Salesforce has evolved from being a cloud SFA tool in 1999 to THE Enterprise CRM platform in 2010, to become the premier development environment that enterprises use to build their mission-critical sales, marketing, customer service business systems, workflows, and processes.
Attending Dreamforce is a must for anyone in the SaaS business ecosystem, even if you are a CRM vendor like myself.
Why you may ask? Because it’s the largest gathering of editors, analysts, bloggers, influencers, developers, Independent Software Vendors and resellers in the world.
It’s a fishbowl of business development for anyone involved in cloud business software.
To get ready, read our #DF18 sister post How to be a Nimble Networker at #DF18 and follow our Dreamforce 2018 Twitter list which you can import into your free trial of Nimble and immediately engage at scale with our Nimble/Salesforce integration along with 100+ other in-app integrations.
BTW, let me introduce myself. My name is Jon Ferrara. I helped pioneer CRM and contact management with GoldMine CRM, a company I co-founded before many of today’s CRMs existed. I am currently the CEO and founder of Nimble – The simple smart CRM that works for you everywhere you work. Built for Office 365 and G Suite.
I respect and admire what Marc Benioff and his team have built at Salesforce and consider Dreamforce to be the premier enterprise software event of the year.
That’s why I created a list of people to network with at Dreamforce to help anyone attending to identify the most influential cross-section of key contacts to connect with. It’s a mix of Sales and CRM people including key Salesforce team members and its constituencies.
Collage created using TurboCollage software from www.TurboCollage.com
In alphabetical order, 70 influencers I’ll be following at Dreamforce 2018:
To Dreamforce 2018! Everybody have a great time!
Vala Afshar
Chief Digital Evangelist
Salesforce
@ValaAfshar – Chief Digital Evangelist @Salesforce | Blog: @HuffPost @ZDNet | Show: @DisrupTVShow | Book: bit.ly/tposbe
Ryan Aytay
SVP Alliances & Strategy
Salesforce
@ryanaytay – Head of Global Business Development @Salesforce. Former @Salesforce M&A, Ventures, and Deloitte Consultant
John Barrows
Owner
JBarrows Sales Training
@JohnMBarrow Sales Trainer to the world’s fastest growing companies. Published Author in Inc., Huffington Post, Forbes & Fortune.
Marc Benioff
CEO
Salesforce
@Benioff – [email protected]
Eric Berridge
CEO
Bluewolf
@ericberridge – CEO, @bluewolf an @IBM company, first @salesforce Global Strategic partner, TED speaker, + Author of Customer Obsessed: httpbit.ly/2kLfF8i #ArtistsForHire
Trish Bertuzzi
Chief Executive Officer
The Bridge Group, Inc.
@bridgegroupinc – Sales Development & Inside Sales Thinker, Writer, Builder. Passionate about all things related to phone, web and social prospecting
Adam Blitzer
Co-founder of Pardot
EVP & GM of Sales Cloud at Salesforce
@AdamBlitzer – Co-founder of Pardot; EVP & GM of Sales Cloud at Salesforce
Keith Block
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Salesforce
@KeithBlock – Co-CEO @Salesforce. Boston sports fan, love history, fan of Eddie, Joe, Bruce, and the dropkicks
Karly Bolton
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Salesforce
@karlybolton – PR @salesforce. San Francisco enthusiast hailing from the greatest city on earth.
