10 Lessons from a Decade at Salesforce

Joined Salesforce in 2016 as an AMTS straight out of Cal Poly. Almost ten years in, the technical skills got me in the door, but everything else — communication, leadership, adaptability — is what kept me growing. These are the lessons that stuck with me.

1. It's Not All About the Technical Work

Whatever your craft is — code, spreadsheets, design, analysis — the people who make the biggest impact are the ones who understand why they're doing the work, not just how. The job isn't to master your tool; it's to deliver business value and keep the business running. Understanding the problem, the customer, and the business context will always matter more than how well you execute the task itself.

2. Communication Is the Majority of the Job

The majority of what we do at work is communicate — meetings, emails, documents, presentations, Slack threads, 1:1s. You can be the most skilled person on the team, but if you can't clearly articulate a problem, propose a solution, or align stakeholders, your impact will always have a ceiling. Getting better at communication — written and verbal — compounds over time more than almost any other skill.

3. Be Confident and Speak Up

Back yourself when you speak. It doesn't matter if you're the most junior person in the room — you need to be heard. You don't have to be right every time, but if you stay quiet because you're worried about saying the wrong thing, people will assume you have nothing to contribute. Speak up, share your perspective, and learn as you go. Your experience and viewpoint have value regardless of your level.

4. Don't Wait for Things to Happen — Take the Initiative

Nobody is going to hand you the perfect project, the ideal role, or a promotion. The people who grow fastest are the ones who raise their hand, volunteer for the hard problems, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them. See a gap? Fill it. Notice a process that's broken? Propose a fix. Don't sit around hoping someone notices you — make moves.

5. Always Have Mentors

This ties directly to taking initiative — go find mentors. Don't wait for a formal program to pair you with someone. Seek out people who are where you want to be and learn from them. They aren't just giving you advice from their own experience; they're learning from people above them, which means you're getting insights that align with how the industry and organization are moving. Always be growing, and a good mentor speeds that up significantly.

6. There's a Time and Place for Emotions

Work can be intense — tight deadlines, fires to put out, reorgs, shifting priorities. In the workplace, stay serious and focused. That doesn't mean being a robot; it means putting your energy into problem-solving instead of frustration. But there are absolutely times to have fun, celebrate wins, and enjoy the people you work with. Knowing when to switch between those modes matters more than most people think.

7. Champion Best Practices — Regardless of Your Level

You don't need a senior title to push for doing things the right way. Whether it's maintaining quality standards, documenting processes, or pushing back on shortcuts — stand your ground and show the benefits. Shortcuts feel efficient in the moment, but they lead to bad habits, degraded quality, and eventually a major incident that could have been avoided. Raise the bar regardless of your level.

8. Change Is a Constant — Get Comfortable with It

Different teams, different managers, entire orgs restructured — it happens. The tools, the priorities, and the way things get done will keep shifting. If you resist change, you'll burn out fighting the inevitable. If you get comfortable with it, each transition brings new skills, new relationships, and new opportunities. That's just how it works.

9. If You're Not Using AI, Start Now

This isn't optional anymore. AI isn't cheating — it's a tool, just like any other tool you already rely on to get work done. The people who do well going forward will be the ones who use AI to move faster, catch things they'd miss, and focus their energy on the thinking and decision-making that still require human judgment. The future is working through AI, not around it. If you're not using it, you're falling behind.

10. Keep a Planner — Track What You Do Daily

Keep a daily log of what you work on. It doesn't have to be fancy — a simple planner or doc works. When performance review season comes around, you'll have a clear record of every project, every initiative, every problem you solved instead of scrambling to remember what you did six months ago. It also helps you see patterns in how you spend your time and where you're actually making an impact.