A Story of Resilience, Growth, and Unstoppable Dedication
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“To be or not to be” is no longer the question; it’s “Where you are and where you want to be.” This simple mantra has guided my incredible Salesforce journey—a journey shaped by grit, learning, and relentless growth.
When I left India six years ago, I had no roadmap for what lay ahead. All I had were dreams, courage, and an unshakable belief that hard work would lead me somewhere meaningful. Now, after 7 years, 4 months, and 18 days, I can say with pride: this journey has been worth every challenge.
Humble Beginnings: Taking a Leap of Faith
Coming from a non-tech background with an MBA in Finance, I had to bet on myself and leap into the unknown. I began my Salesforce journey as an intern in Digital Marketing and Salesforce, learning everything from scratch. That internship led to my first role as a Business Analyst at Merkle Sokrati in India.
Moving to the Netherlands marked a new chapter—a leap of faith that brought not just challenges but immense growth. I had to rebuild my career in a foreign land, armed with nothing but determination and my love for Salesforce. Over the years, I taught myself programming languages (HTML, CSS, AMPscript, and Java), earned multiple Salesforce certifications, and secured a role at Volvo—all while adapting to a new culture and life.
Today, I stand here with over 7 years of Salesforce experience, becoming a trusted expert in both technical and business solutions. This journey has not only shaped my career but also taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance and passion.
Lessons from the Journey: What I’ve Gained
Every milestone in my career taught me something valuable. These lessons transformed me into the professional I am today:
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Trusted Advisor: I’ve mastered the art of simplifying complex technical solutions into visuals and insights that non-technical stakeholders can easily grasp.
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Stakeholder-Centric Solutions: Listening carefully to stakeholders’ needs and exceeding expectations has become my superpower.
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Goal-Oriented Focus: Staying clear on priorities and consistently working with purpose has driven my success.
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Lifelong Learner: My curiosity pushes me to embrace new trends and technologies with enthusiasm.
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Building Relationships: Transparency and mutual respect have helped me foster strong collaborations.
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Open Mindset: I’ve learned to embrace opportunities and view challenges as stepping stones to growth.
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Courage and Boundaries: Asking for help and learning to say no have been pivotal in a fast-paced industry.
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Problem-Solving: Every obstacle is an opportunity to innovate and grow.
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Giving Back: Mentoring and teaching others are not just goals—they’re my passion.
Achievements That Define My Journey
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Salesforce Certifications: Becoming certified, including as a Salesforce AI Specialist and expert in Salesforce Data Cloud, has prepared me to embrace the future of technology.
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Salesforce Marketing Champion: Being recognized for my contributions to the Salesforce ecosystem is a humbling honor.
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Dutch Citizenship: This milestone reflects my personal and professional journey in a new country. It’s a tribute to the sacrifices my family and I made, inspiring me to dream even bigger.
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Mentorship and Community Impact: Through my Udemy course, which has reached over 1000+ students, and my active engagement in the Salesforce community, I’ve been privileged to guide and empower new trailblazers.
How I give back to my community:
Right now I am a Udemy instructor and I have created a course there for Salesforce. At present I have around 1000+ students. I remember when I joined Salesforce, I was like an unmolded clay. I was lucky to have a mentor that not only guided me but molded me to where I am today. I know the importance of a mentor who cares therefore I also help and guide new trailblazers to find out their career path. More so, now that I am marketing champion I am going to go further in helping more and more trailblazers craft their way to success.
What is the salesforce community to me:
Salesforce is like my strength. At the salesforce community everyone has everyone’s back and that’s the best part of it. There is always someone who listens , someone who cares and someone to guide through, no matter how hard you are hit. It’s a closely knit community of amazing people who know how to be team players.
What Trailhead means to me:
I would be honest when I say that trailhead is something that made my salesforce journey happen. The content at trailhead is keyed out so nicely that even a person like me with no Tech background was able to achieve so much. I really own success at Salesforce to trailhead.
What does trailblazer means to me :
Being a Trailblazer means an honour and a greater sense of responsibility. It means to work even hard, become great at what I do and above all give back what I got. The sheer sense of making my journey worthwhile so that it can be an example for others is overwhelming.
Advice to new trailblazers:
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Bet on Yourself: No one will believe in your dreams as much as you do. Take that first step.
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Stay Curious: The tech world evolves rapidly—so should you. Never stop learning.
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Give Back: Share your knowledge and lift others as you climb. It’s the most rewarding part of success.
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Be Resilient: Challenges will come, but every setback is an opportunity to grow stronger.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
As I reflect on 2024 and look forward to 2025, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement. This past year has been a whirlwind of growth, from earning new certifications to skydiving in Dubai, taking my mom and sister on their first international trip, and reconnecting with old friends. Every experience has enriched my journey.
My advice to anyone reading this? Don’t be afraid to dream big, take risks, and embrace every opportunity to grow. The journey may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
Let’s inspire each other to make 2025 extraordinary. What’s your biggest takeaway from the past year? Share it below—I’d love to hear your story. Cheers to new beginnings and limitless possibilities! 🍾