Riley Swain’s Post

There are less than 50 days left in 2024 - Crazy! This year has flown by but not over yet. Very important to take advantage of the final days of the year and get the most out of them. ⭐ Don't wait to hire that person, make that job move, or start hitting the gym ⭐ Start now and set yourself up for success in 2025 💪 ❗ If you're looking to grow your Salesforce team or be the star of the night at Thanksgiving for starting a new role - reach out me to and we can go over a strategic plan on how to get this done! ❗

Twenty years ago, I made a big career leap, joining an up-and-coming tech start up based in San Francisco called Salesforce.com. I had always wanted to work in downtown San Francisco, but was reluctant to join another “.com” after the bubble had burst earlier in my career. Salesforce had IPO’d a couple of months earlier and was growing fast with around 500 employees primarily located in the historic 1 Market, across from the picturesque Ferry Building. Commuting from Marin County on the ferry was an upgrade over previous 100-mile round trip commutes to Silicon Valley. I liked the people, the product, and what felt like a good runway for growth. I had no idea the professional and personal journey I was about to embark on. Flash forward to twenty years later. Salesforce is a 25-year-old marketing leading tech company boasting more than 70,000 employees, iconic towers around the globe, and a stock that has soared at times to more than 11,000% since its public debut. During that span at Salesforce, I have sat front row on a wild roller coaster of growth, spanning professional services, sales, product, training, marketing, and C-suite engagement. I have found myself in a world I could never have imagined, working around the world with global luminaries, CEOs, political leaders, and celebrities. I have led a company-wide effort to raise more than $4M for the National MS Society with thousands of volunteers and supporters from across the ecosystem. Most importantly along each step of the way, I have worked with wonderful people. I built rich relationships with individuals and communities that have made me a stronger colleague, friend, husband, father, and human. I have learned so much professionally and personally through every person. I joyously laughed with the fun and insanity, but I have also cried as our lives evolved, events occurred, and complexity increased with age. That is why, after 20 years, I know that I will miss Salesforce deeply. It has been an important part of my life and is very intertwined with my identity. I’m very fortunate and grateful to have been at Salesforce this long and full of gratitude for all it has given me. The fear of regret over losing something so good in my life to the pursuit of something better is real. What I do next will most certainly be less magical than Salesforce, but will also be better in ways I can never anticipate.

I've spent the last few days trying to come up with a good way to open this post, and still haven't found one that feels right. Better then to just come out and say it: After eight and a half incredible years with one of the greatest companies in the world, I've made the decision to leave Salesforce. This is due to a combination of factors, but namely my persistent difficulty finding success in the TPM role, and situations in my personal and family life that require and deserve my careful and attentive handling. My final day with the company was Monday, March 25th. Though the parting is painful, my strongest feeling in this moment is one of profound gratitude. To go from being a college drop-out, to Salesforce admin, to consultant, to then spend almost a decade working for and with some of the most talented and dedicated professionals in the business, is a career arc I could never have imagined myself on. Words cannot do justice to how thankful I am for the chances I've been given, and the opportunities I've been able to pursue. I genuinely believe that the Signature Success and Service Cloud TPM teams are among the best in the industry, and I'm honored to have spent time among their ranks. At this time, my own future career path is uncertain. Along with being more available for my family, I want to take time to reflect, analyze, and learn from the successes and failures that have led me to this point. I have an amazing opportunity now to really figure out what makes me tick; what my strengths are, where my passions lie, and what kind of balance I want to have between life and work. Whatever my next move ends up being, I know it will be one that aligns to my principles, and enables me to grow and enrich both myself, and those I work for and with. "Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare." I look forward to clarifying my vision for my future. Thank you to everyone who has supported me this far. I can't wait to share with you whatever amazing journeys are coming next.

"I’m not leaving the office until I close something." Let’s rewind to 2018—my first Q4 at Salesforce. The energy in those final weeks? Unforgettable. The camaraderie, the competition, the fighting spirit— I LOVED IT. One person in particular stood out and left a lasting impression on me: Ulrika Olsson Her mantra? "I’m not leaving the office until I close something." At first, I thought: That’s intense. But day after day, she delivered. Her determination was contagious. Inspired by her, I adopted the same mindset: Close something every day—even if it is $1. The results? ➡️ It compounded my success. ➡️ It energized the team. Ulrika’s grit taught me a valuable lesson: focus + persistence = success. This Q4, I challenge YOU: 💡 Stay focused 💡 Stay persistent And don’t end the day until you’ve closed something. 💪 ------------------ P.S. Picture taken before my first day at Salesforce. Obviously, the raincoat had to be worn to tackle the Dublin weather.

#B2C marketers pipe dreams are going to become a reality with mass personalization at scale….Exciting times ahead for our clients and partners! #MarketingCloud #SalesforcePartner #MuleSoftPartner #Segmentation #DataCloud #Data #AI #LLM #TheMonks

