Jessica Murphy is a 4x Salesforce MVP, Co-Founder of 100DaysofTrailhead, Founder of East First Consulting and so much more. Jessica is passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and actively speaks on encouraging diverse populations to obtain more technical skills, obtain new professional certifications, network, and advance their careers. A previous colleague of Jessica’s mentions “there are not enough kind words for an amazing person like Jessica. She has a beautiful heart, and it matches her IT talents superbly. She is a fierce advocate for women in tech, and she is relentless in making sure that minorities have a fair chance in the world of tech.” We were lucky enough to connect with Jessica 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 am the founder of East First Consulting, an organization focused on training and Salesforce implementations. In the Salesforce community I serve in several roles.
○ I am a co-founder of 100DaysofTrailhead
○ I am the DEI lead for RAD Women
○ I am a co-founder of Phoenix SalesforceSaturday
○ I am the co-leader of WITDEVS (Women in Tech Developers)
○ I am a co-host of a new WIT clubhouse called TechTeaTime.
As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
Although I am sure that I have experienced inequalities as a woman, these issues have been dwarfed by problems associated with intersectionality. I’ve seen more inequalities related to the fact that I am a Black person. While I have experienced issues like a man attempting to explain for me, I’ve had the experience of white women attempting to take credit for my work or attributing the angry black woman trope to me. I’ve interviewed for a position and was offered 50% of the salary that my white, female counterpart was offered for the same role although I was more qualified because I had a master’s degree and had completed two coding bootcamps. A white woman leader attempted to embarrass me by announcing that I didn’t know workflow at a developer group meeting. However, in a JavaScript workshop, she had no idea where to paste the code that we only needed to copy for the assignment. I have even been told not to start a consultancy because the competition would be too challenging. Thus, the issue seems more related to intersectionality instead of being solely based on being a woman.
Who inspires/inspired you and why?
I look up to SO many sheroes in and out of the Salesforce ecosystem! If I had to narrow it down to one person, I would probably say Oprah Winfrey. Oprah started from humble beginnings. She built her brand on helping others. Even in the midst of adversity, she chose to rise above. She gives to the community through scholarships, Oprah’s Angel Network and she even built a school. I respect the fact that she leads by example. Her actions match her words. She gives to others and lift other people up. I hope that I can leave a similar legacy.
What are some of the characteristics of a good leader?
A good leader:
○ Says the right words, but follow them with action
○ Cares about others
○ Knows that they don’t have to know everything
○ Respect’s others because they respect themselves
○ Creates other leaders
○ Creates a path for others (organizations, members, and communities) to succeed
○ Surrounds themselves with individuals who challenge them and make them better
○ Inspires others to be the best version of themselves
What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
The advice I would give to our future women leaders is you are enough. Your ideas and abilities are valuable and unique. Your contributions are valuable. Seek out good mentors and others who challenge you.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I am my ancestor’s wildest dream. I’ve moved across the country, traveled extensively, completed my graduate degree, graduated summa cum laude, had 2 successful careers, mentored, and helped others change careers, gotten multiple certifications, created and grown several organizations, spoken at conferences and to groups around the world, and have started my own consultancy.
Where will we find you on a Saturday morning at 10 a.m.?
Currently, you will likely find me preparing for our new WIT Clubhouse group, TechTeaTime. Our inaugural event was 3/6/21, and we’ve talked about Women’s History Month as well as Moms in Tech. Follow me on Twitter (@jessicarmurphy) or LinkedIn (in/jessicarmurphy/) where I post our Clubhouse invites.