Brian Tong explains what makes a Salesforce trailblazer: a lifelong learner and community builder who embodies the company's values. Anyone can start through Trailhead, Salesforce's free learning platform with badges and points, then move into mentoring, community groups, or entrepreneurship like Tony Nguyen, Pallavi Aggarwal, and Michael Jerzwecki did.
What's up, everybody? I'm Brian Tong, your guide to all things Salesforce. And this is Salesforce Explained. It's a series where we talk Salesforce and technology without the jargon or all the buzzwords. So make sure you subscribe and turn your notifications because we are dropping new episodes every Monday. And I know that you want to start off your Mondays with this guy right here. Okay, today we're talking about trailblazers. And. And you might have heard this term thrown around a lot at Salesforce. But why? Why? And what does it all mean? Well, give you a hint, it's more than just a hoodie. So let's dive in here. And what is a trailblazer? Well, a trailblazer is someone just like you, a lifelong learner, a leader, an innovator, and someone who successfully built their career, community or company in the Salesforce ecosystem. In other words, trailblazers are the heart and soul of Salesforce. They embody the Salesforce core values of trust, customer success, innovation, equality, and sustainability. And trailblazers set themselves apart as collaborators and mentors. And they have the skills businesses need to boost productivity, deliver value, and become customer companies. And the best part, anybody can be a trailblazer with Salesforce. In fact, there are millions of trailblazers globally and you're all invited to the party. So why should you become a trailblazer? Well, first off, because we can be twinning in these awesome hoodies. Looking good. And second, trailblazers are needed now more than ever. Luckily, there's a unique opportunity for anyone to build a successful career and hone their trailblazeriness. Yeah, that's a word. Trailblazer. Eness. So whether you're transitioning to a career in tech with no prior experience or you're a seasoned professional, you can skill up, drive success, and be part of a supportive community now. Yeah, I just threw out some buzzwords without really explaining them, and we don't do that here. So let's break it down. Skilling up or upskilling, this is the process of learning or teaching new skills. It's never too late to learn a new skill, right? And Trailhead can help you get there. Trailhead is Salesforce's free online learning platform designed to make learning fun, hands on and personalized. It's really the front door to a career in the Salesforce ecosystem. With over 1500 topics to choose from, you can find modules tailored to every product, role and industry. Take trailblazer Tony Nguyen for example. Now, Tony is a first generation immigrant who was laid off from his job at a restaurant. Now, even though the restaurant industry was the only professional work he knew, he wanted to change careers. As Tony learned new skills, he he racked up points on trailhead. He climbed the trailblazer ranks. That's climbing. And actively engaged with the trailblazer community. That'll lead him to a nonprofit that gives underserved students the tools and confidence that they need to start careers in tech. That is amazing. And now Tony is a salesforce consultant for a software company. See, Trailhead is just a great tool to further your learning, hone in on new skills and find opportunities. And just like our friend Tony. Plus, there's nothing like showing off a shiny new badge. Ooh, that's right. Okay, next up, driving success. Trailblazers can find the resources that they need to jumpstart their careers and succeed in their companies. And this reminds me of another trailblazer named Pallavi Aggarwal. Now, Pallavi was working as a consultant when she decided to take the leap and start her own firm. She started her business specializing in Salesforce because its values matched her own. Now, since then, she's mentored other female founders in launching their own companies. And she just celebrated her company's fifth anniversary. So, like her, trailblazers can build their own businesses and feel supported along the way within the salesforce ecosystem. Okay, finally, let's talk about the trailblazer community, which is always with you on your journey to blazing your trail with salesforce. Now, as I said before, trailblazers are the heart and soul of the salesforce ecosystem. And this amazing community just keeps growing and growing across sales, marketing, service and more. Salesforce even has career specific communities you can join, like sales Blazer, which is the largest and most successful community of sales professionals. These groups are filled with people who want to help each other learn relevant skills, connect with others around the world, and give back together. And that reminds me of another trailblazin tale. Michael Jerzwecki is all about giving back to the trailblazer community. Not only does he hold almost 30 Salesforce certifications, but he also leads the NYC Salesforce Architect Group, one of the most active trailblazer community groups. He makes it a point to hire and guide new trailblazers through their career journeys. And trailblazers like Michael can connect online and in person. They have group discussions on relevant and timely topics, share best practices, they host Q&As with fellow community members, and so much more. So now that you know what a trailblazer is, are you ready to start your next adventure. Let's go. Because to meet more inspiring leaders who've built success with Salesforce, click the link on your screen to watch the Trailblazer series on the free streaming service Salesforce Plus. Also, if you're eager to start learning, head over to trailhead.com to begin your own Trailblazer journey. And there are more resources in the description down here, too. Yeah, thanks so much for watching and we'll see you next time.
