Community Stories & Insights

We always hear that relationships are critical. I think we all believe that statement to be true — but the challenge for many of us is finding the time to connect with those who enrich our journey. So often, our experiences limit us from making time to seek out those individuals who could inspire, motivate, and even stretch our thinking.

When I was a kid, I was bullied. There was a group of girls who every day made me their target. I learned early that relationships could wound deeply. But I also learned, over time, that the right relationships — built on trust, honesty, and mutual respect — could heal and transform.

"The quality of our relationships is a mirror of the work we've done on ourselves."

In the Salesforce nonprofit community, we talk a lot about collaboration and connection. But real connection requires self-reflection. It asks us to examine our own fears, biases, and patterns before we can truly show up for others. Girlforce has been a space where I've seen women do exactly that — look inward, grow, and then pour that growth back into the community.

Building a career in technology while serving nonprofits is demanding work. The relationships we cultivate — with mentors, peers, and friends — are not just nice-to-haves. They are the scaffolding that holds us up when the work gets hard and the path gets unclear. But those relationships only thrive when we're willing to do the inner work first.