Be More with Tom Bassett

In this episode of the Be More Podcast, Tom Bassett interviews Lilith Van Biesen, a Principal Architect Evangelist at Salesforce. They explore the multifaceted role of an architect within the Salesforce ecosystem, discussing the importance of communication, collaboration, and the various types of architects. Lilith shares her journey, insights on aspiring architects, and the skills necessary for success in this role. The conversation emphasizes the need for architects to balance technical expertise with business understanding and the value of community support.

In this episode of the Be More Podcast, host Tom Bassett chats with Philip Pan, Senior Product Designer at Salesforce Commerce Cloud, whose path to design began in a surprising place — the courtroom. Once a practicing attorney, Philip shares how the 2008 Financial Crisis prompted a bold career pivot toward something that brought him joy at a task level: making things. Now, with over a decade in software design and five years shaping user experiences at Salesforce, Philip reflects on how design blends creativity, empathy, and structure to build meaningful products that serve both business goals and human needs.Together, Tom and Philip unpack what it means to Be More Product Designer — exploring the role’s close collaboration with product managers, engineers, and content teams; the humility and long-view thinking it requires; and the evolving landscape of tools, AI, and accessibility. Philip offers candid advice for those starting out: focus on people, learn from those you admire, and remember that success should never come at the expense of kindness. This episode reminds us that great design isn’t just about pixels — it’s about purpose, persistence, and empowering others to do good work.

In this episode of Be More Podcast, I sit down with Jennifer Ndlovu — a passionate community leader — to explore what it means to Be More Africa Ohana. As the founder of the African Women in Salesforce community and a Trailblazer Community Leader in Zimbabwe, Jennifer shares her unique perspective on uniting, uplifting, and mentoring across the African continent and beyond. From blazing trails in tech to raising three sons and championing the boy child, she offers a deeply personal and powerful view of leadership, inclusion, and impact in the Salesforce ecosystem.Jennifer dives into how the Africa Ohana role connects with Admins, Consultants, and Community Leaders, explaining how it’s often embedded in multiple roles driven by heart and purpose. Listeners will gain insights into the essential attributes needed to foster unity and belonging, the advice she would give to others stepping into this mission, and what she wishes more people understood about the power of regional identity and representation. Tune in to hear how Jennifer’s work is reshaping the Salesforce landscape in Africa and discover how you can be part of the Ohana too.

In this episode of the Be More Podcast, host Tom Bassett sits down with Alice Jessop — author, canine massage therapist, and Salesforce Certified Sharing and Visibility Architect — to explore what it truly means to Be More Admin Secure. With a proven track record in designing robust security solutions for brand-new Salesforce orgs and managing the complexities of multi-org splits, Alice shares how the principle of least privilege and role-based access can transform the safety and scalability of your Salesforce environment. Whether you’re a full-time admin, a consultant wearing many hats, or simply the go-to security person on your team, Alice offers practical tips, hard-earned lessons, and guidance for anyone looking to level up their security skills.Listeners will discover how Admin Secure professionals collaborate across roles, the essential attributes for thriving in this space, and the common pitfalls to avoid when starting out. Alice also opens up about what she’d do differently if she could begin her journey again, and the one thing she wishes everyone understood about security in the Salesforce ecosystem. If you’re ready to strengthen your org and your career, this conversation will leave you both inspired and better equipped. Plus, don’t miss how you can connect with Alice and dive deeper into her work, including her book Salesforce Security: An Admin’s Guide.

In this episode of the Be More Podcast, I'm joined by the Janeen Marquardt for Be More Strategist. With over 15 years of experience driving digital transformation through Salesforce, Janeen shares what it really means to be a Strategist in the ecosystem blending technical expertise, business acumen, and fearless honesty to create impactful solutions. As someone who bridges the gap between non-technical stakeholders and technical teams, Janeen unpacks how this role intersects with Admins, Consultants, Architects, and beyond, often acting as the connective tissue between vision and execution.Janeen also offers candid advice for those aspiring to step into the Strategist role—what she’d do differently if she were starting again, the skills that matter most, and why being a truth-teller is a key part of strategic leadership. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just beginning your Salesforce journey, Janeen’s insights will leave you inspired to think bigger, lead with purpose, and bring others along with you.

