El viaje de un inmigrante a Salesforce
octubre 11, 2022
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."
- Milton Berle
If you asked me three years ago if I would have thought I would be a senior in college and spending my summer interning with a global technology company, I would have thought that you were crazy.
Three years ago, I was a high school senior in Alief, a socio-economically disadvantaged area in Houston, Texas. Three years ago, I was questioning if I would be able to attend a four-year university.
Wondering whether or not university would be a possibility for my future was not an anomaly among my peers that grew up in Alief. It’s important to note that the students in Alief were more than capable of not only attending these colleges and universities, but also excelling. Capability was never the issue; it was the financial toll that became the center of what was possible and what wasn’t. Many of my classmates in Alief had a collective worry about what life after high school would look like. We all knew education was the key to helping us break away from a cycle of poverty. The unfortunate reality was that education, as it seemed to us, wasn’t as accessible as we so desperately needed it to be.
As an immigrant and a first generation college student, I was always taught that education is the key to success. Education opens doors. Education is everything, and that I just have to work hard to get there and walk through those doors. I’ve found that this is only half of the truth. Although education may be a stepping stone in one’s path to success, it is opportunity that empowers one to become successful.
"Equality means nothing unless incorporated into the institutions."
- Slobodan Milosevic
Entering college, I began to understand more and more of the challenges that might hinder me from reaching success. My economic background, sexual orientation, and being an immigrant were just a few parts of my identity that would become perceived hindrances to my pursuit of education and career opportunities.
Although I’ve found that my experiences with these parts of my identity have not resulted in an immense amount of lost opportunities, I know that I am the exception. There are many students I know from Alief who have had a less fortunate journey. My hope is that for these students, resources become plentiful in the future and the pursuit of opportunity is normalized.
I am immensely grateful to my university for providing programs and resources to help bring much needed equity to students like myself, and so many others from areas like Alief.
One of the programs that allowed me unique access to opportunities (like joining Salesforce!) was my undergraduate sales program, The Program for Excellence in Selling. Through the partnership between the program and Salesforce, I was able to use their CRM platform and learn more about this incredible company. This is where my appreciation for Salesforce began to develop. If it was not for the philanthropic goal of Salesforce to help a variety of different communities, then I don’t think I would be as immersed in Salesforce as I am today. Through my exposure to Salesforce in the program, I began the interview process hoping that I would be able to be a part of such a dynamic and inspiring company. During the recruiting process, a question that always loomed over my head was, “Would they hire someone like me, with my background and my experiences?” Today, I am incredibly thankful that the answer to that was, very simply, yes.
Furthermore, I have grown to be even more grateful that Salesforce has been taking on inspiring initiatives in the diversity and inclusion space. It is clear that the hiring process is deeply reflective of the diverse community that exists at Salesforce, as well as all the communities Salesforce serves. Without these hiring practices, I honestly wouldn’t know if I would be able to be here at Salesforce today.
As I continue to immerse myself in the culture of Salesforce, one of the biggest things I notice each day is the overwhelming support I am receiving not only as an intern, but as a multifaceted human. From our wonderful Futureforce team, to Outforce (our LGBTQ+ employee resource group), I am able to find others who share similar experiences with me. And above all, these resources allow me to share my own story and experiences.
I can’t thank Salesforce enough for taking a chance on a low income, first generation student like myself. This organization has allowed me to see that there are truly great companies that are committed to enacting real change not only in the boardroom, but in the community and even beyond.
You can learn more about opportunities available to interns and new grads at Salesforce on our Futureforce website.