
Stephanie Campanella: I actually enjoyed watching the other contestants present. It was interesting to see other companies put together three minutes worth of content and get a point across. I was thoroughly impressed and was in complete shock that Forter came out on top — the competition was fierce, and you can tell everyone worked so hard on it.
Hannah Bravo: Watching the other demo’ers to learn about new technologies.
What did you learn from the experience?
Hannah Bravo: Preparation is critical when there is a tight time limit!
Stephanie Campanella: I learned to relax, breathe, and make sure to get your point across….in less than three minutes! I would definitely, without a doubt, do it all over again.
Any words of wisdom for partners considering taking part in a Demo Jam?
Stephanie Campanella: Practice! Make it fun. Practice. Throw in a joke or two. Practice. Time yourself. Practice, and, most importantly, have fun!
Hannah Bravo: Have fun and be yourself; prepare, but don’t memorize your lines.
Check out recent Demo Jam participants’ apps, and if you’re an AppExchange partner, learn more about being part of a future Demo Jam.
