Our newest Salesforce Woman of the Month is the definition of a Trailblazer. She’s a changemaker, innovator, and, just last year, she took Salesforce Atlanta by storm. Congratulations to Nicole Smith - our March Woman of the Month!

Nicole’s been knocking it out of the park since day one, but no one is surprised. Before she joined Salesforce, she had already made a name for herself in Atlanta by winning the Ultimate Job Interview. And that was just the beginning. We sat down with Nicole to hear how she landed at Salesforce, what she thinks of our Atlanta Ohana, and how she’s growing her role at lightning speed.

How did your career journey lead you to Salesforce Atlanta?

It started with the “Ultimate Job Interview” contest hosted by ChooseATL. It’s an annual competition for college students and recent grads who are looking to make their mark in Atlanta, and I decided to compete for the chance at a cash prize, six months of free rent, and three guaranteed interviews. After three rounds of competition (including an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta and a televised panel interview), I won! I was ecstatic and ready to launch my job hunt.

Throughout the competition, I had been active on social media - I felt like it was key to building my brand and finding the job of my dreams. Turns out, I was right. Nate Skinner, VP of Product Marketing for Salesforce Pardot, started following the competition (and my updates), and after I won the contest he reached out to me about a position on his team. I didn’t know much about Salesforce at the time, but I did my homework and realized this was an exciting opportunity that I needed to pursue. After interviewing with many of the top local companies in Atlanta, I made the best choice of my career: to join the Pardot Product Marketing team at Salesforce!

Your colleagues said you are a Trailblazer through and through. What do you think makes you a Trailblazer?

To me, being a Trailblazer means making a meaningful difference within my role, company, and community. It means having faith in my big ideas and big goals, and helping others do the same. Lynne Zaledonis, SVP of Product Marketing for Sales Cloud, told me that all of her best experiences have come from leaving her comfort zone, and that has been true for me as well. So, I always keep in mind that you won't learn, evolve, or mature without occasionally jumping into the deep end!

Is that how you’ve grown your current role - by jumping into the deep end?

Yes! When I started, I took on social media and swag, and owning some of our organizational projects to keep our team aligned. I used that time to learn the industry, company, and product. About six months in, I was asked to own Pardot’s event strategy. I was nervous and excited to jump into something I haven’t done before, but I knew my manager would help me be successful and it would be a great opportunity to grow. As I approach my first anniversary at Salesforce, I feel confident in helping Pardot go big in the B2B marketing space at events across the industry.

In your opinion, why is Salesforce Atlanta a Top Workplace?

The Salesforce Atlanta hub is such a great place to work because of the people! From the reception staff to our leadership, the Atlanta office is full of friendly, inspiring folks who genuinely love being here (just look at Mr. Charles’ smiling face in the kitchen every morning)! Not to mention, our Atlanta hub events like field day and volunteer opportunities keep us involved with our community and colleagues.

What is your vision for your future at Salesforce?

My vision is simple: to appreciate what I have today and to give back to the community. Coming from a low-income, single-parent household (my dad died when I was 13), has given me the perspective to just enjoy where I’m at today, take it all in, and to give back what I can to other disadvantaged youth.  

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 Nicole, make sure to connect with her on LinkedIn. And stay tuned for our next edition of Salesforce Woman of the Month, coming your way in April.