TruSummit Solutions, proudly a 100% woman-owned company headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, draws its strength from this very fact, fueling our unwavering commitment to empowering women and younger generations within the tech industry. This is why we’ve crafted this blog – to provide you with 7 invaluable tips and insights from the accomplished women of TruSummit, aimed at guiding your journey in the world of technology as a WIT (Woman In Tech).

TIP #1: Connect with Other Women in the Tech Field

In a rapidly evolving industry, networking is an invaluable tool. To thrive, seek out communities and individuals who share your aspirations and are eager to champion your goals. Consider exploring organizations like getWITit or your local WIT Salesforce User Group to offer you a powerful network of women in tech, resources, and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded professionals.

TIP #2: Discover Your Curiosity-Driven Tech Passion

Your newfound tech journey is more than just learning – it’s a chance to tap into what truly sparks your curiosity. There are FREE resources right at your fingertips, like Trailhead – an online platform that lets you take a deep dive into Salesforce! Now, you’ll not only grasp concepts but engage in hands-on experiences, putting your understanding to the test.

TIP #3: Unlock Professional Growth with a Mentor

Finding a mentor can be a valuable step in your personal and professional growth. A mentor can be the guiding light that fuels your professional growth journey, providing motivation and challenges that elevate your career.

Here are three quick tips to help you find a mentor:

1. Attend Networking Events: Attend conferences, workshops, user groups, and industry-specific events. These gatherings provide excellent opportunities to meet potential mentors who share your interests.
2. Utilize Online Platforms: Research on websites like LinkedIn, industry-specific forums, and other social media platforms to identify and connect with potential mentors.
3. Join a WIT Organization: Many organizations and professional associations offer formal mentorship programs and opportunities where you can be surrounded by experienced mentors to support you along your journey.

TIP #4: Reverse Engineer & Craft Your Skills for Success

Have you ever envisioned your dream job and wondered how to prepare yourself for it? Think of it as reverse engineering your career path, where you start with the end goal in mind and work backward to craft your skills for success. This approach can be a strategic and effective way to propel your career in the direction you desire.

Here are 5 steps on how to reverse engineer and tailor your skill set for your dream job:

1. Define Your Dream Job
2. Identify Your Skill Gaps
3. Seek Learning Opportunities
4. Set Clear Goals to Achieve
5. Measure Your Progress and Success

TIP #5: Embrace the Lessons of Mistakes and Fuel Your Growth

For women striving to enter the tech industry, it’s crucial not to be discouraged by the challenges. In a historically male-dominated field, obstacles are common, but they can be opportunities for growth. One of our team members, a woman in tech, faced adversity due to gender bias. Despite setbacks, she turned these experiences into opportunities for learning, adapting, and excelling.

Her lesson: “setbacks are stepping stones, not roadblocks.”

TIP #6: Develop Your Problem-Solving Prowess

In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry, one skill stands out as an absolute necessity: problem-solving. The ability to navigate complex issues, find innovative solutions, and adapt to new challenges is at the core of success in this field.

Here’s a look at how you can cultivate and sharpen your problem-solving prowess:

1. Identify the Problem: Clearly define what the problem is.
2. Break It Down: Take the time to break down the issue into its components, and ensure you understand the root causes and implications.
3. Research and Gather Information: Once you’ve identified the problem and broken it down, gather relevant data and information. Explore different perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
4. Embrace the Growth Mindset: Use a forward-thinking approach to encourage you to think creatively and outside the box.
5. Test and Iterate: Don’t be afraid to test potential solutions, even if they’re not perfect. Experimentation and iteration are essential in the tech world. Learn from failures and adjust your approach accordingly.
6. Practice Regularly: Problem-solving is a skill that improves with practice. Seek out opportunities to tackle puzzles, projects, or coding challenges that challenge your abilities.

TIP #7: Discover Non-Technical Avenues

In the realm of technology, success isn’t solely dependent on technical expertise. The tech industry offers a wide array of roles beyond coding and programming, where diverse skills are highly valued. Consider roles like Project Management, which are plentiful in this environment and demand skills beyond simply technical know-how. Embracing these non-technical avenues can open up exciting and fulfilling career opportunities in the tech world.

CONCLUSION: Thank You TruSummit Women

An applause and heartfelt gratitude to our extraordinary women and trailblazers within our team. Your contributions to this blog and your impactful role within our organization and the tech industry as a whole are truly commendable. Together, we hold the power to craft a tech community that is both diverse and empowered, a hub of innovation and inclusivity.

Are you seeking to be part of a team that treasures and welcomes women in the tech realm? Discover more about the exciting openings we have on our careers page: www.trusummitsolutions.com/careers.

About the Author

Nikki Holter is a dynamic and accomplished professional who serves as the Business Development & Marketing Manager at TruSummit Solutions.

The post Tech Transformation: Breaking Down Barriers with TruSummit Solutions’ Trailblazing Women appeared first on TruSummit Solutions.

Dealing with the ever-changing tech world and evolving industry needs can be a real headache for many companies, and their IT and executive leadership teams. Staying up to date means always checking out the newest and coolest solutions to remain competitive. If you’ve been on a team that utilizes software like Salesforce at some point in your career, or if you’re about to purchase it, you probably want to avoid the common pitfalls that can happen during big tech changes.

