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  • Leading the Way for Trailblazers to Follow.

    Leading the Way for Trailblazers to Follow.
    2026/07/22

    What happens when curiosity, community and a willingness to keep learning turn a career in technology into a Golden Hoodie story?

    In this episode of the Mums on Cloud Nine podcast, I'm joined by John Lay, who became the second person to receive a Salesforce Golden Hoodie when he was recognized at Dreamforce in 2017.

    John's story starts long before Salesforce. Growing up on a small farm in Tennessee, he originally planned to become a veterinarian before discovering an unexpected interest in data processing and computer science. That discovery led to a career centered around databases, customer data, and solving complex business problems through technology.

    John shares how his Salesforce journey began while working at Camping World and Good Sam, where he faced the challenge of bringing together customer data spread across 14 operational systems. Starting with just 50 Service Cloud licenses, John helped prove what Salesforce could achieve before expanding into Sales Cloud and building a much broader CRM environment.

    Much of what John needed to know, he had to learn quickly. He talks about attending Dreamforce, speaking to other Salesforce professionals wherever he could, and becoming an active member of the Trailblazer community. By learning from others and sharing his own experiences in return, John became part of the community that would eventually recognize his contribution with a Golden Hoodie.

    We also hear how a chance conversation on a flight helped shape the next chapter of his career. After retiring from Camping World, John realized he wasn't ready to stop working and joined Alternative Solutions, where he now leads its CRM practice and works as a CRM architect across Salesforce and other platforms.

    Our conversation also turns to AI and what it means for admins, consultants and technology professionals today. John shares a simple analogy for working with AI: treat it like a talented junior colleague. Give it good information, clear direction and appropriate guardrails, then remain responsible for checking the output.

    John also shares how he uses tools including ChatGPT, Otter.ai and Salesforce Agentforce Vibe in his own work, including an interesting approach where he uses ChatGPT to develop and refine prompts before taking them into Salesforce tools that have access to the relevant metadata.

    John's career is a great example of where curiosity and continuous learning can take you. From discovering data processing almost by accident to tackling complex CRM challenges, receiving a Golden Hoodie and now experimenting with the latest AI development tools, he has continued to learn throughout every stage of his career.

    What could you achieve in your own career by staying curious, asking questions and continuing to learn? Listen to the episode and share your thoughts with us.

    About Supermums

    Founded by Heather Black, a Salesforce Golden Hoodie winner, Supermums helps relaunchers and seasoned Salesforce professionals accelerate their careers in tech through expert training, career coaching and recruitment support.

    Whether someone is returning to work, pivoting into a new role, or ready to step up in the Salesforce ecosystem, Supermums provides practical training, mentoring and access to job opportunities to help them build confidence, sharpen their skills and progress faster.

    Alongside its career development programmes, Supermums partners with employers to connect them with talented Salesforce professionals who are ready to make an impact.

    Find out more here https://supermums.org/podcast-intro

    About our Sponsor, Hubbl Technologies

    Hubbl gives Salesforce teams the clarity they need to move faster.

    By connecting technical metadata with real business processes, Hubbl reveals what is happening inside your Salesforce org — from security and access risks to process gaps, tech debt, and AI readiness. The result: less guesswork, faster audits, better documentation, and smarter decisions for teams who want to build, scale, and innovate with confidence

    Find out more about https://qrco.de/bgY7zw

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    26 分
  • Supporting Mental Health in the Salesforce Community

