Meet David Dieterich and Rachel Kim
noviembre 20, 2020
“I raised my hand for the Equality mentorship opportunity with BOLDforce and Asiapacforce,” says Rachel. “It was perfect timing because I wanted to take actionable steps towards growing in my career and as an individual. That’s how I met David.”
David grew up and attended school in the San Francisco Bay Area and continues to live and work there. He’s been with Salesforce for nine years, after a long stint with another major Bay Area tech company. Rachel is a relative newcomer to Salesforce, after successful roles in food service and school-based healthcare.
David grew up and attended school in the San Francisco Bay Area and continues to live and work there. He’s been with Salesforce for nine years, after a long stint with another major Bay Area tech company. Rachel is a relative newcomer to Salesforce, after successful roles in food service and school-based healthcare.
“I was working at a major global hotel,” explains Rachel. “Hotels never close, which makes work-life balance difficult. It wasn't sustainable. So I left the hospitality industry to work as a Senior Account Executive (AE) at a staffing agency for school professionals. When I outgrew that role, I moved to Salesforce, which offered a lot of opportunities to learn and grow because technology is constantly changing.”
Read on to learn how mentoring helped Rachel thrive in her new role at Salesforce.
Making Room for the Unexpected
David is a man of many interests and enthusiasms. And the fluid nature of mentoring appeals to him. Conversations may start on one topic but soon diverge into other, often unexpected, areas.
“I really enjoy my discussions with Rachel,” says David. “It’s neat to see where they go. I can get very passionate about our company culture and all the opportunities it offers.”
Rachel entered the mentorship program hoping to be paired with someone outside her area of Salesforce whose skills and background were more technical. She was excited to learn that David was in the engineering division.
“I don’t know that I see myself in that realm,” Rachel comments, “but I thought his insights would be different than someone from an area of Salesforce like mine, which is small business. David has a lot of leadership experience and really advocates for his team. He listens to my perspective and not only offers advice, but also helps me plan and evaluate next steps.”
Mentorship Tip: As a mentor, establish trust by becoming a sounding board. When you’re asked for help, brainstorm and explore possibilities together rather than directing based on your point of view.
A Beginner’s Mind
Shunryu Suzuki, a monk who helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States, wisely noted, “In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.”
“Beginner’s mind” refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject just as a beginner would, even when studying at an advanced level. Mentoring constantly reminds David of the importance of maintaining a beginner’s mind.
“Working with Rachel reminds me how it feels to be early on in your career, with so many possibilities and unknowns,” reflects David. “It’s important to set your assumptions aside and ask lots of questions. Seek to learn, understand, and grow. This is true for all of us, but it’s especially important when we’re embarking on a new adventure.”
Mentorship tip: Both mentors and mentees can benefit from establishing a beginner’s mind.
Although Rachel hasn’t been paired with David for long, she’s already gained insight from the relationship. His actionable advice has helped her think outside her typical patterns.
“I use his guidance to do my part in advancing my career,” says Rachel. “I loved when he told me about being a ‘Glue Player’ — someone who can synthesize things happening in different places and connect the dots. It made me think about how I can be a more valuable team member.”
Finding a Mentor
You don’t have to be part of a formal mentorship program to connect with a mentor. Rachel suggests asking friends for introductions, joining resource groups where you work, and attending community activities. “From there, everything revolves around relationships,” she says. “So putting yourself out there is the first step.”
David agrees.
“For informal mentoring, just keep your eyes open and be on the lookout for opportunities. Network, ask questions, and seek advice,” he says.
David also recommends talking with your manager, who may be able to connect you with a candidate or even a program you may not be aware of.
His top piece of advice for mentees? “Be true to yourself and steer toward the things you love and that are most important to you. You’ll do better work and be happier in your career.”
Rachel’s mentoring experience has also inspired her to look for ways to become a mentor.
“I’m looking into the ScholarMatch program, so I can volunteer my time to mentor others. They pair college students with a mentor to help them get to the next step in their careers.”
Visit our careers site for more resources to help you on your journey, like our on-demand Trailblazing Leaders of Color webinar.