Ryan Bonnici
CMO
G2Crowd
@ryanbonnici – Ryan is a widely recognized thought leader, published by @Entrepreneur @HarvardBiz & other sites // Ex- @HubSpot @Salesforce @ExactTarget @Microsoft @Qantas
Tiffani Bova
Vice President, Distinguished Analyst and Research Fellow
Salesforce
@Tiffani_Bova – Growth & Innovation Evangelist @Salesforce | Book: Growth IQ | Podcast: What’s Next! | Thinking About & Sharing Bold Ideas | #Sales #CX #GrowthIQ
Heidi Bullock
CMO
Engagio
@HeidiBullock – Marketer, Tech Enthusiast. CMO @engagio, former GVP global marketing @marketo
Tim Clarke
Sr. Director Product Marketing
Salesforce
@TimxClarke – Sr. Director Product Marketing @Salesforce responsible for @SalesforceCPQ. Created #SalesMachine & @Quotable. @Arsenal & @SoulCycle fan
Peter Coffee
VP for Strategic Research
Salesforce
@petercoffee – I work with app developers and CIOs to build a global community of innovation, service and success
Robert DeSisto
Chief Value Officer
Salesforce
@RobDesisto – Chief Value Officer, Salesforce
Larry Dignan
Global Editor in Chief
ZDNet
@ldignan – Global Editor in Chief, ZDNet, a CBS Interactive property
Brent Downey
Salesforce Consultant
ShellBlack.com
@brentdowney – @salesforce MVP, http://AdminHero.com blogger and Coloradan. Husband. Father. Prone to fits of uncontrollable laughter
Chris Duarte
Vice President, Trailhead
Salesforce
@TheChrisDuarte – VP, @trailhead Content at @salesforce. Opinions here are my own
Zoli Erdos
Publisher, Editor
Enterprise Irregulars, Cloud Ave
@ZoliErdos | Editor / Publisher, CloudAve & Enterprise Irregulars. Software Industry Commentator. Former life: SAP, Deloitte, IBM
Michael Fauscette
Chief Research Officer
G2 Crowd
@mfauscette | chief research officer G2 Crowd, biz software, social tech, digital xformation, professional speaker, blogger, photographer, writer
Mike Gerholdt
Director, Admin Evangelism
Salesforce
@MikeGerholdt – @Salesforce Admin Evangelist empowering others to learn & make the world a better place | Lead foot Mopar owner
Erica Stone Gilbert
Sr. Salesforce & Marketing Automation Administrator, Platform Analyst
Brunswick Boat Group
@resplendentlyme – NPO President | L3C Co-Founder | Sr Salesforce/Pardot Admin & SFDC UG Co-Leader | Eloqua/Marketo/Pardot PM | Sushi & Cupcake Foodie | INFJ
Nana Gregg
Vice President, Senior Salesforce Administrator
JLL
@nanahg3 – Quirky Mom, @Salesforce MVP, Love karaoke, yoga, audiobooks & vlookups. F4 Tornado Survivor 12/26/15!
Paul Greenberg
Managing Principal
The 56 Group
@pgreenbe – All things customer-facing; author, consultant, speaker. Loves family, friends, all animals and, of course, the NY Yankees
Jeff Grosse
Managing Consultant – Service and Support
Appirio
@CRMFYI – Salesforce MVP, Service Cloud egghead for @appirio, as well as Disney freak (churros anyone?) and @Evernote geek
Atul Gupta
Founder and Salesforce Consultant
Cloud Vandana Solutions
@atul31gupta – #Salesforce MVP | 8X | Founder #CloudVandana Solutions | #SalesforceSaturday | @newdelhisfdcdug| #Simplilearn #Salesforce Course Designer
Rakesh Gupta
Senior Software Engineer
AtoZdatabases
@rakeshistom – Author | 4x Salesforce MVP | Salesforce Architect | #SalesforceCoach | #Blogger@Automationchamp | @SFDC_MumbaiLeader | @Pardot Expert
Parker Harris
Co-Founder, EVP Technology
Salesforce
@parkerharris
Richard Harris
Chief Executive Officer
Harris Consulting
@rharris415 – CEO of Harris Consulting Group & Head of #Salestraining @SalesHacker Top 25 Inside #Sales Leader 3 yrs in a row, Husband, Father, & Springsteen Fan
Dion Hinchcliffe
Vice President and Principal Analyst
Constellation Research
@dhinchcliffe | Thinker, strategist, enterprise architect, keynote speaker, analyst, book author, futurist on IT, #EnSw, #digitalworkplace, #cx, #cio. @Constellationr @ZDNet
Megan Heuer
Vice President, Research
SiriusDecisions
@megheuer – It’s all about the customer. Always has been. B-to-B therapist @SiriusDecisions. I help b2b deliver & measure results. Recipes @frommegskitchen
Jesus Hoyos
Managing Director
Solvis Consulting
@jesus_hoyos | Managing Director, Solvis Consulting. CRM Consultant, Speaker & Influencer. Currently working on CRM and Marketing Automation engagements.