    Supporting Mental Health in the Salesforce Community
    2026/07/15
    What happens when sharing the parts of your career that feel hardest to talk about helps create a community where others finally feel understood? In this episode of our Golden Hoodie Winners series, we speak with Katie Villanueva, a Salesforce Administrator, community leader, mental health advocate, and 2023 Salesforce Golden Hoodie recipient. Katie shares how speaking openly about living with bipolar disorder and her experiences as a Salesforce professional led her to create a virtual community where people could talk openly about mental health, mental illness, work, and the pressures that often follow us throughout our careers. Her willingness to start those conversations brought people together across the Salesforce ecosystem and led to her receiving a Golden Hoodie on the Dreamforce Admin Keynote stage. Creating The Community She Wanted To See Katie discovered the Trailblazer Community after starting her Salesforce career during the pandemic. She wanted to contribute and speak at community events, but lacked confidence in delivering technical presentations. Instead, she began sharing her personal experiences of bipolar disorder, mental health, and how the Salesforce community had helped her become a better professional. The response showed that many people were looking for a place to have similar conversations. Katie took that community to Salesforce and asked to create a virtual user group dedicated to mental health and mental illness. The group now brings people together each month to share resources, have meaningful conversations, and build relationships with others who understand the pressures of working in technology while managing the rest of their lives. From Call Center Employee To Salesforce Administrator Katie's route into Salesforce was far from straightforward. She originally studied farming before graduating in communications and mass communications during the Great Recession. After struggling to find work, she moved through roles in mortgage refinancing, energy data analysis, and eventually a call center where she first encountered Salesforce. Her next employer had a very different Salesforce setup. The company had no dedicated administrator, and Katie quickly recognized opportunities to improve how the platform was being managed. She wasn't enjoying sales, so she asked if she could become the Salesforce Administrator instead. That decision changed the direction of her career. Katie learned on Trailhead and applied those lessons directly in a live Salesforce environment. The experience gave her the confidence and practical skills to continue building her career. Why You Never Stop Being An Admin One of Katie's biggest career realizations came from understanding that becoming an architect, developer, or taking another role doesn't mean leaving your Salesforce Admin skills behind. As she puts it, "Admin's where we begin, but it never ends." Those core skills continue to influence how professionals solve problems, understand business processes, manage technology, and support users throughout their careers. Katie also shares what she is learning from working on a Salesforce team after spending much of her career managing environments independently, including the value of mentorship and learning from people in roles she previously held without knowing their official job titles. Speaking Up For Underrepresented Communities Our conversation also turns to representation within the Salesforce ecosystem. Katie discusses her work supporting Latino and Hispanic professionals in the United States and her desire to help people build stronger professional connections. She explains why creating opportunities for people to meet, share experiences, and see others like them progress in technology can have a lasting impact on confidence and career development. For Katie, community leadership means creating spaces where other voices can be heard and helping people find connections that may open doors throughout their careers. Admitting You Have AI Imposter Syndrome Despite receiving a Golden Hoodie and becoming a recognized Salesforce community leader, Katie openly admits she experiences imposter syndrome when it comes to AI and Agentforce. She shares the pressure that can come with external recognition, especially when people assume that wearing a Golden Hoodie means knowing everything about Salesforce. Katie's message is reassuring for anyone struggling to keep up with the pace of AI development. Everyone is at a different stage of their learning journey. She explains why Salesforce professionals don't need to abandon the skills they already have and how she stays informed about Agentforce. At the same time, her employer hasn't adopted it. Still, professionals can prepare themselves by following community conversations, attending workshops, completing Trailhead learning, and experimenting with the tools available to them. Learning AI Without Trying To ...
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    37 分
  • Changing lives from a community centre to African Ohana

