
Inside the COO Academy: A Launchpad for Future Leaders
Kirsten Cornelius
June 09, 2025
What is the COO Academy?
In simple terms: the COO Academy is a dynamic career accelerator where our most impactful talent gains invaluable insights and builds essential skills. It's a program designed not only to propel individual growth through tailored development and expanded networks but also to create unique opportunities for participants to contribute their enhanced expertise back to our collective success. Ask any graduate, and they'll tell you it's much more.
“I went in with no expectations, and left with a new perspective on my career,” said Sarah Motta (Alliances - Partner Account Senior Manager). “It helped me think more strategically about what I want next, and how I want to get there.”
Participants are nominated into the Academy based on performance and their desire for career growth and exposure. Once inside, they gain access to coaching, career workshops, peer learning, and ultimately experience a two-day immersive retreat with Salesforce executives. But perhaps most importantly, they walk away with clarity, confidence, and connections that can shape their future.
But the Academy's impact isn't just felt by the participants themselves; it extends far beyond. As an integral part of their Academy journey, participants actively give back to the wider COO Community. Whether serving as mentors, leading high-impact stretch projects, or contributing through strategic gigs, their involvement creates a powerful ripple effect. In fact, this past cohort alone dedicated an astounding 1,000 hours to the overall COO community, effectively multiplying their talent and honing critical skills like leadership and collaboration in the process.
Exposure, elevation, and empowerment
For Randy Madsen, Director of Operations, the program was a key step in his journey from senior manager to the next level. "I was hoping to gain new skills, insights, and opportunities to chart my path. I didn't expect how much I'd learn about other areas of the business or how many ways I could plug in beyond my role."
Hillary Drake, Senior Manager of Enablement, echoed the sentiment: “It’s not just about getting ready for your next role. It’s about giving back — sharing your experience, mentoring others, and seeing the bigger picture. The retreat experience alone was incredible. Working on a real-world challenge with people from across the company was so energizing.”
The Academy pushes people to think bigger. To give them space outside of the day-to-day and ask: Where am I headed? What kind of leader do I want to be? That shift in mindset is a game-changer.
Career growth beyond the traditional ladder
What surprised many participants was how the program encouraged them to redefine success.
Sarah Motta shared, "I’m the product of two lateral moves, and I’ve really started seeing growth as more than just going up. Here, there’s so much support for finding what works best for you."
Christina Steinel, Director of Business Planning and Execution, added, “It taught me how to leverage my network differently. Now I think more about who I know, what they’re focused on, and how we can collaborate to solve bigger problems.”
And it wasn’t just networking or development — it was about being seen.
"We had C-suite leaders prioritize time with us," Hillary said. "That level of investment is rare. It shows how deeply our executive team values internal talent."
“It’s not just about getting ready for your next role. It’s about giving back — sharing your experience, mentoring others, and seeing the bigger picture.”
Advice from COO Academy graduates
The COO Academy isn’t just a program — it’s a launchpad. But like any great opportunity, it’s what you make of it. Here are their top pieces of career advice:
- Prioritize your growth. Whether it’s finding a mentor, mentoring someone else, or carving out time to reflect, don’t push career development to the bottom of your to-do list. Progress doesn’t happen by accident.
- Growth isn’t always upward. Career paths don’t have to follow a straight line. Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from filling a gap, solving a problem, or trying something new. Your journey is yours to shape.
- Be curious across the business. Don’t silo yourself. The more you understand how different teams operate, the more value you can bring — and the more doors you’ll open along the way.
- Say yes to stretch. Step outside your comfort zone. Volunteer for that cross-functional project. Speak up in that meeting. Those moments where you stretch? They’re where real growth lives.
Invest in your future today
The COO Academy is proof that we don’t just talk about investing in talent at Salesforce — we live it. We prioritize programs that unlock people’s potential and give them the tools to grow, stretch, and lead.
Because when our people thrive, so does our company.
If you're someone who wants to shape your own journey, grow with purpose, and build a career that spans departments, disciplines, and dimensions — Salesforce is where you can do just that.
Interested in joining a company where your career growth is more than climbing a ladder? Apply today!