Hi there! I’m Lourdes, and I’m Salesforce’s Woman of the Month.

It’s a privilege to be nominated by my peers for this honor, especially in a company of 24,000 employees – and growing! But trust me, this milestone didn’t happen overnight.

I started my career in consulting, which gave me the chance to work in different industries, cities, and areas of the business. My last client was Cisco Systems, and that experience was the first time I became exposed to Salesforce. I was impressed by the company’s goals and ambitions, and the platform’s speed and efficiency. I was hooked.

I joined Salesforce’s CSG team in 2013, and my role has continued to evolve. Today, as Senior Director of High Touch Customer Journeys, I manage a cross-functional team responsible for developing programs to support our largest and most strategic customers. Our goal is to help customers drive innovation, transform the way they connect with their customers, and achieve their highest business goals.

As a manager, my job is to bring out the best in my employees so we can execute as a team and deliver results. I’ve learned a lot along my career journey, and am happy to answer my employees’ questions frankly and share my experiences with them … and with you.

Read on for honest answers to five career questions that come up again and again.

1. Best way to expand your skills and experience?

Embrace change. I’ve changed companies four times, and I take on a new role every one or two years. When you start getting too comfortable, that means it’s time to push yourself, reinvent yourself, and keep learning.

2. Best suggestion for improving areas you need to work on?

I’m a big fan of 360 feedback, and constantly ask my manager, peers, and subordinates for insight on what I’m doing well and what I can improve on. The key is to be open to any feedback you receive and not take it personally; if you react defensively, your peers won’t be as transparent next time. And definitely respond to your feedback and act on it!

3. Best tip for being productive?

Be present and focus. Try not to get distracted by technology. In meetings, I close my laptop so I can really pay attention to what is going on. I also take handwritten notes, which helps me remember things better.

4. Best advice for moving ahead in your career?

Be assertive. Be bold. Raise your hand. Don’t wait for opportunities to present themselves. You own your career, so make your intentions and interests known and make things happen. Believe in yourself, and never let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. And be open to possibilities that you haven’t even considered.

5. Best career guidance you’ve ever received?

Be vulnerable. It’s okay to show weakness and not have all the answers. When you show your softer side and open up to people, it allows them to connect to you and get closer to you. I’ve had a rough year with a sister who has pancreatic cancer, and have had to rely on my team to help me. But I’ve learned that you have to let people in. They want to help.

Hopefully these answers will aid you on your career journey. As for what’s next for me? I want to continue building amazing high-performing teams focused on driving customer success, and I want to keep having an impact on our community and helping women at Salesforce advance in their careers. After all, success is much more rewarding when you have others to share it with!

The Salesforce Woman of the Month campaign turns the spotlight on the amazing women who help make Salesforce one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies according to Forbes and one of Fortune Magazine’s Best Companies to Work For. Honorees are nominated by fellow employees and selected by a dedicated committee that works to ensure a variety of roles and regions are honored.

To hear more from Lourdes Reed, make sure to connect with her on LinkedIn. And stay tuned for more insights from our next Salesforce Woman of the Month, coming your way in January.