    Changing lives from a community centre to African Ohana
    2026/07/08
    How does a tech internship at a community centre in Kenya lead to one of the highest honours in the Salesforce ecosystem? In this episode of our Golden Hoodie Winners series, I sit down with Alimali Stephens, Salesforce Senior Developer, community leader, and Salesforce Golden Hoodie recipient. Alimali shares an inspiring story that began with a desire to give back to his local community and led to an unforgettable moment on the Dreamforce stage. His journey reminds us that opportunities often arrive when we're focused on helping others rather than chasing recognition. Where It All Began Alimali takes us back to his early days at the Karibu Centre in Kenya, where he joined as an intern supporting programmes for mothers, children, and the wider community. It was there that he was first introduced to Salesforce through a volunteer programme. Rather than simply learning a new platform, he became part of a project that transformed how the organisation measured its impact, automated manual processes, and better supported the families it served. That first experience with Salesforce would shape the rest of his career. An Unforgettable Dreamforce Moment One day, his director called him into the office with an unexpected question. How comfortable was he speaking in front of a large audience? Soon afterwards, Alimali discovered he had been invited to present on the Dreamforce Admin Keynote. It would be his first visit outside Africa, his first trip to the United States, and, as it turned out, the day he received a surprise Salesforce Golden Hoodie. To make the moment even more memorable, it all happened on his birthday. Building A Career While Building A Community Since receiving his Golden Hoodie, Alimali has continued to grow professionally, progressing from Salesforce Administrator to consultant and now Senior Salesforce Developer. Alongside his day job, he has remained committed to community leadership. As a Salesforce Community Leader in Nairobi and a technology lead with Africa Ohana, he spends his time mentoring aspiring professionals, organising events, and helping others discover opportunities within the Salesforce ecosystem. His belief is simple. The more people we help today, the stronger the community becomes tomorrow. Why Community Changes Careers Throughout our conversation, Alimali explains how discovering the Salesforce community transformed his own learning journey. Early in his career, he often found himself solving problems alone because he didn't know there were other Salesforce professionals nearby who could help. Today, he works to ensure new Trailblazers never have that same experience. It's a powerful reminder that asking questions, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another often accelerates everyone's growth. AI Through The Eyes Of A Salesforce Developer We also discuss how AI is changing the role of Salesforce developers. Rather than seeing AI as a threat, Alimali views it as a practical tool that helps developers solve problems faster, reduce repetitive work, and deliver better solutions for customers. He shares examples of building AI-powered Salesforce solutions and explains why learning to work alongside AI will become an increasingly valuable skill. What part of Alimali's journey inspired you the most, and how could giving back to your own community shape your career in ways you never expected? About Supermums Founded by Heather Black, a Salesforce Golden Hoodie winner, Supermums helps relaunchers and seasoned Salesforce professionals accelerate their careers in tech through expert training, career coaching and recruitment support. Whether someone is returning to work, pivoting into a new role, or ready to step up in the Salesforce ecosystem, Supermums provides practical training, mentoring and access to job opportunities to help them build confidence, sharpen their skills and progress faster. Alongside its career development programmes, Supermums partners with employers to connect them with talented Salesforce professionals who are ready to make an impact. Find out more here https://supermums.org/podcast-intro About our Sponsor, Hubbl Technologies Hubbl gives Salesforce teams the clarity they need to move faster. By connecting technical metadata with real business processes, Hubbl reveals what is happening inside your Salesforce org — from security and access risks to process gaps, tech debt, and AI readiness. The result: less guesswork, faster audits, better documentation, and smarter decisions for teams who want to build, scale, and innovate with confidence Find out more about https://qrco.de/bgY7zw
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    22 分
  • What Does it Take to Become a Salesforce Golden Hoodie Winner?

