Haley, Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce: Advize Career Interview
A career shift from biology to high school teaching unexpectedly led to a fulfilling role as a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist. This professional's journey highlights the importance of adaptability and a passion for education.
The multifaceted role involves managing accessibility cases, conducting quality assurance, coaching teams, and developing resources to create equitable learning experiences.
Empathy and simplification are key skills, allowing for the creation of inclusive content formats and streamlined user experiences.
The most rewarding aspects include the diverse workplace culture and the potential of AI to revolutionize accessibility.
While navigating the challenges of balancing urgency with thorough training in a rapidly developing organization, this specialist emphasizes the significance of a lifelong learning approach, advocating for diverse learning materials and a business-focused perspective.
Entry-level positions like learning designer or instructional designer provide excellent foundational experience in this impactful field, focusing on identifying and addressing accessibility barriers to create learning environments where everyone can succeed.
A key lesson learned is the importance of context in learning, emphasizing the creation of varied content to cater to individual needs and learning styles.
Finally, a teaching assistant experience in undergrad helped build a cycle of learning and teaching, proving invaluable in the current role.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Haley Shust
Accessibility Specialist
Salesforce
Elon University, 2015
Masters of Education in Curriculum & Instruction (focus: Digital learning); University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Biology & Related Sciences
Technology
Education
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
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Career Path of an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce
Beginning as a biology major, Haley's path unexpectedly shifted after becoming a freshman teaching assistant, where they discovered a passion for "talking to people and educating them." This led to a career change, transitioning from a potential pre-med path to becoming a high school teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, showcasing a proactive approach to career exploration and a willingness to adapt based on discovered strengths.
Main Responsibilities of an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce
Haley, a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist, focuses on creating "more equitable learning experiences" by managing accessibility service cases, conducting quality assurance on global learning content, coaching internal teams on accessibility best practices, and providing self-service resources for design and delivery specialists. This multifaceted role showcases Haley's commitment to inclusive learning design and demonstrates their expertise in accessibility within a large organization.
A Day in the Life of an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce
A typical day for Haley, an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce, begins with checking the case queue to address any immediate accessibility blockers for learners, ensuring "they can carry on with their day". The remainder of the day involves accessibility QAs, responding to Slack channel inquiries, developing resources, and conducting training sessions, showcasing the varied and impactful nature of the role.
Most Important Skills for an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce
For a successful career as an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce, Haley emphasizes the importance of "empathy," understanding learner needs and anticipating potential obstacles to create inclusive learning experiences, such as offering diverse content formats. The second key skill is "simplification," streamlining user experience to reduce barriers and ensure a meaningful learning experience by minimizing clicks and search time.
Favorite Parts Of Being An Accessibility Specialist At Salesforce
Haley, a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist, most enjoys the "diversity of different minds" and the open culture fostering mentorship opportunities; the ability to connect with colleagues across backgrounds and countries for coffee chats and career guidance is a unique and rewarding aspect of their role.
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce
Haley's biggest challenge as an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce is balancing the urgency of deadlines with the need for thorough accessibility training; the "rapid development nature" of such a large organization often means accessibility improvements, even after extensive QA and feedback, are delayed or deferred until later iterations.
Favorite Parts of Working as a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist in the Tech Industry
Haley, a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist, finds the tech industry's "innovation and being so close to innovative people" most exciting, particularly concerning AI's potential to revolutionize accessibility. The ethical and equitable development of AI is crucial, requiring "individuals with disability [to] have a voice and a seat at the table" to ensure its benefits are universally accessible.
What Type of Person Thrives in the Tech Industry, According to a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist
To thrive in the tech industry, especially in accessibility, requires being a "lifelong learner" with a strong sense of empathy, constantly seeking improvement and considering diverse learning styles. Success hinges on creating accessible learning ecosystems encompassing "podcasts, audio books, e-learnings, videos, walkthroughs, simulations," ensuring a wider audience can engage with the material effectively.
What an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Technology Industry
Haley, a Salesforce Accessibility Specialist, learned that widespread change in a large organization happens slowly, requiring navigation of ambiguity and stakeholder management. The role demands connecting accessibility initiatives to broader company KPIs, a skill requiring a "larger business perspective" to then develop "actionable solutions."
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Learning Designers At Salesforce
Haley, an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce, suggests entry-level learning designer or instructional designer roles as excellent starting points for undergraduates interested in accessibility. These roles provide valuable experience in "identifying what's challenging" for learners, allowing one to build skills in addressing accessibility barriers and creating inclusive learning experiences where "everyone can learn successfully."
Significant Career Lesson From An Accessibility Specialist At Salesforce
Haley, an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce, discovered that "learning is coupled" to context, meaning the setting, timing, and even one's mood significantly impact learning effectiveness. This insight led Haley to create diverse learning content—podcasts, videos, and more—allowing audiences to choose formats best suited to their individual needs and learning styles, ultimately improving accessibility and inclusivity.
How College Helped An Accessibility Specialist At Salesforce Succeed
Haley's undergraduate experience as a teaching assistant solidified a "cycle of learning and teaching," a method applied throughout their career as an Accessibility Specialist at Salesforce. This involved reinforcing learned material, like accessibility and inclusive design concepts, by sharing knowledge with colleagues through various methods, keeping their skills sharp and career engaging.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleyshust193/
Personal website: https://www.haleyshust.com
LLC website: https://www.thehelpfulfolks.com