Dreamforce 17 - Where Words Meet Actions

As I returned home from attending my second Dreamforce, I was left with an overwhelming sense of pride and hope from the conference.  I made it a personal goal of mine to attend more keynote addresses this year as I focused more on sessions last year.  The keynotes I attended really left a lasting impression on me, as I felt the common denominator in the various messages culminated into a very specific challenge to share the knowledge we all possess and help others along the way.

 Be an Example

This year what I was most proud to experience wasn’t something that can be configured, or a new third party enhancement.   It was the all-encompassing message of equality, inclusion and diversity, and seeing it everywhere I went throughout Dreamforce.  The overarching message I gathered from the various keynotes were not only a sense of empowerment, but the responsibility we all face to give back.  As I looked around Michelle Obama’s wonderful keynote, it was awesome to see the diversity and the overwhelming positivity in the room. As a father of two girls myself, her challenge to all of us as adults and parents to be true leaders for our children really resonated with me.  Also having the chance to speak to some members of PepUpTech was really encouraging, and it was uplifting to hear the passion and excitement in how they view Salesforce and the potential it offers for their collective futures.

Find My Voice

In Taraji P. Henson’s keynote, I found it interesting that she called out the need to find your voice.  I started to think about how I specifically could help, possibly through mentoring or volunteering or some similar avenue.  What I took away from her was that your voice has to be authentic to you, and if it connects to something you are passionate about, it will have an authenticity that may just be what inspires someone else.  I have started the process of thinking about where I can make a difference.  

What Now?

 Here at Arkus, we focus on education, empowerment, and what I like to call “Paying it Forward.”  I left Dreamforce inspired to personally involve myself in helping the next generation.  For those interested, there are some great volunteer opportunities at organizations like Pep Up Tech and Stemettes, just to name a few.  Sometimes we don’t realize how much impact that our experiences, both good and bad, can really help someone as they embark along their path of life, especially within the Salesforce community.  Dreamforce reinforced that and has led me to start assessing ways I can help the next generation of Salesforce dreamers, and I encourage you all to do the same.

How did Dreamforce inspire you?  Feel free to comment on the Salesforce Success Community or directly at me on Twitter @berkeley_t_b