In this episode of Be More, we sit down with Salesforce MVP, Trailblazer Community Forum Ambassador, and Salesblazer, Piyusha Pilania, to unpack what it really means to thrive in a Salesblazer role. With over a decade of Martech experience and 11X Salesforce certifications, Piyusha leads with empathy, agility, and vision—guiding Horizontal Digital’s Salesforce team while empowering trailblazers across APAC and beyond. She shares how the Salesblazer role intersects with admins, consultants, and marketers, offering powerful advice for anyone looking to step into the world of sales-driven Salesforce success.From writing Salesblazer blogs and leading community groups to advocating for women in rural India, Piyusha is proof that being a Salesblazer is as much about purpose as it is performance. Tune in as she reflects on the skills that matter most, what she wishes she’d known starting out, and the mindset that’s helped her spark change—both in the ecosystem and beyond.

In this episode of the Be More Podcast, host Tom Bassett is joined by Anna Shaffer to explore what it means to Be More Mentor. With over a decade of experience delivering impactful Salesforce solutions and leading with empathy and strategy, Anna unpacks how mentorship weaves into every role—whether you’re a product leader, admin, consultant, or developer. She shares how mentorship isn’t a job title but a mindset, embedded in everyday interactions that shape careers, confidence, and communities.Anna offers thoughtful guidance for those looking to step into mentoring, including how to lead with curiosity, listen with intention, and build spaces where others can grow. Reflecting on her journey, from building products to leading Women in Tech communities, she opens up about what she would do differently, what it truly takes to be an impactful mentor, and why mentorship is more accessible than many think. Whether you’re looking to find a mentor or become one, this episode will leave you energized to lift others as you climb.

In this episode of Be More Podcast, I sit down with Oleh Mykytyn, Chief Growth Officer (CGO) at Redtag, to explore the role of a CGO within the Salesforce ecosystem. With over nine years of experience spanning from developer to executive leadership, Oleh shares how strategic growth, innovation, and AI-driven transformation come together in his role to unlock business value with Salesforce. As a Salesforce MVP, certified Application Architect, and Community Leader, he offers rich insights into how CGOs collaborate across roles, drive scalable solutions, and inspire teams to deliver customer success at speed.Oleh also opens up about the path to becoming a CGO—how this leadership role can evolve from consulting and technical foundations, what key skills are essential, and what he would do differently if he were starting over. Tune in to learn how to lead with purpose, deliver impact, and fuel your growth journey in the Salesforce ecosystem and beyond.

In this episode of the Be More Podcast, host Tom Bassett sits down with Bradley Rice to explore what it truly means to Be More Freelancer in the Salesforce ecosystem. Bradley shares his journey, the unique dynamics of working independently, and how freelancers collaborate with other roles. From breaking down misconceptions to offering practical, real-world advice for aspiring freelancers, this episode is packed with valuable insights and honest reflections.Whether you’re curious about stepping into freelancing or want to better understand how freelancers fit into the broader Salesforce, Slack, Tableau, and Mulesoft landscape, this conversation sheds light on the skills, mindset, and flexibility needed to thrive. Bradley also shares what he would do differently if starting over, the power of community, and how to find your niche in a fast-evolving ecosystem.

Behind every breakout presentation, there’s a Stage Mom—and in the Salesforce ecosystem, no one embodies that better than Tristan Lombard. Join us for a heartwarming, hilarious, and insight-packed conversation that lifts the curtain on what it really means to be the ultimate cheerleader, connector, and community amplifier.In this session, Tristan introduces us to the Stage Mom role—an unofficial but essential force behind countless success stories in tech and beyond. We’ll explore how this role weaves into other jobs like Consultant, Admin, Advocate, and Community Leader; why emotional intelligence and hype skills matter just as much as technical ones; and what it really takes to support others while staying true to yourself.