Vanessa Hunt
Marketing & CRM Consultant
Vanessa Hunt Consulting
@Trainer_CRM – Quadrilingual #Marketing & #CRM Consultant. #Speaker #Blogger #Author of Facebook Inspiration amzn.to/2uAPkiy #CMO
Judith Hurwitz
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hurwitz & Associates
@jhurwitz – author, software industry thought leader, consultant, industry analyst on cloud, big data, analytics, machine learning, Cognitive computing + customer benefit
Charlie Isaacs
Vice President, CTO for Customer Connection
Salesforce
@Charlieisaacs – VP, CTO for Customer Connection at @salesforce – I help Connect Customers and their Products. #Ally #IoT #Diversity#STEAM #Inclusion #SalesforceOhana
Michael Krigsman
Industry Analyst
CXOTALK
@mkrigsman | Industry Analyst / keynote speaker; WSJ contributor | Show: @cxotalk | Blog: @zdnet | Referenced in the media 1000+ times and in 50 books
Evan Kirstel
Social Media Business Strategist
UCStrategies.com
@evankirstel – #B2B #Digital #Influencer Helping clients w #SocialMediaMarketing in #IoT #Cloud#Telecom #IT #mobile, I’m at #ATTbizsummit
Phil Komarny
Vice President, Innovation
Salesforce
@PhilKomarny – VP, Innovation http://Salesforce.com | Past lives… #CDO @UTSystem | #CEO@RobotsnPencils | #CIO @SetonHill – Who Dares Wins
Erica Kuhl
Vice President, Community
Salesforce
@ericakuhl – Vice President, Community at Salesforce | cyclist | runner | ski bum | wife | mom | these words are my own
Brent Leary
Partner
CRM Essentials
@BrentLeary – A guy trying to make sense of it all
Mitch Lieberman
Analyst, Program Director – Conversational Intelligence
Opus Research
@mjayliebs – Husband, Dad, Brother, Cycler and Hack Photographer – Conversational Intelligence, Conversational Commerce #IA #ChatBots #AI, #ML #CX #Analyst
Jason M. Lemkin
Founder and Trusted Advisor
SaaStr
@jasonlk – SaaS enthusiast @SaaStr + $90m @SaaStrFund. CoFounder/CEO EchoSign (@AdobeDocCloud). VP Web Biz @Adobe. Also built implantable nanobatteries that saved lives
Jim Lundy
Chief Executive Officer & Lead Analyst
Aragon Research
@JimLundy – CEO & Lead Analyst at Aragon. We cover the Digital Workplace: AI, Collaboration, BPM, RPA, Video, Content, Learning/Talent, Sales/Marketing. Sigma Chi alum
Charlene Li
Principal Analyst
Altimeter Group
@charleneli | Helping leaders thrive with disruption as a Principal Analyst at Altimeter, a Prophet Company. Author, Engaged Leader & Open Leadership, Co-Author Groundswell
Mike Merrill
Sr. Account Executive, Strategic Enterprise Retail
Salesforce
@mikedmerrill | Sr. Enterprise Account Exec. for Strategic Retail @Salesforce, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, Identical Twin, Cyclist, Chief Bacon Maker
Michael Maoz
Senior Vice President, Innovation Strategy
Salesforce
@mimaoz – SVP Innovation Strategy, Salesforce. Former Gartner VP Distinguished Analyst and Fellow
Laurie McCabe
Co-Founder
SMB Group
@lauriemccabe – IT analyst; Co-founder, SMB Group. Passionate about helping SMBs and entrepreneurs apply tech solutions to grow their businesses
William Moxley
SVP Product Management for Sales Cloud
Salesforce
@wjmoxley – SVP Product Management for Sales Cloud @Salesforce.com
Nancy Nardin
Founder
Smart Selling Tools, Inc.
