As Dreamforce 2014, the biggest week of our lives approaches, Seismic is gearing up for all events and sessions the conference is expected to deliver. In particular, we are looking forward to hearing from some of technology and innovation’s brightest, including Salesforce.com’s CEO Marc Benioff and of course, Will.I.Am. Below are memorable quotes from five of Dreamforce’s finest.
“You must always be able to predict what’s next and then have the flexibility to evolve.” –Marc Benioff
When he founded Salesforce in 1999, cloud computing and sales tracking weren’t even blips on the horizon. Benioff was able to envision what others simply hadn’t: a way to revolutionize how businesses keep track of and interact with customers. Fast forward 15 years, and Salesforce.com has transformed from a groundbreaking idea to Forbes’s most innovative company three years in a row.
“If you’re going to be a leader, you have to carefully assess where people are and where people want to go.” –Hillary Clinton
It is immensely important for leaders, but especially business leaders, to understand the collective and individual goals of their employees. By doing so, leaders can make calculated decisions for entire organizations with the best interests in mind.
“The more we refuse to buy into our inner critics – and our external ones too – the easier it will get to have confidence in our choices.” –Ariana Huffington
As the founder of the Huffington Post, Ariana Huffington definitely saw her share of naysayers. But by going with her gut, she was able to create one of the most successful media groups in the world. Ignoring critics involves a constant process of growth. It does not happen overnight, especially if those critics are internal.
“You never need the perfect resume. You just need the right idea, the right timing, and the right context. The more you put yourself out there and try, the more likely you are to succeed.” –Jeremy Stoppelman
As the CEO and cofounder of Yelp, Stoppelman absolutely had the right idea at the right time. At the height of the internet boom, he saw the opportunity for a user-powered review community after having trouble finding recommendations for a doctor online. And while Stoppelman had a pretty impressive resume, he also had the right idea at the right time. That doesn’t sound too hard, right?
“Most kids are not dreaming of being programmers, scientists or engineers.” –Will.I.Am
For someone immensely successful in the music industry, Will.I.Am has a unique interest in a very different industry. The Black Eyed Peas member holds technology and computer science in very high regard. He has spoken out many times about the importance of children understanding computers and coding, because our world is so heavily dependent on this technology . As a Dreamforce keynote speaker, Will.I.Am is rumored to speak about the emergence of wearable technology.
It’s safe to say that Seismic is really excited for Dreamforce. We hope to see you there – come visit us at booth N1033!