More Than an Event… Finding My Way Back to Me

When I first joined the WITness Success team a few months ago, I honestly had no idea how much it would change me.

Like many great relationships, mine started with one person.

I met Stacey when my former colleague, Sean, introduced us. What began as conversations around supporting customers eventually became conversations about something much bigger—her passion for WITness Success and creating opportunities for women, allies, and our entire Salesforce community.

My previous company proudly sponsored WITness Success, and even after I moved on, Stacey remained someone who always believed in me. When she reached out earlier this year looking for help, my current organization immediately supported the idea. They knew the relationship mattered.

Looking back, that was the beginning of something I didn’t even realize I needed.

Sean always told me to invest in my ecosystem. He reminded me that it’s important to build relationships beyond my day job and to remember that my career is only one part of who I am. Those words stayed with me.

So I leaned in.

I joined Salesblazer. I volunteered. I accepted the opportunity to become Director of Sponsorships for WITness Success.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn about myself.

For years, I poured everything into everyone else.

As a former teacher, a mother of two amazing kids, someone who experienced pregnancy loss, someone who traveled constantly for work, I always believed success meant giving 110%.

One day my dad stopped me.

He said, “That’s impossible. You can only give 100%. There isn’t any more of you to give.”

I didn’t understand it then.

I do now.

If we can give 100% to our families, our careers, our customers, and our communities…we have to remember to give 100% to ourselves, too.

Walking into my first WITness Success conference, I thought I’d be focused on learning new Salesforce skills or networking.

Instead, I found something much more meaningful.

I found a community of people.

People who genuinely celebrate and uplift one another.

People who cheer for your wins without expecting anything in return.

People who remind you that there is room for everyone to succeed.

It honestly brought me back to being 19 years old—finding a community where you feel like you belong—but without the cliques, the competition, or the “mean girl” stereotypes people often expect.

Just support.

Just encouragement.

Just people helping people become better.

Being surrounded by some of the brightest minds in our ecosystem was inspiring, but what I’ll remember most wasn’t a keynote or a breakout session, although the content is excellent.

I’ll remember every conversation.

Every hug.

Every laugh.

Every reminder that we are stronger when we invest in one another.

As someone who has only been Director of Sponsorships for a short time, I’ve already learned more than I ever imagined. Each conversation, introduction, and small lesson has been another breadcrumb leading toward something bigger.

Those breadcrumbs are helping me bake the best loaf of bread possible for 2027.

Because now I understand what our sponsors receive.

Yes, they gain visibility.

Yes, they build relationships.

But more importantly…

They become part of something that changes people.

As we begin planning for 2027, I couldn’t be more excited.

If you’ve ever considered sponsoring WITness Success, I’d love to have a conversation. We’d love to highlight your organization, celebrate the impact you’re making, and welcome you into a community that gives so much more than it asks for.

This wasn’t just my first WITness Success.

It was the beginning of something I’ll carry with me for a very long time.

Thank you to Stacey, Sean, every volunteer, every sponsor, every speaker, every ally, and every person who made me feel like I belonged.

Here’s to growing together.

Here’s to 2027.

And here’s to investing in ourselves just as much as we invest in everyone else.

---