In the ever-dynamic Salesforce ecosystem, empowering aspiring Salesforce professionals with the skills to thrive is a game-changer. Two innovative programs in India – Marketathon and Trailblazers in Campus – are taking on the challenge of helping college and university students become the next generation of Salesforce Trailblazers.
These initiatives are reshaping the educational landscape and introducing young individuals to the world of Salesforce in the hope of making a lasting impact on their careers.
Introducing Trailblazers in Campus
The first key initiative in India is Trailblazers in Campus. Established in December 2022, this program was created with the vision of introducing Salesforce to educational institutions. By introducing students to a completely new range of career opportunities, their mission is to arm young minds with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the Salesforce job market.
Taking steps towards this goal, the founders of this opportunity (Yogesh Sharma, Surbhi Narula, and Uma Shankar Arora) successfully advocated for the inclusion of Salesforce in the curriculum for engineering students at a university in Jaipur, and more discussions are underway with several other educational institutions for the upcoming years.
We recently spoke with Piyusha Pilania, a 9x certified Salesforce Consultant Manager based in Vadodara, India, who discussed the work being done within the education sector in India:
“Salesforce employees are specifically working with colleges and universities to add Salesforce as a BTEC engineering degree. A lot of schools are adopting this as a subject as well.” Piyusha Pilania, Salesforce Consutant Manager at Horizontal Digital
You can learn more from Piyusha by reading our recent article, which explores the impact of education and the Salesforce job market in India: The Job Market Surges in India as Salesforce Crosses $1B in Revenue
Teaching the Skills
The Trailblazers in Campus program offers more than theoretical knowledge; it also provides the practical skills and support needed to succeed in the Salesforce ecosystem, with a well-structured curriculum designed to cover Salesforce fundamentals. This approach ensures that students receive a comprehensive understanding of the platform.
Moreover, the program conducts in-person events at colleges across India. These events are led by experienced volunteers and community group leaders who provide mentorship and guidance for students.
The program helps students to complete their TIC trailmixes (admin and developer paths) and prepare for certifications. The dedication of the volunteers is inspiring – with over 50 TIC Ambassadors and 20 Salesforce Trailblazer Community groups across India creating a strong support network that empowers students to reach their full potential.
Why Is the Trailblazers in Campus Program Important?
So why is this program important? It opens doors for students to explore careers in the Salesforce ecosystem, equipping them with the right skills and training to succeed in the CRM industry. Here are the key areas where Trailblazers in Campus excels:
- Skill development: The program provides students with hands-on experience and training in Salesforce technologies, fostering the development of skills that are highly relevant in today’s job market.
- Career opportunities: It offers students the chance to explore and prepare for careers in the Salesforce ecosystem, connecting them with industry professionals, mentors, and potential employers.
- Community building: It creates a community of like-minded individuals with a shared passion for technology, allowing students to collaborate, learn from each other, and build a network that extends beyond their academic years.
- Diversity and inclusion: By reaching out to students on various campuses, the program contributes to fostering diversity and inclusion within the tech industry, breaking down barriers and providing opportunities to individuals from different backgrounds.
- Industry relevance: As Salesforce is such a widely used platform in the business world, the program ensures that students are exposed to technologies that are highly relevant to the current and future needs of industries.
- Inspiration and motivation: The program serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for students to pursue careers in technology, demonstrating the exciting possibilities and opportunities available within the Salesforce ecosystem.
- Long-term industry growth: By nurturing the skills and passion of students early in their academic journey, the program contributes to the long-term growth and sustainability of the tech industry, ensuring a pipeline of skilled professionals for the future.
The Future of the Program
The dedication and efforts of volunteers are definitely well reflected – over 6000 students across colleges in India have been empowered by sessions covering a wide range of topics, including Trailblazer community, Salesforce fundamentals, cloud computing basics, and more.
The program’s effectiveness can be seen through the success of the students who are now working in the Salesforce ecosystem.
“One of the most fulfilling aspects has been witnessing the success stories of our students. Hearing about their achievements, be it landing internships, securing certifications, or starting their careers in the Salesforce ecosystem, has been immensely rewarding. Those students have also inspired other students in their cities to learn more about Salesforce.” Yogesh Sharma, Co-Founder of Trailblazers in Campus
Looking ahead, Trailblazers in Campus promises a bright future, with plans for continued growth and expansion:
- Expanded reach: Reach a broader audience of students across diverse academic backgrounds and geographical locations. This will contribute to creating a more inclusive and accessible learning environment.
- Enhanced curriculum: See the program’s curriculum adapt and implement Salesforce as part of the curriculum in many more universities. This will ensure that students receive knowledge and skills highly relevant to the professional landscape.
- Strategic partnerships: Collaborate with other educational institutions, industry leaders, and Trailblazer Community group leaders. Building strategic partnerships can open up new opportunities for students and enhance the overall educational experience.
- Career development support: Continue providing robust career development resources, mentorship opportunities, and networking events. This will empower students to seamlessly transition from the educational phase to successful careers in the Salesforce ecosystem.
