Some people don't realize you can have your freedom,
the moment that you choose.
When I was back home, women didn't have a voice or right.
and I always didn't like to follow the rules.
I decided to start a non-profit organization.
I thought I can express my feeling with art, with painting.
Sharing a story about women rights, about LGBT rights.
I was trying to say this is normal.
They deserve to have a voice
and they have the right to have a freedom.
The government were really not happy about what I was doing
and my family were really scared that, "Hey
you started to cross a lot of red lines."
I felt like I was in a prison and then I managed to get out.
I knew some really great Dutch friends.
They told me how amazing Netherlands was
for rides and for people with a big mouth like me
like it fits because everyone here also says their opinion.
And also because it was the easiest place that I
can live as fast as possible.
When I arrived to the Netherlands, I was literally in shock.
I couldn't contact my family very well.
Actually, it was really tough.
You don't know the culture, you don't know their language.
You have to start from zero and I was so lost.
Like beside feeling lonely, feeling that you don't
I was so hopeless, yeah, I must say.
Refugees come with a very unique perspective
They have left many things behind.
This makes them very driven, very enthusiastic.
They are ready and willing to integrate into society.
I'm not a refugee, but I've been an immigrant my whole life
and I know how hard it's to find a job
in a new society, in a new home.
So much potential goes underutilized and underserved.
If the employers would see these people and meet them,
they would realize how great they are.
The refugees are struggling to integrate
into society on their own terms
with their own ambition, with their own backgrounds.
And so we saw an opportunity to solve that problem
through helping them find roles in Salesforce.
I am in a new country, in a safe country, freedom I have.
They literally wasted one year and a half
because everyone was telling me different opinions.
I didn't know which path I have to follow.
And then I was like, "Okay, where should I start?"
So I was searching really randomly on Facebook
and then I got this advertisement for Salesforce
and I was like, "Okay, they don't need background.
They don't look at your Dutch language."
I was like, "Okay, this is something maybe I can follow.
We really think that Salesforce
lends itself really well to being adopted
by someone who is from a non-traditional background.
Anyone can learn Salesforce, right?
If you really want to help people, if you really
want to solve problems, then it's not about technology.
It's really about motivation, ambition.
I was a pharmacist in my home country.
I would never have believed I would be a software engineer.
I didn't know anything about computers
unless I just turn it off, turn it on.
So I was really not into tech.
Gaspar was the teacher and he started to go
through all Trailhead and teaching me how I can start.
So you get inside something
and you want to finish it so you can't stop.
So you finish one, you get the other.
And in a way, I got really addictive.
I finished literally in two weeks, 99 trails
and I was like almost trained there in literally two months.
And because I was, as I say, addicted.
Sima has an incredible ability and willingness to learn.
She as lots of enthusiasm
and I could see it in her eyes as I was teaching, right?
and that's something we can't teach them.
Everyone was so welcoming.
They cared to help you, to advise you, to welcome you
without looking who you are or why you are here.
And like the moment I got introduced to them, you know,
I felt home in the Netherlands because of them.
I learned a lot from my parents, especially my mother.
Always, she was looking at me, she said,
"I really see myself in you
and I really want to push you to do your stuff
That's why I'm very grateful
that I'm strong enough to take the next step, whatever is
Clearly, within IT, it is a lot about creativity.
So you want to have a really diverse team,
different ages, different genders, but also people who are
from a completely different culture, you know?
So it really makes sense to bring in people who
joined the country recently, people like Sima in our team.
And when we met Sima, it was very clear she has
this amazing sparkling personality which immediately
energizes you and the team.
She's also very ambitious and she also
takes all the rest into account.
I had no doubt that you are going to be successful,
You guys again, open it up for a new refugee.
So that you still believe in the island.
When refugees are part of this population,
it is important, you know, to also give them the opportunity
and a place where they can feel safe
and where they can get into the market again.
When I'm telling people how I am happy in my job,
I would never believe that I have been working
in this career since three years
and I don't have any regret.
Without Salesforce, I'm a never been here sitting
and having this amazing stabile life.
There is a challenge pushing you
to continue the whole picture
as if I'm venting and trying to understand
where's this project going to and where I see it.
It was about integrating into society
as a refugee and she harnessed that power
and we're very proud of her accomplishments.
Sima is a true example of a trailblazer.
It's about bringing it all together.
She understands the business, she understands the people
and that's where you can understand how to create value.
Trailblazer takes the initiative to support others
and in the same time think
as one big community and really take steps forward.
I built my own community, but
in the same time when I remember
that I really have big mouth when I keep fighting.
It's very important for me to be who I am
You're like, okay, I took really huge step to leave home
It's not the time to stop.
Yeah, people say I they have big mouth indeed
When I smile, it's too big.
