Ask The Trailblazer: How to Advance Your Career in the Salesforce Ecosystem
Ask The Trailblazer is an equality-first social series for those who are getting certified, landing their dream job in the Salesforce ecosystem, and sharing their experiences with other Trailblazers to follow.
Go behind the scenes with “Ask the Trailblazer” host Jaylena Lomenech to discover the magic formula of sharing knowledge to grow careers in the Salesforce ecosystem.
As someone who made a career pivot into tech, I understand the impact that representation plays in fostering a growth mindset. At the beginning of my career, I leveraged Trailhead—Salesforce’s free online learning platform—my global network, countless tutorials, and workshops to learn about Salesforce and how to have an impact in the technology sector.
Representation matters
But the biggest influence for me has come from the Black leaders who inspire, motivate, and champion others through their work. The ones who make an impact through sharing their own experiences of being a person of color in tech.
While there will always be challenges when navigating to new career heights, there’s a power in community. I’ve learned over the years that when you build a community around you, you can soar to new levels—and there’s no telling where you can go.
I know the power of seeing what you can be, so it was very important to me to create something that will not only amplify the voices of our underrepresented community but also showcase their Salesforce expertise, expand their network, and establish a solid foundation for their success.
Inspiring the Ask the Trailblazer series
This is what inspired the #AskTheTrailblazer series—building a connection with individuals who are taking control of their careers in a very intentional way. #AskTheTrailblazer began during #BlackHistoryMonth 2021 and quickly evolved into a monthly program that elevates the stories and experiences of underrepresented Salesforce professionals and spotlights them as experts in the industry. In December 2022 we were awarded the 7th Annual Shorty Impact Award.
The #AskTheTrailblazer series targets three key areas of focus: career development, community engagement, and representation in tech.
Each episode answers a question submitted directly on the Trailblazer Community, focused on best practices for passing a Salesforce Certification exam, leveraging Trailblazer Community resources, and securing an in-demand job in tech. But the best part of it all is seeing the community sharing encouraging pieces of advice to other Trailblazers about how to do it.
Watch episodes from the 2023 season
Check out the latest list of episodes from 2023 below. Click the top left corner for the full playlist of #AskTheTrailblazer videos.
There were so many great conversations in 2023! Some of my favorites in this playlist are:
- How to become a Salesforce Technical Architect with Nadina Lisbon
- Tips on finding a mentor within the Trailblazer Community with Anthony Rodriguez
- Ways to reinvent your resume with Trailhead with Michael Porcenat
Check out past episodes from the 2022 season
We also had an amazing year in 2022. Click the top left corner for the full playlist of #AskTheTrailblazer videos.
My favorite videos from this playlist that are most helpful to anyone new to the Salesforce ecosystem include:
- How to set yourself apart in an interview with Toni V Martin
- What is the key to success being a Salesforce Administrator with Vanessa Bell
- Tips to overcome failing your certification exam from certified Admin, Mariel Espinal.
Trailblazer impact
Being the host of #AskTheTrailblazer has been incredibly rewarding. Especially seeing so many Trailblazers do well and do good. It is limitless. We’ve seen many of our Trailblazers advance in their roles, use their skills for community good, and be presented with opportunities that truly reveal the full potential of their success.
An excellent example of a Trailblazer living out this growth mindset is Shayla Mark. Early last year, we hosted Shayla on #AskTheTrailblazer and learned about her Salesforce journey.
Shayla made the transition from teaching to tech by earning Salesforce credentials and in-demand skills while utilizing the global network of the Trailblazer Community. She also gave back by sharing her best practices around certification prep and navigating the Salesforce ecosystem.
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Shayla’s commitment to leveraging Trailhead, the Trailblazer Community, and platforms such as #AskTheTrailblazer provides not only a significant opportunity for representation of others with a similar background and experience but also exposure for her. Through each of these touchpoints, Shayla was able to land her dream role at Salesforce.
Trailblazer Community impact
I love to see people invest in themselves and their professional growth. Sharing these stories across social channels allows us to see and celebrate that growth. If you haven’t noticed, I like connecting with people, learning from them, and exchanging ideas. By primarily hosting #AskTheTrailblazer on LinkedIn we’re able to do this across industries, locations, and experience. What better place to host a program focused on skills, expertise, career exposure, and connection?
And there was certainly more where that came from. #AskTheTrailblazer has become a source of advice from Trailblazer to Trailblazer as well as a melting pot of motivation for those looking for that extra push to hit their goals.
I highly encourage you to click through and read some of the 1,700+ community responses to this Trailblazer Community post. You’ll be sure to find something that inspires you to get certified and land your dream job.
