Salesforce Explores the Future of Work at the Trailblazing Women Summit After Party

“[Flexibility] allows me to have the family balance that I want in my life. I get to volunteer at my kids’ school and hang out with them when they get home. We’ve got a lot of flexibility to make it work for our personal lives, as well as our careers.” – Sara Schulman, Director, Program Management

“As a working mom, I have an 8-year-old daughter, [so] having this flexibility is huge. I’m able to do a very demanding job but also balance it with doctor appointments, concerts, and performances, and not feel guilty that I’m missing out on something that’s very important for my daughter. So I’m bringing my full self to work. I’m engaged, less stressed, and positive in my interactions with my team, colleagues, and clients.” – Maria Sander, AVP of Commercial Business

“Another great tool that supports the culture here is being mindful that everybody has got a lot going on. It’s not just about work. When we’re showing up, we’re showing up as full people. Some of that, we’re going to share, and some of that, we’re not. But respecting that about each other is another learning Success from Anywhere has taught us — to be a little bit more sensitive and aware, which I find to be fantastic in terms of how we work together.” – Shally Stanley, SVP and Global Delivery Leader

Early on in my career, I didn’t have children. I was single. I put a lot of time into work, and I was okay with that. But there was a point where my priorities overall changed. I had to make that conscious decision to say, ‘Hey, I need to draw some new boundaries,' and think about not just the day-to-day, but the overall arc of my career. One of my favorite sayings is that, "Your career is a marathon, not a sprint." So take that long view. – Kitty Chou, VP of Product Management

“I like the idea of having a shutdown routine. I got this idea from my husband who’s an executive leadership coach. The way a shutdown routine works is that at the end of your workday, you have a routine that signifies you’re done for the day. For me, it’s jotting a few notes on a sticky [note] for what I need to do tomorrow to pick up from where I left off [the day before]. I straighten my notebooks and papers, and put my pens in my pen holder. Then, I close the lid on the laptop. That is the shutdown routine that indicates I’m done for the day.” – Mary Beth Kush, VP of Professional Services

“I think one of the major things that companies have to keep at the forefront is that, if you want buy-in, you have to make people feel like they’re valued. I think that’s something Salesforce does really well. It’s one of the reasons why this is a company I work for, because I feel like I can be seen, heard, and given opportunities to talk about what that means ... the buy-in, creating psychological safety, and creating that space for inclusivity. And above all else, equity. ” – Jolanda Porter, Senior Manager, Human-Centered Change

“So much of traditional management has been focused around knowing all the answers, being completely buttoned, and being the expert. Now, there’s a shift in making an impact in terms of your employees and the broader community. It’s showing your whole self and the messiness that’s life. It’s saying, ‘I don’t know’ and asking for help. We need to encourage more leaders to do that because not only is that what employees want, that’s the new way to inspire and motivate people ... to be human rather than perfect.”– Sheela Subramanian, VP of the Future Forum

Did you miss the Trailblazing Women Summit After Party? Watch the full replay➚ to see what our dynamic speakers had to say at the Main Event and breakout sessions.