Ever wondered what it takes to climb the ladder from Salesforce developer to Salesforce architect to Salesforce manager in the complex and fast-paced ecosystem we live in?

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, host Jack McCurdy sits down with Salesforce leader Jessica Riffe to uncover her incredible journey. Get ready for a deep dive into the evolution of Salesforce DevOps, the secrets to impactful documentation, and the real-world challenges (and triumphs!) of growing a high-performing team.

If you're navigating your own DevOps transformation or looking to elevate your team's collaboration, Jessica's hard-won insights on pipelines, understanding DevOps user needs, and effective communication are pure gold.

Don't miss these invaluable lessons – listen to the full episode now!

About DevOps Diaries:
Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.

Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2

Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset
X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq

About Gearset:
Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW

Valerio Chang from Gearset chats to Jack about the evolving landscape of customer support in SaaS companies. Valerio offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Gearset has built a world-class support team, leaning into the importance of truly understanding customer needs and using documentation to elevate user experiences.

Valerio delves into the unique challenges of supporting customers in the Salesforce ecosystem, and how the nature of Salesforce DevOps conversations has matured over time. Valerio discusses Gearset’s mission to act not just as a tool provider but as a trusted advisor, helping users navigate complexity through empathy, curiosity, and continuous improvement.

Throughout the conversation, Valerio highlights the power of asking the right questions, the role of customer feedback in shaping product development, and the fulfilment that comes from solving meaningful problems. The episode wraps with a thoughtful reflection on the human side of support and the profound impact it can have on the people behind the tickets.

About DevOps Diaries:
Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.

Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2

Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset
X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq

About Gearset:
Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW

Think database skills are dead in the Salesforce era? Think again.

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy talks to Chris Starleaf of Zinc Partners, who argues they're more relevant than ever. Listen in as Chris shares insights from his Salesforce journey, exploring why tech pros need sales skills, the crucial balance between quick wins and long-term strategy, and the vital role of data governance.

They tackle the generalist vs. specialist debate and discuss how strong leadership and team development drive success.

Want to build better data strategies and lead more effectively in the Salesforce ecosystem? Don't miss this episode!

About DevOps Diaries:
Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.

Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2

Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset
X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq

About Gearset:
Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Chris Starleaf and His Journey
03:02 The Relevance of Database Management in Salesforce
06:00 Sales Skills for Tech Professionals
09:12 Understanding Different Roles in Salesforce
11:52 Balancing Quick Wins with Long-Term Success
14:59 The Importance of Data Governance
18:09 The Role of Generalists vs. Specialists
20:58 Fostering Pride in Data Management
23:55 Building a Data Governance Strategy
27:03 Team Leadership and Development
29:53 Creating Efficient Processes
33:13 Navigating the Salesforce Ecosystem
36:08 Conclusion and Contact Information