Building IT Leadership Experience and Opportunity with Salesforce

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I grew up in a small village in India. My father saved every spare penny to send me and my brother to college. But even after earning a master’s degree in computer applications, I struggled to find work. My brother convinced me to learn Java, so I spent all my waking hours doing just that. That hard work led me to more hard work. I got a job as a Java developer, earning $98 per month working 14+ hours per day. My then colleague, now wife, encouraged me to look for a better path.

When I discovered Salesforce through a company project, it changed everything.

My choice to jump into the cloud

After working for 2 years as a Java developer, I was put on a project that required me to learn Salesforce. My heart told me this was the right path, and I decided there was no turning back.

I dove into Salesforce, worked on complex implementations, and learned new things on every project. I’m so thankful for my managers and team members who helped me take this pivotal step in my career. When my manager encouraged me to pursue a role in the U.S., I took another life-changing leap.

A time of growth

After a couple of years leading consulting engagements for major U.S. customers, I landed a role as an engineering manager leading the developer team at Grubhub. This was a time of incredible growth for me. I built my leadership experience, earned 10+ Salesforce Certifications, and became deeply engaged in the Trailblazer Community.

I’m very proud to have started the Admin Group, Schaumburg, US, which now has 200+ members. As I grew my experience, expertise, and confidence, I knew it was time to move to the next step in my career: become an IT leader.

In 2021, I accomplished just that! I now serve as the IT manager at LabCorp. In this role, I’m responsible for taking our Salesforce strategy and operations to the next level, creating an IT center of excellence.

I know I am here today — ready to take on this exciting, new challenge — because of my commitment to lifelong learning and the many people who helped me along the way.

Paying it forward

It’s always been important to me to pay it forward by mentoring others who are looking for success with Salesforce. To date, I’ve helped more than 60 (and counting) individuals either through one-on-one training or by giving insight into how to land a role in the ecosystem.

Now, when I catch up with these Trailblazers, they inspire me with stories about where they are today and how Salesforce changed their career trajectories.

Six tips for success in your Salesforce career path

My journey is about taking an intentional leap into Salesforce and dedicating myself to building the skills and experience I needed to become the leader I am today.

Here are the top tips I’ve learned on my journey that can help you too:

1. Never stop learning. I wish everyone could have the influence of parents like mine. However you find the inspiration, know that lifelong learning is the best way to achieve and sustain success in this ever-changing world of technology. When I sit down with candidates, I look beyond experience to gauge their potential for solving complex issues and learning new skills. If I see a strong motivation to thoroughly think through an issue, and an active eagerness to learn, that’s always a plus.
2. Know your ‘why.’ I chose Salesforce because I knew it would help me stand out in my IT career path. Whatever your career journey, make sure you know your ‘why.’ In other words, what are your career goals and how will Salesforce help you achieve them?
3. Pay it forward. No matter where you are on your career journey, you can always give back through activities like mentoring, teaching, and helping fellow Trailblazers by answering their questions or directing them to resources in the Trailblazer Community. It’s a win-win for all.
4. Share and showcase your accomplishments. When you share your wins, you encourage others. I keep my LinkedIn and Trailblazer profile updated with my certifications. This is also a great way to sync with others in your network by connecting over shared interests or congratulating each other on a recent success.
5. Go where you can grow. I always say, “Slow and steady wins the race.” I chose the job offer from LabCorp because I could envision long-term success for myself. My goal in this new role is to further cultivate my IT leadership skills while advancing organizational operations through careful planning and solid IT strategy. Whenever you’re presented with an opportunity, be it an internship or a senior role, make sure it fits into your long-term career aspirations.
6. Be genuine. Being genuine goes a long way. When you consistently practice honesty, people trust in you and are more likely to offer you opportunities. It’s helped me build and maintain strong relationships in my network.

Even today, I am constantly growing and learning. So always stay committed to your ambitions and never stop learning!

Check out my favorite resources:

• Trailblazer Community Group: Admin Group, Schaumburg, US
• Trailmixes: Build Your Developer Career on Salesforce, Build Your Admin Career on Salesforce
• Trailhead module: Build Your Developer Career on Salesforce
• Trailhead projects: Build your Personal Portfolio on Salesforce
• Community blog: Ladies Be Architects
• AppExchange apps: All Salesforce Labs Apps, Sales Activity Dashboard, Magic Mover for Notes and Attachments, RingLead Field Trip

Follow Aditya on the Trailblazer Community at trailblazer.me/id/aditya