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Kelly, Salesforce Lead at Panthera: Advize Career Interview
A career path starting with campus involvement and advertising unexpectedly led to a fulfilling career in non-profit work leveraging Salesforce and Pardot at Panthera.
The interview reveals a dynamic role blending technical skills like designing automated solutions and strategic analysis using fundraising data to protect wildcats.
Success requires strong communication, continuous learning, and a proactive approach to networking and mentorship.
Entry-level opportunities abound, from data entry internships to junior administrator roles, with resources like Salesforce Trailhead providing valuable experience.
The interview emphasizes the importance of understanding the "whole holistic process" before solution building, the value of a supportive community, and self-advocacy for career advancement.
A small team allows for "hands-in-everything" agility and rapid problem-solving, while also highlighting the challenges of managing a large workload.
Ultimately, this career path demonstrates how diverse experiences and a commitment to continuous learning can lead to a rewarding and impactful career in the tech industry.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kelly Carton
Salesforce Lead
Panthera
University of Arizona
Columbia University: Master's of Science in Nonprofit Management
Marketing
Technology
Data and Analytics
Greek Life Member
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Salesforce Lead at Panthera
Kelly's career path, starting with campus involvement at the University of Arizona and an advertising role after graduation, unexpectedly led to a fulfilling career in non-profit work. Discovering a passion for volunteer work, the experience using Salesforce at various non-profits, and eventually leading a team at Pantera, shows how "figuring out what you don't want to do" can guide a non-linear path to a fulfilling career.
Main Responsibilities Of A Salesforce Lead At Panthera
Kelly's main responsibilities as a Salesforce Lead at Panthera involve leveraging "Salesforce and Pardot" to address organizational pain points for communications and fundraising teams; this includes prioritizing a "backlog of requests," designing automated solutions, and supporting email creation, ultimately contributing to increased fundraising for the organization's mission of protecting Wildcats.
A Day In The Life Of A Salesforce Lead At Panthera
A day in the life of Kelly, a Salesforce Lead at Panthera, involves a blend of technical tasks, such as "designing and testing a flow" for automated birthday emails and documenting solutions for team collaboration, and strategic analysis, using fundraising figures to inform future campaigns. This highlights the importance of both technical proficiency in Salesforce automation and data-driven decision-making in their role.
Most Important Skills for a Salesforce Lead at Panthera
For a Salesforce Lead, strong communication and listening skills are crucial for effective "solutioning," understanding the root problem rather than simply fulfilling surface-level requests. Continuous learning is also vital given Salesforce's frequent updates, requiring ongoing engagement with blogs, documentation, and certifications to stay current in this dynamic field.
Favorite Parts of Being a Salesforce Lead at Panthera
Kelly enjoys the agility of their small team at Panthera, "being able to have my hands in everything" across Salesforce and Pardot, allowing for quick problem-solving and constant learning; this contrasts with the more extensive processes found in larger organizations.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Salesforce Lead At Panthera
Kelly's biggest challenge as a Salesforce Lead at Panthera is the small size of their team (only three people), meaning they are "involved in every single project" across Salesforce and Pardot while managing a large workload for a significant organization. This presents a challenge while simultaneously providing extensive learning opportunities in a impactful role focused on protecting wild cats.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Technology Industry as a Salesforce Lead
Kelly's favorite aspect of the tech industry, specifically Salesforce, is the "unparalleled" Trailblazer community, fostering collaboration and continuous learning. The three yearly release cycles ensure a dynamic work environment where "no two days are alike," perfectly suiting Kelly's love for lifelong learning and tackling new challenges.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Salesforce Industry According To A Salesforce Administrator At Panthera
Salesforce Leads, a step above Salesforce Administrators, manage the entire Salesforce instance, overseeing everything from security to user interface and constantly releasing new features; success in this role requires a blend of "hard skills," like process design using tools such as Lucid or Visio, and deep platform knowledge, along with crucial "soft skills," including listening, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities.
What A Salesforce Lead At Panthera Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Tech Industry
Kelly, a Salesforce Lead, advises aspiring professionals to carefully consider the "whole holistic process" before agreeing to build solutions, emphasizing that "just because it's possible...doesn't mean that it should," and that finding the best solution requires understanding the true pain points first. This highlights the importance of strategic thinking and thorough needs analysis over immediate problem-solving in the Salesforce administration field.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Salesforce Administrators
Entry-level Salesforce roles for undergraduates include data entry internships, which build crucial skills like "attention to detail and being organized," and post-graduation roles such as junior Salesforce administrator or specialist, involving tasks like "managing user accounts" and "training employees." Pursuing Salesforce Trailhead's free resources and sandbox environments provides valuable hands-on experience to accelerate career development in this field.
Significant Career Lesson From A Salesforce Lead At Panthera
Kelly's most significant career lesson centers on the importance of mentorship, emphasizing that "having a mentor is so important," not only for job placement ("land several jobs") but also for navigating challenges. The interviewee highlights the value of proactive networking, maintaining relationships ("keep in touch"), and reciprocating support to others as key components of a successful career journey.
College Experiences That Helped A Salesforce Lead At Panthera Succeed
Kelly's involvement in various University of Arizona campus organizations, including the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing and the National Retail Federation Students Association, provided invaluable networking and leadership experience, allowing Kelly to "meet executives at a very young age" and develop essential skills like "motivating people" and "working cross-functionally"—skills still used over a decade later in their Salesforce Lead role at Panthera. The experience underscored the importance of campus involvement for skill development and networking, regardless of specific career path.
How Identity Has Influenced A Salesforce Lead's Career At Panthera
Kelly's career journey highlights the importance of self-advocacy, noting a difference in approach compared to male counterparts, advising to "ask for what you want"—a necessity as "you're never gonna get it" otherwise. This direct approach, while potentially met with rejection, is crucial for career advancement and achieving one's goals.
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