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Sammy, Senior Manager, Newsroom at Salesforce : Advize Career Interview
A career path shaped by a communication and psychology degree from UC Santa Barbara, an internship at Decker's Brands, and a strategic LinkedIn connection led to a Senior Manager, Newsroom position at Salesforce.
This role involves managing content creation for approximately 120 assets annually, demanding strong communication, creativity, and project management skills.
A typical day offers variety, encompassing content strategy, team management, budget oversight, and fostering team growth.
The fast-paced environment requires agility and a proactive approach, although the supportive team culture and the impact of working in the B2B software industry—an industry impacting daily lives—are highly rewarding.
Advice for aspiring professionals includes gaining hands-on experience at an agency, developing a strong work ethic in college, and embracing one's authentic self in the workplace.
A key takeaway is that navigating a career as a first-generation college student involves building a professional network from scratch, ultimately leading to valuable relationship-building skills and career success.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sammy Spiegel
Senior Manager, Newsroom
Salesforce
UCSB
N/A
Communications, Psychology
Technology
Communication and Marketing
Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Senior Manager Newsroom at Salesforce
Sammy's career path began with a communication and psychology degree from UC Santa Barbara, where an internship at Decker's Brands ignited their interest in "corporate responsibility." After a year and a half at a creative agency, Sammy joined Salesforce six years ago, drawn to the company's values and finding a role through a LinkedIn connection, showcasing a career trajectory shaped by both professional skills and personal values.
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Manager, Newsroom at Salesforce
Sammy, a Senior Manager at Salesforce, manages content production for the company Newsroom, overseeing a team creating "about 120 assets a year" across various platforms. This involves ensuring all content, from written pieces to multimedia, aligns with communications objectives and maintains "really high quality."
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Newsroom Manager At Salesforce
A day for this communications professional involves "lots of change and variety," including developing content strategies ("building content briefs"), reviewing team work ("written articles, video assets"), managing budgets and resources, and prioritizing team growth through training and development. The role demonstrates a blend of creative content creation, strategic planning, financial management, and leadership responsibilities.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Manager Newsroom At Salesforce
Sammy, a Senior Manager, Newsroom at Salesforce, identifies strong communication—both written and verbal—"probably no matter your job or industry"—as a crucial skill, alongside creativity in storytelling and project management. The ability to "be really on top of something" and effectively manage projects, a skill which the professional notes is often overlooked but highly valuable, complements these core communication skills.
Favorite Parts of Being a Newsroom Senior Manager at Salesforce
Sammy, a Senior Manager at Salesforce, enjoys the "variety" of their role, touching on diverse areas like AI and sustainability, and values the collaborative and supportive team culture, calling their coworkers "close friends." This, coupled with the excitement of working for a leading innovator like Salesforce, contributes to Sammy's five-year tenure.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Senior Manager Newsroom at Salesforce
Sammy's biggest challenge as a Senior Manager at Salesforce is the company's rapid pace and shifting priorities, requiring "really agile" adaptation and a willingness to "build the plane as you're flying it." This dynamic environment, while demanding, maintains a high level of engagement and prevents stagnation.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Technology Industry as a Senior Manager Newsroom
Sammy, a Senior Manager at Salesforce, finds the B2B software industry exciting because "technology is something that people interact with every day," even if indirectly, impacting numerous communities and pushing technological advancements. This ubiquitous nature and potential for widespread influence makes the industry important and engaging for Sammy.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Communications Industry, According To A Senior Manager, Newsroom At Salesforce
Salesforce Senior Manager, Newsroom, Sammy, highlights the energy and enthusiasm needed to thrive in marketing and communications at a tech company, stating that successful individuals "really like fast-paced work" and "like building new things," embracing constant innovation and new experiences. This suggests a need for adaptability and a proactive approach to problem-solving within a dynamic industry.
What A Senior Manager Newsroom At Salesforce Wishes They Had Known About Communications
Sammy, a Senior Manager at Salesforce, wishes they had known about the diverse roles within marketing and communications before entering the industry, stating, "I just had no idea in college what types of roles were out there." The discovery of a role blending communication, psychology, and writing skills highlights the unexpected career paths available and emphasizes the importance of networking and mentorship to uncover such opportunities.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Marketing and Communications Professionals
For entry-level marketing and communications roles, Sammy, a Senior Manager at Salesforce, recommends starting at an agency to gain "hands-on experience" across various brands and industries before moving "in-house." Junior copywriter or social media writer/editor positions are also good entry points, building strong writing skills and understanding of marketing strategy.
Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Manager Newsroom at Salesforce
Sammy's most significant career lesson was unexpectedly discovering the alignment between personal and professional values; they learned that "embracing their full self at work" by bringing "fun energy" and silliness, rather than suppressing it, fostered better relationships, fulfillment, and overall success.
College Experiences That Helped a Senior Manager, Newsroom at Salesforce Succeed
Sammy, a Senior Manager at Salesforce, credits establishing a strong work ethic during undergrad as key to career success, noting that "what you learn...is how to apply yourself, how to be ready for...project management and time management." This skill of self-discipline and effective work habits proved more valuable than specific course content in navigating the demands of a professional career.
How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Manager, Newsroom At Salesforce's Career
Being a first-generation college student, Sammy had to "build my own professional network" due to a lack of familial guidance in navigating a career path, forcing the development of crucial networking skills early on. This experience, while sometimes leading to feelings of being "behind," ultimately empowered Sammy to forge strong relationships and leverage resources like LinkedIn to achieve success.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/sammyspiegel
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