At TruSummit Solutions, we’re no strangers to helping out companies who’ve run into trouble with their software projects. Sometimes it’s just small tweaks, but other times it’s a big overhaul to fix problems like not enough people using the system, trouble connecting with other apps, or making it scale up. Along the way, we’ve picked up some handy tips for getting Salesforce implementation projects right from the get-go. In the sections ahead, we’ll dig into the top five reasons these projects can go sideways and share our team’s advice on how to steer clear or get back on track if you run into these common issues.

REASON #1: LACK OF VISION

Many companies often overlook this crucial step when acquiring enterprise software like Salesforce and underestimate the importance of having a vision in place before making the decision to purchase. A vision should serve as a guiding light, providing a sense of purpose and direction for the entire implementation process. Without a vision, organizations risk drifting aimlessly, making decisions based on short-term needs rather than long-term strategic goals, which will likely cause your software implementation to fail. 

Pro tip: Create a vision that not only clarifies your organization’s Salesforce objectives but also illuminates the transformation it will bring to your business processes, elevating customer relationships and catalyzing growth. As part of TruSummit’s Salesforce implementation services, our team would evaluate your existing processes, practices, and systems, facilitating a deep understanding that empowers your company to establish performance benchmarks. We also provide your team with a healthy blend of new concepts and proven solutions for improved processes that connect people to each other and to the information they need. If you embrace the vision with this forward-looking approach, you can seamlessly align your Salesforce investment with your strategic goals, resulting in enhanced utilization and an improved return on investment (ROI).

REASON #2: NO STRATEGIC ROADMAP

Poor business process design is a significant driver of failed Salesforce implementations. We notice some companies often times attempt to fit Salesforce into their existing processes without careful consideration or adaptation, it can lead to a multitude of issues. These include inefficiencies, data inaccuracies, and resistance from users accustomed to old workflows. This leads to stagnant user adoption and less willingness to utilize the system, which does the opposite of empowering users and will ultimately cause your software implementation to fail. 

Pro Tip: To avoid failure, it’s crucial to invest time in reevaluating and optimizing business processes to align with Salesforce’s capabilities. Engage stakeholders, assess current workflows, and leverage Salesforce’s customization features to create a system that mirrors your ideal processes while capitalizing on the platform’s strengths. Regular training, user involvement, and continuous process evaluation are key components of a successful Salesforce implementation that counters the pitfalls of poor business process design. As another option, TruSummit’s managed services can provide invaluable support in the aftermath of a poorly executed business process implementation or when an organization has evolved significantly since its initial Salesforce deployment. Our managed services offer a dynamic solution that enables you to continually refine and optimize your Salesforce org, ensuring success at every stage of your journey. Whether you’re grappling with the aftermath of a problematic implementation or adapting to the changing needs of your evolving company, our services allow you to build on your Salesforce platform seamlessly.

REASON #4: LOW USER ADOPTION AND UTILIZATION RATES

Low utilization rates and poor adoption of Salesforce within an organization can be attributed to a range of factors. Inadequate training often leaves employees struggling to navigate the system effectively, while a lack of user involvement during implementation can lead to disconnection. Resistance to change, particularly when employees are accustomed to existing tools and processes, can hinder acceptance.

Pro-Tip: To address these challenges and improve the utilization and adoption of Salesforce, companies should invest in a comprehensive training plan on when and who from an end-user perspective should be involved in the process. This will help you customize Salesforce to align with specific roles that will be using the system on a daily basis to accurately meet their needs and desires. At TruSummit, we embrace a proven approach that encompasses training, enablement, and scaling. Our commitment extends beyond traditional training; we aim to empower and invigorate our customers’ teams through hands-on education. We take pride in going the extra mile by providing enablement, ensuring that even as your organization faces future changes, you’ll possess the people, processes, and systems necessary to sustain long-term success effortlessly.

REASON #5: ATTEMPTING THE PROCESS ALONE

Taking on a Salesforce implementation without the guidance of experts or a trusted Salesforce partner is similar to attempting a challenging hike through unfamiliar terrain without a skilled guide. Just as you’d rely on an experienced guide to navigate treacherous paths and reach your destination safely, choosing the right Salesforce partner, such as TruSummit Solutions, is crucial.

Pro tip: Hire TruSummit Solutions and have a stress-free Salesforce. Our team can help you chart a clear path, avoid pitfalls, and develop a customized implementation strategy that ensures you reach your company’s goals with confidence and success. Click here to schedule your free Salesforce consultation.

CONCLUSION: ASK FOR HELP

If your company faces hurdles due to failed software Implementation, TruSummit Solutions, a certified Salesforce Partner, can help simplify, strategize, and leverage your Salesforce investment for long-term success. Our core values – Collaboration, Commitment, Passion, Aptitude- will guide you on your journey to Salesforce excellence. Let’s talk today about your implementation journey. Learn more about TruSummit Solutions.

 

About the Author

Nikki Holter is a dynamic and accomplished professional who serves as the Business Development & Marketing Manager at TruSummit Solutions. 

The post Pssst … Your Software Implementation Is Going to Fail. Here’s How We Know. appeared first on TruSummit Solutions.