Embark on a transformative journey with us and our esteemed guest, Abi Claus, as we celebrate the spirit of growth and new beginnings. Witness Abi’s stunning transition from fashion merchandising to her current role as the Director of Salesforce at Stronghold Technology Holdings. Her story is a beacon for those who dare to leap into the tech world, armed with curiosity and the will to seize opportunities. Together, we uncover the essence of professional development, illustrating how unexpected paths can lead to formidable success in the rapidly evolving landscape of technology.

From the challenges of a solo Salesforce administrator to the thrill of working as a Consultant with multi national enterprise organizations, we get to see how Abi tackled it all. Discover the art of balancing technical know-how with the soft skills that are indispensable for professional advancement, as we share anecdotes and lessons that underscore the power of persistence and learning.

Abi Claus is the Director of Salesforce at Stronghold Technology Holdings, a tech-startup arm of Stronghold Investment Management, a Dallas-based private equity firm. She manages a team of Salesforce developers who implement and administer the company’s CRM and integrations with bespoke applications while developing technologies to transform both the oil-and-gas and land-and-title industries. 

Abi shares a passion for building amazing teams and curating company culture, as well as translating complex technical concepts into relatable language, optimizing end-user experience, troubleshooting user adoption challenges, and implementing change management strategies. 

Over the course of her career, Abi has received multiple technical certifications from Salesforce for her implementation and administration expertise. Prior to joining Stronghold, Abi was a Salesforce consultant and solution owner at Slalom, where she built and developed breakthrough technologies implemented by Fortune 500 companies and state and local governments. She previously worked in the high tech, healthcare, automotive and finance industries. Abi holds an undergraduate degree in merchandising from Texas Woman’s University. 

A skilled presenter and renowned expert, Abi was a speaker at one of the world’s largest tech conferences, Dreamforce, in 2019. She is a user-group leader for Women in Tech, was featured on the Top 50 Women Leaders in Dallas in 2023, as well as a mentor for future leaders navigating their careers.

linkedin.com/in/abiclaus/

Embark on an exploration of Salesforce careers with our latest episode featuring Salesforce recruiter Khero Witey. He joins the podcast to share his journey from the UK to leading a Salesforce Meetup in Dallas TX. We delve into not just the evolution of Salesforce as a platform but how it serves as a springboard for personal growth and assisting new admins in forging their path.

Join us as we tackle the universal jitters of embarking on new ventures and reveal strategies that turn nervous energy into career-defining moments. We offer insights into leveraging your unique background to carve out a niche in the Salesforce universe and navigating Salesforce across industries to find your competitive edge. The conversation flows from the importance of LinkedIn networking to the art of seizing opportunities where your personal experiences shine brightest.

Finally, as the tech world braces for the wave of AI, the episode highlights not just surviving but thriving in this new landscape. We discuss the rise of 'Devmin' roles and the significance of keeping a detailed ledger of your progress as an admin. Join us as we journey through the ins and outs of building a robust Salesforce career, equipped with foresight and strategies to navigate tomorrow's tech terrain.

Khero Witey is an experienced Technology Recruiter, currently AVP at Third Republic, a leading go-to Salesforce & Engineering staffing provider. He holds 3x Salesforce Certs and during his 8-year career has placed over 500 individuals, across the world. He also Co-Organizes the North Dallas SF Meetup group, a network of close to 1,500 individuals, who meet quarterly. He has supported businesses by hiring both individuals & building teams to scale for a mixture of companies, from local Dallas-based SMBs to Global Enterprise Conglomerates. His passion is for connecting the dots between individuals seeking new opportunities and businesses hiring the very best of the best.

This episode peels back the curtain on the elusive customer journey, guiding you through the strategies that make marketing resonate across a variety of platforms. We will dissect the importance of walking a mile in your customer's shoes, not just to understand them, but to create an end user experience that feels seamless. We confront the trepidation that comes with integrating technology, and banish the fear of the technical, empowering you with the courage to embrace whatever you feel is too daunting to learn or understand.

The future unfurls before us, with predictions on the next wave of marketing technologies, where email, chatbots, and paid ads are mere stepping stones to an AI-driven, personalized experience. Join us to hear stories of Kaelan's students and how they transform from novice to certified Salesforce professional, and how you too can carve out your own success in the marketing universe.

Kaelan Moss is a 2023 Salesforce Golden Hoodie award recipient and recognized Marketing Champion. He guides others through his MinuteAdmin platform and YouTube channel, providing the tools needed for personal and professional growth. Kaelan’s optimism and innovative thinking continue to inspire and facilitate progress within the Trailblazer Community.
youtube.com/c/MinuteAdmin
@minuteaddmin
linkedin.com/in/kaelanmoss/

Ever wondered how to thrive in the Salesforce ecosystem? Wonder no more as we bring you the inspiring journeys of Salesforce admins, Jordyn Jaffer and Jason Ventura. Jordyn , an accidental admin, discovered her passion for Salesforce while working for the Atlanta Braves, and Jason, a retired naval officer, stepped into the Salesforce world with his project management skills. They share their experiences, challenges, and how they overcame them, lighting the way for those aspiring to tread similar paths.