- Feedback and iteration: Continue to actively seek input from students, educators, industry professionals, MVPs, and the Trailblazer Connect team. This iterative process will help refine the program and ensure its ongoing relevance and effectiveness.
Trailblazer in Campus is about nurturing the next generation of Salesforce experts, and according to Yogesh Sharma, “witnessing their growth, enthusiasm, and eventual contributions to the Salesforce community is a reward in itself”.
With every little achievement, the program leaves a mark in the Salesforce world and helps to empower the next generation of Trailblazers.
We asked Yogesh: If you could say all aspiring Trailblazers what would it be?
His response? Be open-minded, and enjoy the ride:
“Embrace the Trailblazers in Campus program as a unique opportunity to explore, innovate, and collaborate. It’s not just a program – it’s a journey that can transform students’ academic experience, expand their horizons, and connect them with like-minded individuals who share a passion for making a positive impact.” Yogesh Sharma, Co-Founder of Trailblazers in Campus
Today, they have successfully led the TIC program at various Dreamin’ events such as Bharat Dreamin’, India Dreamin’, WITDreamin’, MuleDreamin’, and more. Moreover, their efforts have led to a partnership with SmartBridge, marking a new milestone in their journey.
This collaboration opens up new opportunities to help students grow, develop leadership skills, and awaken their entrepreneurial spirit.
Introducing Marketathon
Marketathon is an in-person Salesforce Marketing Cloud Bootcamp, which was launched in May 2023 at India Dreamin’ (hosted in Ahmedabad) by Kavindra Patel, VP of Trailblazer Engagement at Salesforce.
The program is designed to advance expertise in Salesforce and Marketing Cloud, introducing students to concepts like Journey2Salesforce Program (J2S), Marketing Cloud Studios, Builders, Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (Pardot), AI in Marketing, and other interactive, marketing-focused sessions.
Marketathon has quickly gained popularity since its launch. This initiative has already delivered 150 hours of interactive training to various educational institutions across the country, with the ambitious goal of reaching more than 100 campuses nationwide.
Recently, the program was hosted at JECRC University, where the leaders of the program engaged with over 300 students across two days.
Teaching the Skills
By visiting colleges and universities, the program introduces students to Salesforce and Salesforce Marketing Cloud, demonstrating how they can get started in their marketing careers.
With an interactive and engaging approach, the focus is to educate and inspire students to explore job opportunities in the marketing industry. The program promotes career paths in Salesforce administration, marketing automation, email marketing, Marketing Cloud consulting, Marketing Cloud administration, and other relevant fields.
Additionally, the Marketathon program has recently introduced a dedicated AI section (“AI in Marketing”) to its agenda, providing students with a deeper understanding of how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of marketing.
Why Is the Marketathon Program Important?
This in-person bootcamp is a game-changer for anyone interested in learning Salesforce – particularly aspiring marketers hoping to build successful careers in the ecosystem. Marketathon plays a crucial role in ensuring that the next generation of marketing professionals are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
“I have always been driven by a desire to serve others. Whether it’s organizing the Jaipur Pride Parade for the LGBTQIA+ community or supporting the vaccination of over 500 individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, I aim to empower the Trailblazer community on a wider scale, enabling students to learn and grow their careers through education.” Kuldeep Sharma, Founder of Marketathon
This year, Marketathon was a part of the Bharat Dreamin’ conference, and it was also associated with Jaipur Pride – an event Kuldeep Sharma co-organized and supported as an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Future of the Program
One thing is clear: the Marketathon program has a lot of potential. As it continues to grow, the focus remains on making marketing education accessible to everyone, no matter where they are.
“Imagine a program where anyone can step into the Salesforce ecosystem and become a marketing expert. I am on a mission to make marketing easy, approachable, and accessible to everyone. My goal is to bring this program to every corner in India, including those regions with limited educational opportunities, and raise awareness there. We are currently exploring educational institutes in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, where many are unfamiliar with the capabilities of Marketing Cloud.” Kuldeep Sharma, Founder of Marketathon
Marketathon has strong support from industry leaders such as Guilda Hilare, Director of Product Marketing at Salesforce, who visited India to attend the Marketathon program and MC² (Salesforce Marketing Cloud conference) in March this year, along with other marketing champions.
We asked Kuldeep: If you could say one thing to everyone out there, what would it be? The answer was truly inspiring:
“No one can change your life; only YOU can change your life. You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it. I want everyone to be involved in knowledge and marketing from a young age because there are limitless possibilities in a marketing career. So, keep blazing your marketing trails!” Kuldeep Sharma, Founder of Marketathon
Summary
Programs like Trailblazers in Campus and Marketathon are driving significant change within the Salesforce ecosystem, giving students the skills, knowledge, and opportunities they need to succeed.
These initiatives do not just teach – they inspire, connect, and open doors to exciting careers in Salesforce and marketing. With a clear vision for growth and commitment to making education accessible, these programs are showing what’s possible when education and industry work hand in hand.
