
The Leader's Toolkit: 6 Insights from a Salesforce India Product Director
Salesforce Careers
October 16, 2024

Bharti Vatwani’s five-year journey at Salesforce has been more than a routine career progression; it’s a story of transformation.
Joining Salesforce as a Senior Manager Product Management, Bharti was tasked with managing a large team and multiple domains in her first year. After ensuring the success of several strategic projects, Bharti shifted gears to pursue her true passion — data — and set an ambitious goal: to expand the data team from two members to twelve within six months. Not only did she achieve this, but she also ensured the team delivered high-impact results.
“The best part about Salesforce is the culture of empowerment. I have been fortunate to work with amazing leaders, peers & team members who have helped me grow, make decisions, and learn from the experiences without tagging them as good or bad.”
Her success in achieving those ambitious goals led to a promotion to Director, a role in which she now manages a global team spanning San Francisco, Dallas, and Hyderabad. Bharti’s product team, skilled in Data Product Management and cutting-edge technologies like Snowflake, Informatica, and Airflow, collaborates across several data teams and business units in Salesforce driving significant contributions across Salesforce.
Here are six key guiding principles for Bharti’s approach to leadership:
Bharti at Trailblazing Women, Salesforce's annual equality summit
1. Take Risks and Make Pivots
Bharti believes taking risks has been critical to her own career success. A year and a half ago, she handled a complex migration project involving 200 team members across the globe. "There can be a general inhibition in taking risks, especially among women," she notes. “But I took that as a challenge. It’s worth taking a chance; if you don’t, you will never know what you can do differently.”
Her advice is clear: Step out of your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to pivot when necessary. "A major factor in such situations is how confident you are in yourself. If you believe in your abilities and are truly committed to the outcome, you will make the impossible happen."
2. Look Beyond “A Single Story"
Inspired by a TED Talk, Bharti emphasizes the importance of rejecting the “single story” — or the idea that there’s only one narrative about a person or situation. "We create perceptions based on what we have heard. But we need to go beyond our assumptions and look at other factors. Remember that there is always more to the story."
3. Never Stop Learning
For Bharti, the journey is always more important than the destination. While promotions are desirable milestones, the continuous pursuit of knowledge and personal growth has been her true north star. In fact, that zeal for learning helped her while juggling a particularly demanding new project and her newborn at a previous organization. “It wasn’t easy handling the responsibilities of being a mother and understanding the ropes of the next project I was taking on at work. But rather than look at it as a chore, I viewed it as a chance to learn something new, to explore an exciting space. That helped me stay motivated.”
4. Be Kind to Yourself: Embrace Mistakes
In recent years, Bharti has learned the value of self-compassion, a trait often forgotten. "I had forgotten to be kind to myself. I kept thinking about the next thing I had to do, the next thing I had to learn. It resulted in me becoming very self-critical and putting pressure on myself."
What helped her come out of that mindset? Participating in leadership programs at Salesforce, which helped her realize it's okay to not have all the answers all the time.
"Today, when I am stepping into a meeting, I think about how I'm going to contribute. So, while I will put in 100% effort, I don’t kill myself over small mistakes."

5. Grow Together with Strong Allies
Bharti believes that strong allies can come from any background. "I’ve been fortunate in that I have never felt discriminated against because I am a woman, nor do I believe that being a woman has helped me get here. I'm here because of my skills and capacity, and I remind myself that I have worked very hard to reach this point. I attribute this thought to my parents, especially my father, as direct inheritance for my work ethics."
While acknowledging that gender differences exist, Bharti stresses that it’s crucial to behave as equals. “If I want something, I ask openly,” she shares. “I don’t look at the person’s gender while asking for support; what’s important is that our goals and values should match.”
6. Focus on Outcomes
Change can be constant in the workplace, and Bharti has embraced it with open arms. Whether adapting to organizational changes, operating models, or shifting work dynamics, Bharti approaches change as an opportunity for growth.
"There’s no point in thinking why something has happened. I don’t advocate for invalidating feelings, but many times, a decision has already been made and you’re seeing the outcome now. So you can talk about it, but then you must move forward."
Looking Ahead: Harmonising Career and Family
Bharti with her husband and son
Bharti’s future goals are clear: to advance her career while prioritising quality time and strong connections with her family.
"As a wife and a mother of a 10-year-old son, my days are finding the right attention between my career, family, and personal growth. It's not always easy, but being present for my family and dedicated to my work is what drives me.
For me, it's all about communication, flexibility, and finding joy in the moments that matter most." I am fortunate to have the right support from my husband and Son in this journey.
Professionally, she aspires to lead strategically, shifting from execution to broader leadership roles, while staying connected to the technology. Currently, she’s enhancing her skills with an AI leadership course, leveraging education enablement offered by Salesforce.
As Bharti strides forward in her career and personal life, she’s not just shaping her future — but inspiring others to do the same.
Are you looking to embark on a transformative journey like Bharti? Check out our open roles to start blazing your trail in Salesforce India today.