    What Does it Take to Become a Salesforce Golden Hoodie Winner?
    2026/07/01
    What does it take to become a Salesforce Golden Hoodie winner, and how can community involvement shape an entire career? In this episode of our Golden Hoodie Winners series, I sit down with Christina Nava, Salesforce professional, Service Cloud expert, and Golden Hoodie recipient. Christina received her Golden Hoodie at Dreamforce after years of dedication to the Serviceblazer community, where she became known for helping others, sharing knowledge, and supporting fellow Salesforce professionals. What makes Christina's story particularly inspiring is that her recognition wasn't built around a single achievement. Instead, it came from years of consistently showing up, contributing to the community, and helping others succeed. Finding A Home in the Salesforce Ecosystem Christina takes us back to her introduction to Salesforce in 2011 while working in technical support and software consulting. What began as exposure to a CRM platform gradually developed into a career specializing in Service Cloud. Along the way, she discovered a passion for solving problems, supporting users, and building solutions that help organizations deliver better customer experiences. She also reflects on the challenges of being a solo Salesforce Admin and why finding a supportive professional community became such an important part of her growth. Why Community Matters More Than Ever One of the strongest themes throughout our conversation is the value of community. Christina shares how the Serviceblazer community became a place where she could ask questions, learn from others, and avoid feeling isolated in her role. Over time, she transitioned from someone seeking support to someone providing it. Her experience highlights an important lesson for anyone building a career in technology. Success rarely happens in isolation. The relationships you build, the people you help, and the knowledge you share often become just as valuable as technical expertise. Building Skills Through Curiosity And Practice Like many Salesforce professionals who started before today's abundance of free learning resources, Christina had to find her own path. She discusses the early days of learning Salesforce before Trailhead became widely available and explains how hands-on experience, curiosity, and persistence helped her develop her expertise. We also talk about consulting life, being thrown into unfamiliar situations, learning quickly, and why practical experience often teaches lessons that no certification alone can provide. Leadership, Mentorship, And Giving Back As her career progressed, Christina discovered another passion, helping others develop their own careers. She shares how mentors and supportive women within the Salesforce ecosystem helped shape her journey and why those relationships became so valuable throughout her career. Today, Christina serves as a co-leader of the Houston Women in Tech group, helping create opportunities for others while continuing the cycle of mentorship that helped her succeed. AI, Service Cloud, And The Future Of Customer Experience We also discuss the growing role of AI within Service Cloud and customer service operations. Having recently participated in Salesforce demonstrations around new AI capabilities, Christina shares her perspective on where organizations are seeing opportunities and why strong foundations remain important before adopting emerging technologies. It's an insightful discussion that balances innovation with practical implementation. Advice For Anyone Starting Their Salesforce Journey Throughout our conversation, Christina returns to a simple theme: keep learning, stay curious, and get involved. Whether you're just beginning your Salesforce journey, considering a career transition, or looking for ways to expand your network, her story demonstrates how consistency, community involvement, and a willingness to help others can create opportunities you never expected. Which part of Christina's journey resonated most with you, and how could getting more involved in your own community help shape your career?
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    23 分
  • How One Family's Salesforce Journey Led to a Golden Hoodie

    How One Family's Salesforce Journey Led to a Golden Hoodie
    2026/06/25
    What happens when a passion for helping others creates opportunities that extend far beyond your own career? In this episode of our Golden Hoodie Winners series, we sit down with Kaelan Moss, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Instructor, Team Lead at Revolent Group, and recipient of the Salesforce Golden Hoodie award. Kaelan shares a deeply personal story that began with a desire to help others and ultimately led to one of the highest honors in the Salesforce ecosystem. From an athletic background and a degree in economics to becoming a respected Salesforce educator, Kaelan's path into technology was anything but traditional. His story is a powerful example of how curiosity, discipline, and a willingness to teach others can create opportunities that change lives. The Decision That Changed Everything During the uncertainty of the pandemic, Kaelan made a bold decision. After moving back home, he committed to supporting his family while teaching his mother and sister Salesforce Marketing Cloud skills. He paid the bills, created a learning environment, and helped them develop new careers in technology. What started as a family project became a story that resonated throughout the Trailblazer Community and eventually caught the attention of Salesforce. Kaelan reflects on the lessons learned from that experience, why leading by example matters, and how consistent daily actions often have a greater impact than grand gestures. Creating New Paths into Tech One of the most compelling parts of our conversation centres on career opportunities beyond traditional education pathways. Kaelan shares why he believes platforms like Salesforce have created accessible routes into well-paid, flexible careers for people from all backgrounds. He discusses the financial realities many families face, the burden of student debt, and why practical, hands-on learning can open doors that many people never knew existed. His mission today is simple: help people discover opportunities that can create greater freedom and choice in their lives. Why Marketing Cloud Captured His Attention As someone fascinated by psychology and human behaviour, Kaelan explains why Marketing Cloud became his specialization. We discuss the relationships among technology, communication, and how people make decisions. For Kaelan, marketing sits at the intersection of technology and human behaviour, making it one of the most interesting areas within the Salesforce ecosystem. His perspective offers valuable insights for anyone considering a career in marketing technology or customer engagement. Making Sense of AI Without the Hype Artificial intelligence is transforming every corner of the technology industry, but Kaelan brings a refreshing perspective to the conversation. He shares his thoughts on the growing AI noise online, why critical thinking matters when using AI tools, and how professionals can avoid being distracted by fear-based messaging. We also discuss how he uses ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok in his own work, comparing their strengths and explaining why understanding the quality of your inputs remains just as important as the technology itself. A Simple Learning Habit Anyone Can Use Having trained hundreds of aspiring Marketing Cloud professionals, Kaelan reveals the learning technique he credits with helping him succeed throughout college, certification exams, and his professional career. His advice is practical, easy to implement, and something listeners can start using immediately, whether they are studying Salesforce, learning a new skill, or working toward a career change. Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset. What part of Kaelan's story resonated most with you, and could his approach inspire someone in your own family to consider a career in tech? What Is the Salesforce Golden Hoodie? "The Salesforce Golden Hoodie is a special recognition and token of appreciation bestowed upon individuals who have shared their stories of doing well by doing good. These Trailblazers range from relatively new to the ecosystem to seasoned community change-makers – Source". Check out the definitive guide to Salesforce Golden Hoodie Winners here https://supermums.org/golden-hoodie-winners-the-definitive-guide-to-salesforces-most-inspiring-trailblazers/ About Supermums Founded by Heather Black, a Salesforce Golden Hoodie winner, Supermums helps relaunchers and seasoned Salesforce professionals accelerate their careers in tech through expert training, career coaching and recruitment support. Whether someone is returning to work, pivoting into a new role, or ready to step up in the Salesforce ecosystem, Supermums provides practical training, mentoring and access to job opportunities to help them build confidence, sharpen their skills and progress faster. Alongside its career development programmes, Supermums partners ...
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    37 分
  • How to Use AI for Real-Life Productivity with Julia Druck

