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Meet Salesforce Trailblazers Making a Difference Around the World

Amanda Wolkin, Sadie Evans

July 23, 2024

Wondering what a career that makes a positive impact looks like? Here at Salesforce, we leverage our technology, our people, and our influence for good — believing that business is the greatest platform for change. And, with employee impact programs like seven paid days of volunteer time off and donation matching, we truly prioritize doing well for our employees and our communities.

Let’s meet three incredible Trailblazers at Salesforce — innovators, high performers, and values-driven changemakers — who are making an outsized impact in the world:

How A Passion Project Helps Trailblazers Build Careers

Yudhisther YadavYudhisther Yadav in his golden Trailblazer Hoodie
Manager, Trailhead Academy & Ecosystem Scale Programs
📍 New Delhi, India

With a passion for education and a background in engineering, Yudhisther is using the Salesforce platform to inspire change across India for all. Through his program, Salesforce Supported Virtual Internship, he is helping to create a bridge where anyone, anywhere in India — regardless of background — can skill up, connect to mentors, and find a job in the local Salesforce ecosystem. It’s a program that, well, Yudhisther could have used himself not so long ago.

“I grew up in a small town where most people do not leave,” shared Yudhisther. “I knew I wanted to work for the tech industry, to be an engineer, and to actually use technology for the better. But, whenever I shared those aspirations, people thought that I was speaking in dreams.”

 

“To me, being a Trailblazer means creating bridges that others can walk on and become more successful. Trailblazer is not about you. It’s all about how you can help others and uplift them.”

Yudhisther made those dreams a reality — despite the odds — after securing his engineering degree and landing a job at Salesforce. “When I joined Salesforce, I could work on my passion. And that passion was building this accessible content which could make the playing field level for everyone, irrespective of where you come from.”

To date, his program has about 200,000 learners enrolled who have achieved nearly 10 million Trailhead badges. They then work with Salesforce customers and partners to hire this qualified talent — with nearly 5,000 learners finding jobs.

When Mentorship Leads to New Countries and New Ideas

Sandy ChenSandy Chen
Senior Manager, Solution Engineer
📍 San Francisco, California

Sandy Chen knows the power of finding the right mentor. “I’ve gotten so much value out of being mentored by someone who I can relate to both personally and professionally. Someone who has a deeper understanding of particularly the everyday struggles as a minority woman.” She realized that by joining the organization TechWomen as a volunteer, she could give back that very same dynamic support she sought out.

Since 2022, Sandy has been a professional mentor and impact coach for TechWomen, whose mission is rooted in uplifting the next generation of women leaders in STEM from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East through mentorship and skill sharing. She even recently traveled to Tajikistan for TechWomen's Emerging Leaders Summit, speaking in sessions about empowerment, AI for career-building, and more.

 

“The icing on the cake here is that the skills that I have shared with TechWomen mentees are just the everyday skills I practice in my job. What is impactful is to see that this can help someone else flourish in a meaningful way.”

For Sandy, being at a company with a culture of giving back is originally what drew her to Salesforce.

“When I had offers on the table from Salesforce and a competitor, the competitor was actually offering a higher base. However, the importance of what the company stood for and the culture was strong for me, so I went with Salesforce and haven’t looked back."

"Having an opportunity to work with TechWomen gives me that greater motivation where I can see the impact immediately. It helps me reset my mind and outlook, so when I return to work, I'm filled with ideas and motivation for making my team and myself even better.”

Drawing Inspiration from the Next Generation’s Dreams

Maliq JohnsonMaliq Johnson
Business Development Representative
📍 Atlanta, Georgia

“No matter your age, you cannot stunt the growth of a determined mind,” shares Maliq.

That mentality has helped Maliq pave his own career and influence the career journeys of the next generation of college graduates. He volunteers with The KIPP Foundation — an organization that supports a national network of public charter schools — leveraging his sales skills in public speaking and deep listening to help guide students as they navigate entering the corporate world.

“In times where comparison is the thief of joy, seeing those kids decide to embody a “me vs me” mentality is inspiring and reminds me that I am my biggest obstacle AND my biggest supporter to achieving my career goals.”

As an entrepreneur and sales star on the rise, Maliq has been able to share his career success story with KIPP scholars, leading seminars for students in Oakland, California as they navigate the transition from school to the workforce. Maliq calls the opportunity to impact young lives a privilege, and thrives off the energy he gets from building relationships in his community.

In determining his own career move, Salesforce’s mission to make the world a better place for all stakeholders — including the planet and the communities we live in — resonated with Maliq. Now, with the support of his team, Maliq is blazing his trail in sales while leaning into the person he wants to be: someone who continues to make a positive impact in the world.

“I chose Salesforce because of our core values ... knowing that Salesforce also encourages us to take opportunities to contribute to communities is refreshing. There's a sense of levity in knowing that your company has your back in your pursuit of making a change in the world.”

 

Where to Start: Give Back to Your Community Using Your Professional Skills

Inspired by these Trailblazers? We sure are! If you’re itching to use your job to make a positive impact, here are some ways to get started:

1. Create Educational Opportunities: Like Yudhister and Maliq, use your technical skills to help build educational programs — or leverage existing ones, like Salesforce’s virtual and local Trailblazer Communities. Whether it’s crafting online learning resources, or sharing insights at local professional events, your expertise can help prepare a diverse workforce.

2. Mentor the Next Generation: Share your knowledge and experiences to help guide someone’s career and personal growth, like Sandy. Engaging in mentoring programs not only promotes inclusivity and diversity within your field, but also empowers others.

3. Inspire Through Your Personal Story: Taking a cue from Maliq’s experiences, use your personal success story to inspire others. Participate in speaking engagements at schools, career days, or conduct workshops. Showcasing your journey can encourage young individuals and peers to navigate through challenges and pursue their aspirations.

If you're inspired by working in a place where your career and your passion for making a difference can grow together, explore the open roles at Salesforce and apply today. After all, every role is a chance to contribute to a better world.

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