@sellingtools – We give fast, actionable advice on how to build a #salestech strategy for killer sales growth. On Forbes Top 30 Social Selling thought leader list
Jeff Nolan
Chief Marketing Officer
Kahuna
@jeffnolan – Bay Area native, urban farmer, gear head… oh yeah, I know a lot about building teams and marketing enterprise technology
Amy Oplinger
Owner
SaaSy Solutions, LLC
@SalesforceAmy – @Salesforce MVP | Freelance Consultant | @Dreamforce #Speaker | @GifSquad_c | #OhanaChai | #CLE Women In Tech Leader | @SFIndiaDreamin Core Team
Sameer Patel
@sameerpatel – CEO @Kahuna, the consumer engagement platform used by iconic marketplaces – classifieds, consumer services, ride sharing. Formerly GM @SAP/SuccessFactors
Daniel Peter
Salesforce Advisor, Developer and Architect
Independent Consultant
@danieljpeter – @salesforce MVP | Bay Area #SalesforceDeveloper Group Leader | /salesforce.com MacGyver | @Dreamforce | TrailheaDX
Natalie Petouhoff
Vice President, Customer Service Innovation
Salesforce
@drnatalie = 1 of 250 Top Most Influential Women, voted Top Social Media, #Custserv & CRM Professionals; VP, Service Cloud Salesforce
Denis Pombriant
Managing Principal
Beagle Research Group
@DenisPombriant – Software industry analyst, author, and award winning blogger. The Age of Sustainability
Jon Reed
Co-Founder
Diginomica
@jonerp – Diginomica co-founder + Enterprise Irregular who blogs/videocasts on the enterprise, w/ dash of bootstrappin’ + media hacks. OK, I rant sometimes.
Michael T. Rose
Director, Solutions Engineering
Salesforce
@MikeTRose – SE manager @salesforce, tech writer & editor, podcast co-host @the_aftershow, husband of @heidihoover (rabbi of @bshert_brooklyn) & dad. @TUAW 2006-2015
Sean Leo Ryan
Director of Strategic Services, Salesforce Success Cloud
Salesforce
@seanleoryan – Customer experience, cloud platforms, business model innovation, digital disruption, and seeking awesome
Tim Sanders
Keynote Speaker and CEO
Deeper Media, Inc.
@sanderssays – New York Times bestselling author of Love Is the Killer App. Divi Project advisor. Advocate of collaboration
Meredith Schmidt
EVP Salesforce Essentials & Small and Medium Business
Salesforce
@MeredSchmidt – EVP Salesforce Essentials & Small and Medium Business, @Salesforce. Love to cook, travel, and spend time with my King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Baxter
Robert Stutz
CEO Marketing Cloud and Chief Analytics Officer
Salesforce
@rlstutz | CEO Marketing Cloud and Chief Analytics Officer, Salesforce.com. Life is all about the relationships we build & keep over time
Rich Simmonds
Rule Breaker and Change Maker
Disruptive Dynamics
@RichSimmondsZA – Father | Professional Keynote Speaker & Facilitator | Disruptor, RuleBreaker & ChangeMaker | Top 20 Global Online Influencer | Bitcoin Opportunities | Author
John Taschek
Senior Vice President, Strategy
Salesforce
@jtaschek – Communications, market, competitive, influence, strategy @salesforce since 2003. Aspire to be a seething mass of enlightenment
Michael Tchong
Founder
Ubercool Innovation
@ubercool – Inspirational speaker, analyst, professor, entrepreneur and author, specializing in innovation and trends
Bob Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
CustomerThink, Corp
@Bob_Thompson | CustomerThink founder and global evangelist for customer-centric business. Buzzwords (CRM, CEM and Social Business) optional
Leslie Tom
Senior Vice President, AppExchange Marketing
Salesforce
@lesliejtom – SVP, AppExchange Marketing & Programs. Trusted advisor and advocate for our partners and AppExchange for 13 amazing years at Salesforce
Alex Toussaint
VP Products Einstein Analytics
Salesforce
@alextoussaint – VP Products Einstein Analytics @Salesforce
Brian Vellmure
Managing Partner, Ignite
Salesforce
@BrianVellmure | I help bold leaders design a better future
Gabe Villamizar
Global Sales Evangelist
Lucid Chart
@gabevillamizar – Global Sales Evangelist at @Lucidchart. Check it http://Lucidchart.com/sales
Ray Wang
CEO
Constellation Research
@rwang0 – @ConstellationR CEO, CoHost @DisrupTVShow, @PCI_Initiative, BestSelling @HarvardBiz Author, Keynoter, Futurist, Provocateur, EDM DJ #Foodie #SVLife