    How to Use AI for Real-Life Productivity with Julia Druck
    2026/02/02

    Are you ready to discover how artificial intelligence can genuinely transform the juggle of family and work life? In this inspiring episode, the Mums on Cloud Nine team welcomes Julia Druck, an AI consultant with a fascinating career journey.

    Julia shares her path from weapons engineer in the Royal Navy to co-founding the AI consultancy 'Serpent,' and unveils practical, real-life ways you can embrace AI, even if you think you're not techy.

    Julia reveals her creation of a "Family Command Centre" using user-friendly, low- and no-code AI tools, bringing calm and order to the chaos of family logistics.

    She and the hosts explore why now is the perfect time to get curious about AI, how to get started without fear, and how your current skills are far more transferable to the world of AI than you think.

    Whether you're an ambitious mum, a parent managing multiple calendars, or someone looking to upskill and relaunch your career, this episode will spark your motivation and give you tangible tools to build a life you love.

    Key Points in This Episode:

    • Julia Druck's unconventional career path and how she carved out a place in the AI industry.

    • What exactly a Family Command Centre is and how AI can solve everyday household chaos like school events, appointments and birthdays.

    • The reality behind learning AI as an adult: free courses, bootcamps, and online resources that are actually accessible (including YouTube!).

    • Common fears and myths about AI... and why getting hands-on is easier than it seems.

    • How transferable skills from product management (and parenting) set you up for success in the tech world.

    • Favourite tools and platforms for AI task management, from Lindy, Susama and Todoist to Reclaim.

    • Top tips for time-poor parents on integrating AI solutions for home and career.

    Julia's Free Guide:

    https://mumsoncloudnine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MUMS-on-Cloud-NINE-Podcast-AI-agent-resource.pdf

    Mentioned in this episode:

    • Lindy (No-code AI agent platform): https://www.lindy.ai/assistant

    • Susama: https://www.sunsama.com/

    • Todoist: https://www.todoist.com/

    • Reclaim: https://reclaim.ai/

    • Claude: https://claude.ai/login

    • Comet: https://www.perplexity.ai/comet

    • YouTube tutorials for Lindy AI: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lindy+ai+tutorial

    Craving more inspiration and practical tips?
    Subscribe for weekly mindset and career guidance, and join a community of women supporting each other in relaunching careers, building confidence, and achieving fulfilment.

