Andrea Tarrell is 12X Salesforce Certified, a Salesforce MVP, and CEO of Sercante. At Sercante, Andrea built a strong culture of individuals who make marketing and sales teams wildly successful on the Salesforce platform. Andrea’s former colleagues, and clients can’t say enough great things about Andrea in the Salesforce Ecosystem, and as a leader overall. A Former colleague refers to Andrea as “thoughtful, strategic, and creative in her planning and stays involved in projects without veering into micromanagement territory. She understands her team's capabilities and provides the resources and support needed for the team to be successful...poised, polished, and approachable demeanor.” We were lucky enough to connect with Andrea briefly over her time in the Salesforce Community, and as a female leader:

Can you tell me a bit about what you do in the Salesforce Community and what your role is?

I'm the CEO of Sercante (a 40-person consulting firm) and the Founder of The Spot for Pardot. I've been a part of the Salesforce ecosystem for the last 11 years -- for the first 5 as a client, and for the most recent 6 working in agency and consulting roles. I'm also a Salesforce MVP and a Marketing Champion.

As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?

This is a tricky question. To answer it completely honestly -- I think I've been my own biggest barrier at many times in my career. We all carry some degree of fear, self-limiting beliefs, and narratives that don't serve us. Learning to recognize those and step into your own power is incredibly impactful.

Who inspires/inspired you and why?

The team at Sercante. We're on a journey of crazy growth -- and the team steps up to every challenge that comes our way with relentless zeal and commitment to wayfinding. I'm constantly in awe of what we're able to build together and the way the team "shows up hard" at every juncture.

What are some of the characteristics of a good leader?

A good leader asks great questions and has an open mind. A true leader believes in abundance, generosity, and looks for mutually beneficial paths to success.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Trust yourself. You can climb any mountain you want to. Early on in my journey I used to think there was someone else who knew the "right" answer for the challenges that I faced, and I would look externally to try to find solutions. The more I learn though, the more I realize that even the people I look up to most are still learning and figuring things out. Many times no one has the answer, and there's no silver bullet best practice that will guarantee success. That's simultaneously terrifying and exciting once you embrace that.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Hitting $1M the first year Sercante was in business. I set that as a goal, and somewhat sheepishly told people that was the intention I was working toward. Saying big goals out loud is hard and scary -- but when you choose to be bold and do it, it's amazing what people and synergies start popping out of the woodwork that help you bring that intention to life.

Where will we find you on a Saturday morning at 10 a.m.?

In bed. I love to sleep. It's truly underrated. It's a rare weekend that I'm out of bed before 11:30 / noonish.