A Storyteller’s Journey in Content Marketing at Salesforce
David Owens
November 22, 2024
From a young age, Kayleah Son was captivated by the power of storytelling as a way to process life’s complex and often difficult truths. She channeled that passion into a career in content marketing at Salesforce, helping readers grasp the intricacies of AI integration and the impact of the Salesforce product suite.
Kayleah's love for stories naturally led her to explore creative writing, journalism, and academic research, each experience deepening her understanding of how narratives can inspire action and create meaning. She eventually discovered content marketing as an extension of storytelling, finding the perfect blend of creativity and impact.
In content marketing, stories shape perceptions and build connections, going beyond books and films to become powerful tools for engaging audiences and building brands. This revelation opened Kayleah's eyes to the potential of storytelling in the business world. Content marketing became her pathway to crafting narratives that inform, influence, and foster genuine relationships between brands and people.
Interning at Salesforce
In the summer of 2021, Kayleah began her chapter at Salesforce as a rising senior at the University of Michigan, thrilled to have secured her internship at the world’s #1 AI CRM. She set off for San Francisco, the city where she spent her childhood falling in love with stories, eager to expand her skill set.
“Salesforce offered a unique challenge: translating complex concepts and products into stories that resonate with an audience. It’s a different dimension of storytelling, one that demands both technical understanding and clarity.”
Over the course of the program, she honed her storytelling skills, transforming abstract ideas into content that felt human and compelling. As an intern, she learned to balance creativity with strategy, focusing not just on what she wanted to say but on how it would resonate with the audience and drive results. This experience helped her understand the importance of using data and insights to support effective, results-driven storytelling.
"It’s not just about explaining what a product does but about illustrating why it matters — how it solves real problems and drives meaningful change. That’s the kind of storytelling I’m excited to dive into — narratives that simplify without losing depth, bridging the gap between technology and the people who rely on it."
During her internship, Kayleah also discovered that storytelling is as much about listening and understanding as it is about crafting narratives. Every project required a deep understanding of the target audience’s needs, challenges, and desires. Her goal was always to create stories that felt meaningful and addressed real issues, a sentiment that reflected Salesforce’s value of Customer Success. Kayleah’s alignment with this value contributed to her success, leading to a return offer at the end of her internship. Following her graduation in May 2022, she joined Salesforce as a full-time Digital Content Specialist.
Leveraging Storytelling in Professional Growth
Now a Content Marketing Analyst, Kayleah’s ability to balance creativity with strategy has been crucial to her continued professional development. Professional storytelling has to serve a purpose — driving engagement, educating users, or enhancing brand perception — and it must resonate with the audience. Throughout her career, Kayleah has embraced the philosophy that storytelling isn’t one-size-fits-all; it requires adaptability across different formats, platforms, and audiences. This adaptability has allowed her to create impactful, relevant content, fueling her early career success.
One impactful adaptation Kayleah has made is the incorporation of AI into her storytelling process. Initially apprehensive, fearing AI might limit her creativity, she discovered that AI tools handled repetitive, data-heavy tasks, freeing up her mental space for deeper creative thinking. For example, when brainstorming content ideas, she uses AI for theme suggestions and headlines, giving her more time to refine or experiment with approaches she otherwise might not have considered. While AI has been a valuable addition to her toolkit, nothing has been more impactful than the mentors who have guided her career.
The Influence of Mentors on Her Story
The influence of managers and mentors on young professionals is invaluable, and this is especially true in Kayleah’s journey. She has been profoundly impacted by those who have guided her career path, finding their wisdom to be truly invaluable. Her managers taught her that “good content is earned” — not simply crafted by a talented wordsmith but acquired through research and experience. They encouraged “no fluff — just the good stuff,” a principle that inspired Salesforce’s CEO, Marc Benioff, from the early days of the company. Finally, they emphasized “substance over style,” a concept that resonated deeply with Kayleah’s commitment to telling meaningful stories.
When asked about her mentors’ impact, Kayleah dedicated her career journey to them. They taught her that career growth isn’t always linear; like many celebrated stories, it often follows a non-linear narrative. Their advice to embrace new experiences and continuously learn has stayed with her.
“Growth comes not just from what you accomplish but from how you approach challenges, how you treat others, and how you stay open to evolving.”
These words continue to guide Kayleah in her career in content marketing. As she leverages Salesforce to tell stories with impact and meaning, her career continues to flourish.
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