It's not just about their journeys, we dive deeper into the Salesforce ecosystem. We discuss the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with the latest features and technologies. Platforms like Trailhead and user groups emerge as significant tools for knowledge exchange and hands-on experience with real-life business cases. We also touch on the psychological aspect - the trials of imposter syndrome, insecurities, and how to overcome them within the Salesforce community. Jordyn and Jason share their experiences and advice on overcoming these challenges and how they continue to learn and validate information.

Jordyn Jaffer (she/her) is a senior solution engineer at Sercante, specializing in Pardot and Salesforce support. After graduating from Northeastern University with a BS in Mathematics, she began her Salesforce/Pardot career as the accidental admin for the Atlanta Braves and became the expert for all things Salesforce and Pardot for the organization. Upon leaving the Braves at the end of 2019, she moved back up to the northeast and started working in the Student Financial Services department at her alma mater. She helped implement FinancialForce and Northeastern’s first community portal as one of the Salesforce Administrators for the university. Now at Sercante, Jordyn works with clients to implement Pardot and Salesforce and provides additional support and training when needed. Her motivation to continue learning the Salesforce platform and bringing that knowledge to others has helped her thrive in her role thus far. Outside of work, she enjoys drinking beer, hanging with her pets, attempting to read a book, and thoroughly enjoying all sorts of television shows. 

Jason Ventura is a Salesforce Functional Analyst at Steampunk. He is an experienced technical project manager with a BS in Nuclear Engineering who decided to pivot into the Salesforce ecosystem after leaving the US Navy after 20 years of service. With his 5 Salesforce Certifications, AWS Cloud Certifications, Cybersecurity certifications, and Project Management Professional Certification, he brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to the ecosystem. When he’s not working, you'll find Jason chasing after his dogs, shuttling around his teenagers, earning a new badge on Trailhead, working with Veteran Transition programs, or spending time with his wife.  His primary motivation is the feeling of helping clients really maximize Salesforce to its fullest potential (and build cool stuff too). He's based in the Greater Seattle Area with his wife, 4 teenagers, and 2 dogs.

Welcome to the premiere episode of Admins of Tomorrow.  While most Salesforce podcasts you find are all about the product suite and technical solutioning, we want to hear from the people who make Salesforce special. We want to hear their stories and insights about what it means to be an admin.

This week, we meet with Hayley Tuller, Salesforce Architect & Co-Founder of Navigators. We had the pleasure to discuss her experience of discovering supportive organizations like Amplify, Salesforce Military, and Merivis, and how these communities played pivotal roles in her Salesforce journey. Haley explains how resources like these can help you avoid common pitfalls and accelerate your learning within the ecosystem.

Hayley Tuller is one of the co-founders of Navigators, a Salesforce service delivery Partner specializing in digital transformation for nonprofits, higher education, and public sector entities.  As the Head of Delivery, she supervises Navigator’s Salesforce implementation and development services, trains aspiring Salesforce professionals, and directs delivery and training policy.  

Salesforce is her second career; Hayley retired from the US Navy in 2012 after 20 years of service, including multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan where she served as a cryptologist and linguist. Hayley also holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology from the University of North Florida, where she graduated summa cum laude as a proud non-traditional veteran student courtesy the Montgomery GI Bill.

For over 7 years, she has been an active leader in the Salesforce community, speaking at multiple community and Salesforce events, including Dreamforce, TrailheadDX, and Midwest Dreamin’.  She is the co-leader and founder of the Salesforce Jacksonville Nonprofit User Group, a member of the founding team behind the Salesforce community conference Nonprofit Dreamin’, an occasional blogger and office hours leader with Military Trailblazers (formally Vetforce), and volunteers as a coach with the Merivis Foundation, helping vets and military spouses launch Salesforce careers.  You can find Hayley on Twitter at @hayleytuller. 

Welcome to the trailer episode of Admins of Tomorrow! Join us for an exclusive preview as experts share their experiences in navigating complex admin challenges.

In this special teaser, get a glimpse into what's to come as we unravel the secrets behind successful Salesforce strategies. Hear compelling snippets from upcoming episodes, where industry experts, seasoned admins, and tech enthusiasts share their insights, experiences, and invaluable tips for navigating the dynamic Salesforce ecosystem.

Subscribe now and listen along each week as we dive into different stories and experiences of admins just like you.