10 Trailblazer Voices Stories of 2018 to Celebrate!
From heartbreak to heartache to heart surgery and everything in between — these 10 Trailblazers shared their stories with a huge helping of #Trailheart.
This year saw the launch of Trailblazer Voices, an ongoing blog series highlighting the many voices and stories that make up our diverse community of Trailblazers.
From inspirational Women in Tech (WIT) leading the way for others to those making the move back into work after being a stay-at-home mom. From pastor to Trailblazer, from laid off (twice!) to Golden Hoodie recipient. Trailhead Rangers, “Adminevelopers”, #AwesomeAdmins, CTAs, and MOAR!
Jessica is a Salesforce MVP and proud “Admineveloper.”
She shares how she got to where she is today through the support of other inspirational Women in Tech (WIT), and offers top tips for setting up and teaching via Trailhead at your local user group or #SalesforceSaturday.
“I’m proud to inspire other women in tech, especially having been inspired by so many strong women myself. We need to develop and support in order to break down barriers in this predominantly male-dominated space. And I hope all you strong women out there join me driving this change.”
Get all the feels with Jessica’s story.
Now a 2x certified #AwesomeAdmin on her way to becoming a Trailhead Ranger, Kristen made the leap to Salesforce after more than a decade of focusing on diapers, first steps, play dates, baseball, and hockey practice.
“What I’m most proud of to date, is how I was able to use both my operations and business experience and the Salesforce community to launch a new career after more than 10 years as a stay-at-home mom. There was no need to worry that I wasn’t “technical” enough at the declarative (click not code) aspects of Salesforce. The plethora of resources available — including, of course, the gem that is Trailhead — and the inspiring Trailblazer Community, are all designed to set you up for success.”
Discover more with Kristen’s story.
After being laid off for the second time, Aaron decided Salesforce was the way forward.
With his hard work, grit, and determination — not to mention an outpouring of Trailheart love from the #SalesforceOhana — Aaron is now Admin-certified, a Trailhead Ranger, Dreamforce ’18 Trailhead keynote guest, and Golden Hoodie recipient with a career he loves.
“When I lost my job (both times), I thought I would be forever pigeonholed by my degree and my experience, stuck in a career field that I really didn’t like. But I am living proof that wherever you are at one point in your life doesn’t have to be where you stay. If you want to make a change, you just have to get up and do it.”
Feel the Trailheart love with Aaron’s story.
Doina put her professional life on hold after her son was born with a severe illness. When he turned 4, and was doing much better, she decided on Salesforce Developer as her “start over” career.
After years of hard work and determination, Doina is now a 17x certified CTA (Certified Technical Architect) and is in a unique position to enjoy a flexible work schedule that allows her to blend her personal life with the work she loves.
“When life knocked me down, I collected myself, assessed my options, got back on my feet, and worked my way up again. My story is really one of ambition to enjoy life and to be the best I can be. It is also one of deep gratitude, of daring to dream and act, and of being supported by amazing people.”
Read Doina’s story in full. Are you an aspiring CTA? Check out Doina’s top 5 tips for taking the Review Board exam.
From 15 years as a Baptist pastor to co-founder and CIO of a business intelligence company, Mark’s journey was an unexpected one! But after the worst year of his life, he found his miracle in Salesforce.
Now, Mark is a certified Admin, Trailhead Ranger, Analytics Trailblazer, Golden Hoodie and #AwesomeAdmin award winner (and all-around nice guy!).
“You’re not an island, and the good news is you’ll never be alone in the Salesforce world. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the incredible online learning platform that is Trailhead–I wouldn’t be where I am today without it–for the amazing Salesforce Ohana, and for my wife, my church, and my God. I couldn’t have made it without them.”
Take a leap of faith in Mark’s story.
After a battle with postpartum depression (PPD) which then developed into Bipolar II disorder, Sarah needed something to focus on to help her condition.
Enter Salesforce — which she instantly fell in love with — and Trailhead with its easy to enjoy content cut into perfectly-timed, brain-respecting bites and a sprinkling of FUN. Sarah is now 3x certified, a Trailhead-fan, and an #AwesomeAdmin.
“Salesforce was truly my compass for my professional life. It was inadvertent, but falling into Salesforce via a fated, unicorn-riding accident has propelled me toward growth that I have never experienced. To be honest, I never thought I’d be here today, with a real career. I’m something of a late bloomer. So go on, blaze your trail and rock Salesforce like a superhero on a sparkly unicorn!”
Find your unicorn in Sarah’s story.
Salesforce was a natural fit for Chris, who grew up knowing what “tech” really was and all the cool things it could do to help everyone in both work and play.
Using Trailhead to learn everything he could about the platform, he became the Norwich user group co-leader in England and started making connections in the Trailblazer Community when the unexpected hit.
An ongoing illness meant he needed life-saving open-heart surgery. Not one to let anything stop him, Chris decided to use his road to recovery to focus on his future. A future that included a new career in the Salesforce ecosystem.
“Life may throw you a curve ball from time to time and, sometimes, it might seem hopeless. But focus, determination, belief in yourself, and a strong support network will help you push through to a brighter future. To date, my recovery has been difficult, but I am making progress one day at a time. My Salesforce journey continues with Trailhead playing a big role in my recovery and career development.”
Be inspired by Chris’s story.
After 15 years as a personal assistant, Rebecca suddenly found herself without a clear role at her company. It was time for a change. Could she jump in with both feet and become the Salesforce Admin her organization needed?
Of course she could! With Trailhead to the rescue, an invaluable Trailhead Academy in-person class, and the encouragement and support of the Trailblazer Community, Rebecca is now Admin-certified and proud.
“At my age, I had no intention of changing jobs. But when things change unexpectedly, sometimes you just need to roll with it. I loved my old job, but working with Salesforce is exciting in a different way. Every day is still new. Lots of requests constantly come in, and it’s this type of variety I like — it keeps my work interesting. I’m now valuable at work where they need me again. And that’s an incredible feeling.”
Expect the unexpected with Rebecca’s story.
From Salesforce user to novice programmer to 6x certified founder of his own consulting firm specializing in Salesforce solutions for the insurance world, Micheal’s Salesforce journey allowed him to not just dream but dream BIG.
“What started as a business opportunity has now become a life-changing event. Salesforce is more than a CRM. It’s a way of life. And Trailhead is more than just a learning platform. It’s a way to realize your dreams.”
Read all about it in Michael’s story.
Wanting a new challenge after 14 years at the same company, Munira took the plunge and decided to become a Salesforce Admin. Through the Trailblazer Community, she found huge support in Women in Tech (WIT) and local user groups, blazed her trail to Ranger, and became a Salesforce-certified Admin.
Munira is now a proud Salesforce Consultant for a vibrant nonprofit organization that has dedicated more than 40 years to preserving open spaces and farmlands in the Bay Area.
“I owe my deepest gratitude, for the fact that I’m now standing firmly on my “Salesforce feet,” to countless Trailblazers who have dedicated their Trailhearts and minds to building a robust community of continuous learning and support.”
Follow her journey and read Munira’s story.
For more incredible Trailblazer stories from around the world, check out the Meet the Trailblazers page.
Whether you’re looking to get started with Trailhead (there’s a trailmix for that!) or you’re a Trailhead-fan chasing all the badges, we want you — our Trailblazers from all walks of life — to share your story with us.