Ten years ago today, I embarked on a journey that shaped the trajectory of my career in ways I couldn't have imagined. Thanks to a memory from Facebook, I was reminded of the day I stepped into my first full-time Salesforce role as a Sales Operations Administrator and Developer. The excitement and the hint of nervousness in those words reflect a younger me, eager to dive into the Salesforce ecosystem. Little did I know, this role was just the beginning of an incredible journey. Fast forward to today, and the landscape of my professional journey has evolved dramatically. From embracing the nuances of Salesforce in that initial role to founding Krahnborn, a Salesforce Consulting Partner specializing in Revenue Cloud, the journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. Each project, each challenge, and each success has been a building block for my expertise and our company's growth. Reflecting on the past decade, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities, the mentorship, and all of the learning experiences that have come my way. The Salesforce community has been a bedrock of support and inspiration, fueling my passion and commitment to excellence. As Krahnborn continues to scale, and as I look forward to the next decade, I'm excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. The landscape of technology and Salesforce is ever-evolving, and so are we. Here's to many more years of innovation, learning, and shared successes! #Salesforce #CareerJourney #ReflectingBack #LookingForward #SalesforceEcosystem #ProfessionalGrowth #ThankYou

First month on floor and 112% target hit. 🙌 Jeez it’s was not easy at all! 😤 But how did I manage to start my ramp month at full target and hit it? To be honest it was pure 400+ dials that got it done. I had no plans, time management was tough, didn’t dive into customer stories or product. But I knew one thing. The old method, the good old hard work and consistency approach. And this month, first week it’s gonna take a little more from my end. Have to deep dive into more customer stories, Learn more L2-L4 levels of the product offerings, and pushing myself more hard. In all this, I am grateful for the target hit and the manager I have got and 1st month was just pure bliss at Salesforce 🩵.

Hey Everyone! 👋 So, here's a plot twist in my career story that I couldn't wait to share with you all some time ago i experienced a setback that many of us can relate to - the sting of rejection. After eagerly applying for a position at my dream company, Salesforce, and making it through to the interview stage, I received the disappointing news that I hadn't been selected. Sure, it stung a bit 😔. But you know what? Every setback is just a setup for a comeback, right? 🙌 Instead of feeling down, I'm using this as fuel ⛽ to grow and learn even more. Maybe I need a little more experience before I'm ready to rock it at Salesforce, and that's cool. It's all part of the journey. But mark my words, I'll be there one day! 💼 To anyone else feeling a bit bummed by rejection, just remember: it's not a full stop, just a comma in our story. Let's keep pushing forward, keep learning, and keep chasing those dreams! 🌈✨ PS: Embrace every setback as a setup for a spectacular comeback! 🚀💥 Here's to staying positive, keeping the faith, determination, and knowing that our dream job is just waiting for us to grab it with both hands! 🌠💪 #salesforcecommunity #salesforcecareers #salesforcejourney #salesforcejobs #EmbraceTheUnexpected #DreamChaser #PlotTwist #CareerJourney #KeepPushingForward #Resilience #SuccessMindset

Last March I had my work anniversary and today I received a candid present from Salesforce. Thought the best way to celebrate 3 years was to share 12 things I’ve learned at #salesforce: 1) Vulnerability isn’t a weakness, it’s a superpower. 2) Don’t read the news, make the news. 3) Coach the why, not the how. 4) Choose to be respected more than liked. Both are nice. But respect is essential. 5) Nothing shines like knowing the business: Do your homework. Know your numbers. Get the details right. 6) Know why you stay. 7) Stand for growth - for the business, for yourself, and for the team. 8) Be bold and honest about your boundaries. 9) Build bridges. Not empires. 10) Manure is the best fertilizer. A flower literally has to go through sh!t to grow. 11) Relationships are currency. Invest in the future. 12) Lead with gratitude. Thank you to all my amazing friends who’ve made these 3 years so fun and more to come! #oneteam #trust #fun #continuoslearning #opentofeedback 😎

10 years... !! It's hard to believe it's been a decade since I joined the incredible Platform Team here at Salesforce. What a journey it's been! I remember walking into the Chicago office all those years ago as the 3rd Platform AE hired here into this organization and to see where it has grown since those early days is exciting to look back on. Joining the Koa Club is an honor and a testament to the amazing opportunities this Platform team has provided. I’ve spent every one of these years immersed in the platform, building deep relationships and driving customer success. This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the amazing people I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years. To my mentors, colleagues, and friends at Salesforce, thank you for your support and collaboration. Here’s to many more years of innovation and success! So many people who have influenced and shaped my Salesforce Career: Mark Desrosiers for taking a chance on me during that first interview. Jeff Hickman for your guidance as my direct manager for all those years to get me where I am now. Sanjay Savani I wouldn't have made it without all your incredible support during those early Platform days. Carolyn Bathauer although I didn't make it to Brush Creek... you have been my PIC ever since and I appreciate all the conversations through the years. Brian Larimer you and I have been in the trenches together from your first day, and I appreciate how you push our role to the limit to make all of us better. Spending the last 7 years in a management role, I would be nothing if it weren't for the immensely talented Sales team I have been lucky enough to work with! Jatin Patel Ryan Conwell Mike Mullins Matthew Binder Jessie Richardson Stephanie Malek Peter Conroy Ray Johnston Kelsey Purser Todd Haven Scott Crum Steven Sokol Prashant Sharma Colin Harter ☁Dave Grabowski Kamel Khelil Amr Bedeir Adrian Bruton ❄️Derek Molata ❄️ Zachary Wing Greg Fanady Sayee R. Clinton Brown Colin Thompson Andy Hager ☁ Marielle Lambrou Chang Nicholas DiRubio Nishant Chandra I am sure that I will miss a few (and likely hit a limit), but a few more Salesforce shoutouts stick out for making a huge impact on my ever growing career. Dave Mager Gary Nafus Christopher C. Allen Mull Matt Rixon Paul Lanzoni Vickie Holtmeier #Salesforce #KoaClub #Platform #10YearAnniversary