Celebrating Our Black Trailblazers
In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting exemplary Black Trailblazers in the community who are not only setting big learning goals but also achieving career milestones with Trailhead and inspiring others.
We celebrate Black excellence year-round, recognizing our Black Trailblazers’ achievements and uplifting and amplifying their voices. See the updated post here.
Black History Month is my favorite time of year. It’s a time to reflect on the civil rights heroes of our past and look ahead to our Black leaders of the future.
Having experienced an unprecedented year, the Black community particularly has encountered some trying times. Amidst the global pandemic, which has disproportionately affected communities of color, we are continually faced with racial injustice and inequalities while being at the forefront of advocating for reform.
But despite these challenges, our community continues to thrive and shine. In the midst of one of the hardest years of our lives, we came together, supported one another, reached new milestones, and celebrated our progress. This month — and every month — we want to take the time to honor those who are lifting others up as they climb to empower Black futures.
In that spirit, we are honored to highlight two exemplary Trailblazers in the community who are not only investing in their own careers through Trailhead but also uplifting and inspiring others to do the same.
I have worked with Jaylena Lomenech, our Trailhead Evangelist, to host two interviews with two extraordinary Trailblazers. They both discuss how they have overcome challenges during the pandemic and hit tremendous milestones over the past year.
Meet Golden Hoodie awardee Marciana
A new member of #LifeWithGoldie and PepUp Tech alum, Marciana Davis gained the skills and built the network needed to land her first Salesforce Admin role.
Having earned her Salesforce Administrator Certification, she was even more determined to build her developer skills, so she learned to code with Trailhead and RAD Women.
She recently shared with me what this past year has been like for her and how she stayed motivated to learn new skills through it all.
“Everyone in the community had supported my journey and I can’t thank them enough.” — Marciana Davis
Discover more of Marciana’s story in our #AskTheTrailblazer Twitter Q&A thread.
Meet #AwesomeAdmin Chris
Chris Randolph recently earned his Salesforce Administrator credential through Climb Hire, an accelerated training program in San Francisco that helps people develop the technical and soft skills needed to break into the tech industry.
Challenges arising from the pandemic did not deter Chris from his mission. With the support of mentors and peers in the Trailhead Community, he remained focused, engaged, and determined to meet his goals.
Chris reminds us to persevere. Keep going, even if your first attempt is not a success, and don’t give up!
“I knew that getting my certification would open up more doors and opportunities for me, especially being a young Black man in the tech industry and not having a college degree.” — Chris Randolph
Keep the celebration and commitment going!
The celebration doesn’t end here. Black History can not be contained in a single month. So while we continue to celebrate all year, let’s also continue to make its anniversary special by celebrating the accomplishments, progress, and achievements of our Black Trailblazers.
It’s also about committing to do the work — we can all do our part to drive racial equality and continue to elevate, empower, and support Black talent everywhere.
These are just two Trailblazers from an array of inspiring stories. But there are so many more! Nominate a friend who’s inspired you by using the hashtag #AskTheTrailblazer on social.
And be sure to complete our new Equality Quest: Elevating Our Equality Champions to learn more about how you can elevate the voices of our equality champions during Black History Month and beyond.
