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Equality is a core value at Salesforce, and we believe a diverse and inclusive workplace is critical to our business. We've championed equality for all through our equal pay efforts, Self I.D. program, partnering with organizations committed to advancing women in the workforce and more.
Over the last seven years, we have sponsored the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) of Women in Computing, the largest gathering of women technologists, in an effort to meet and hire the best and brightest #WomenInTech — our CEO Marc Benioff was even the keynote speaker at last year's event!
Many of those who we met at GHC last year joined our #SalesforceOhana as Futureforce University Recruiting Summer Interns. To gear up for this year's event (taking place October 4-6 in Orlando), we spoke to a few of our amazing #WomenInTech interns to discover how they've blazed their trails to success at Salesforce.
What made you decide to go into tech?
Being from San Jose, everyone I grew up around worked in tech, so I constantly heard about all the innovations coming out of Silicon Valley. Naturally, the stories piqued my curiosity, so I took programming classes and even did an internship in high school. I ended up loving it and ultimately chose to pursue computer science in college.
What challenges have you faced in this field?
As a freshman, I didn’t even notice a disparity between number of men and women in my classes. Now I am in upper division classes, and I’ve become one of a small handful of women in my classes. Somewhere along the way many women dropped out of the major, and noticing that change can be disheartening. Being confident is difficult when you are a minority. You really have to tell yourself, “I’m not here by accident. I deserve to be here.”
What drew you to Salesforce?
I interned at Salesforce last summer and had a great experience. What solidified my decision to come back for a second summer was listening to Marc Benioff’s keynote at the Grace Hopper Conference in October. He discussed how Salesforce is committed to equality not just in the tech industry but in our society as well. I was so inspired, and his words made me proud to have worked for Salesforce and proud to come back.
What’s it like to be a woman in tech at Salesforce?
I’ve had several female managers and mentors here who have been role models for me, and I’m so appreciative of them. Working with so many women has made me feel so comfortable – I don’t ever really think about “what it’s like to be a woman in tech at Salesforce.”
What made you decide to go into tech?
There was a time when I really wanted to be a hacker – I loved the concept of universal access to information, hacktivism, and was rigorously following Anonymous and worshipping Aaron Schwartz. Once I learned more about programming, I realized it can give me tools to analyze and to fix problems I care about (like improving access to education in Southeast Asia). I adore learning and being constantly challenged by arising technologies and CS concepts, and I love that the tech industry is opening the window into the future.
What challenges have you faced in this field?
I used to think that only genius kids who have been programming since they were very young could succeed in tech. When I took intro classes, it seemed like everyone was already an expert! However, I learned that talking about technologies and frameworks that I haven’t heard of is not indicative of expertise and knowledge. At the Grace Hopper Conference, I learned that in fact, the majority of successful programmers, tech entrepreneurs, and managers are just regular people who have put in hard work, brought themselves out of their comfort zones, and were not afraid to fail, experiment, and dream.
What drew you to Salesforce?
Compared to other corporations, Salesforce attracted me with its focus on philanthropy and on employees. I didn’t want to be a nameless part of a profit-driven machine, and the fact that Salesforce still maintains “humanness” at this scale is inspiring.
What's it like to be a woman in tech at Salesforce?
Everyone has been respectful and supportive. My manager gave me confidence in my projects and connected me to Salesforce professionals could help me with my career and my goals. I was introduced to TechWomen, a group in which women mentor women in STEM from other countries and connect them with resources and professional networks. Being a woman at Salesforce is being part of a butterfly effect chain that can impact and empower women from all corners of the world.
What made you decide to go into tech?
I love solving problems in a creative way. I've found that working in tech is very collaborative and rewarding. You can also make an impact in any field, as the applications of tech to today's problems are limitless.
What challenges have you faced in this field?
I felt the underrepresentation of women distinctly as the only woman in my AP Computer Science course in high school, and at first, it made me feel like I don't belong in the field. However, along the way I've seen the increase of women in technology in my college courses and at my Salesforce internship, and it makes me encouraged for the future!
What drew you to Salesforce?
The Ohana culture and the 1:1:1 philanthropy model, as well as other factors, make Salesforce an amazing place to work. I also love that at Salesforce, even as an intern you can make a great impact on the product.
What's it like to be a woman in tech at Salesforce?
At Salesforce, I find that women are significantly more represented than at other companies. I have never felt unwelcome or seen differently in tech as a woman while working at Salesforce.
The 2017 Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) of Women in Computing will be held on October 4-6, 2017 in Orlando, FL. Come meet the Futureforce University Recruiting Team and learn more on how you can blaze your trail as an intern or new grad at Salesforce. You can also check out our current roles on our website.