    Find Julia Druck and connect for more insights:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliadruck/

    If you're ready to banish overwhelm, embrace technology, and empower yourself, this episode is your perfect starting point!

    For more about Mums on Cloud Nine, the Supermums programme, and our expert directory, visit: Supermums.org

    Championing the Ambitious Women Mindset each and every week.
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    26 分
  • How To Learn Anything 10x Faster (Without Burning Out)

    How To Learn Anything 10x Faster (Without Burning Out)
    2026/01/26

    What if you could stop saying "I don't know how to do that"… and start saying "give me an hour"?

    In this episode of Mums on Cloud Nine, Heather, Lynne and Kelly share how they use AI to make lifelong learning easier, faster, and genuinely enjoyable, even if you struggle with focus, motivation, or traditional online courses.

    We cover:

    • How AI gives you "sticky skills" you can add to your CV quickly

    • Why learning isn't just about work, it's about confidence and momentum in life

    • The moment AI stops feeling like homework and starts feeling like magic

    • Why demos matter: you don't adopt tools until you see what they can really do

    • ADHD learning styles: how to learn in a way that actually sticks

    • The emotional rollercoaster of mastering new tech (and why it's normal)

    This is a real, funny, practical conversation about staying relevant in a changing job market… and becoming the kind of person who can reinvent themselves whenever they need to.

    If you've been stuck in "I'll start Monday" mode, this one's for you.

    📍 More resources: mumsoncloudnine.co.uk

    📍 Explore our training courses: https://supermums.org/

    💬 Tell us what you want to learn next and we'll cheer you on.
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    18 分
  • Ace Your Interview: Unleash AI to Land Your Dream Job with Lani Bass

    Ace Your Interview: Unleash AI to Land Your Dream Job with Lani Bass
    2026/01/19

    Ready to transform your job interview experience and boost your confidence? This week on the Mums on Cloud Nine Podcast, Heather Black, Lyn Constantine, and Kelly-Jace Halls are joined by the inspiring Lani Bass to explore how AI can become your personal career coach.

    Heather Black introduces Lani Bass, a Supermum alumni who navigated a five-stage interview process with remarkable success, powered by AI tools like ChatGPT. Discover how Lani Bass harnessed technology to build her confidence, prepare for interviews, and even create a custom GPT that you can use yourself.

    Whether you're re-entering the job market, relaunching your career after a break, or simply want to ace your next interview, this episode is packed with empowering advice, practical tips, and personal stories that will leave you feeling inspired.

    Key Points You'll Discover in This Episode:

    • How AI (like ChatGPT) can help you prepare for interviews, update your CV, and boost your confidence.

    • The importance of rehearsal and refining your interview answers using AI tools.

    • Building custom GPTs based on your own CV and job descriptions to deliver tailored interview questions and responses.

    • Tips for making sure your CV gets through application tracking systems, without losing your personal voice.

    • How to create presentations in branded colours to impress potential employers.

    • The role of 'personal clones' in capturing your unique tone and communication style.

    • Why having a human perspective alongside AI-generated content is vital.

    Explore the journey from self-doubt to self-assurance using practical and affordable AI tools, and find out how you can access Lani Bass's custom interview prep agent (details in the show notes).

    Useful Links:

    • ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
    • Gamma AI: https://gamma.com.ai/
    • Notion: https://www.notion.com/
    • Lani's GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-695fdf1c0a8c8191baeabb998e2d56f2-gpt-interview-prep

    Join the conversation, subscribe for weekly mindset tips, and empower yourself to carve out a career and life you love. Brought to you by the Supermums team, supporting women to relaunch their careers since 2016.

    https://supermums.org/

    For links to Lani Bass's custom GPT interview prep tool and other resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes on our website.

    Ready to step onto your own stage with confidence? Listen now!
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    24 分