International Day of Women and Girls in STEM: 3 Salesforce women share their inspiring stories

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Who or what inspired your entry into tech, and why did you choose the Salesforce path?

Maria Durão, Business Analyst
A: I was always good at math and physics, so, early on, I aimed for engineering. My brother, who is an Electrical Engineer also inspired me. I considered mechanical engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering. I entered the science faculty for an engineering course focused on cybersecurity. Later, I pursued electrical engineering, but at the end of my degree, I had to choose my career, so I asked myself – what will I do now? I couldn’t see myself doing something directly related to electronics in the future, at least not for now. Then the name “Salesforce” came up. A friend of my brother works in a company that specializes in Salesforce, so I talked with him to get more info and became very curious about it. I started as an Academy Trainee aiming to be a developer, but now I am a Business Analyst.

Laura Rodrigues, Business Analyst
A: I used to work in tourism during the pandemic and got interested in other fields, and this was one with more opportunities then. Considering my profile, I thought it suited me. I lacked the technical part, didn’t understand it, and ventured into this with doubts. I never thought about who dominated the field; if I want something, I go for it! I did trailheads and joined Salesforce groups in Portugal. In meetings, I was almost always the only woman.

Mariana Gouveia, Developer
A: I have always been torn between science and art. On one hand, I was passionate about drawing and painting. On the other hand, I was interested in exploring nature and uncovering the reasons behind things. When it came the time to choose, I thought, “For art, I have my brushes, paints, and canvases, but no one has a laboratory at home.” That’s how my adventure in science began. I worked on research projects, analyzed DNA, studied human evolution and forest growth, and won awards. It wasn’t until my twelfth year that I discovered the best way to combine science and art was through technology. I pursued computer engineering and multimedia, surprising everyone, but it gave me the “brush” of programming to bring my ideas to life. During my course, I started learning about Salesforce from friends working in the field, which gradually piqued my curiosity. It was at the Stellaxius Academy that I was given the wings to make it happen.

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If you could advise your younger self at the beginning of your career, what would you say?

Maria Durão, Business Analyst
A: I’ve been at Stellaxius for 1 year, and since then I changed a lot; I was a way more timid person. To the outside world, I’m a “butterfly,” but in the work context, I’m very reserved. Stellaxius helped me, by challenging me to overcome my insecurities, especially when I joined a support project, dealing directly with clients and showing professionalism. The advice I would give to my younger self is to trust my abilities, not be afraid to ask questions in daily life, and lose shyness.

Laura Rodrigues, Business Analyst
A: Always trust me and always fight! Seek out people who can help you and help them too. Don’t worry about receiving anything in return. For example, look at the example with the balance ball. If you move towards one side, as reaction comes back by itself with the same amount of balls in the opposite direction. The universe always gives back in some form.

Mariana Gouveia, Developer
A: I would probably say, “Relax and remember that everything has a solution. If you think it doesn’t, it’s because it’s already solved.” A teacher told me that.

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What has been the most exciting/memorable moment of your career so far?

Maria Durão, Business Analyst
A:I am still at the beginning of my career, but the most memorable moment was probably moving from the Academy/Internal Projects into the customer support project, which was very challenging. In a short time, I became the spokesperson for Stellaxius. This is where I started developing my communication soft skills. Then another project came up, and I ended up becoming a Business Analyst (BA). I started in Stellaxius as a Developer, then a Consultant and now I am a full-time BA. You can say that I’m kind of a chameleon.

Laura Rodrigues, Business Analyst
A: Before coming to Portugal, I worked in Romania in the hospitality sector, and many people marked my personal and professional development. I worked in Marketing and telecommunications and then for Salesforce. The most memorable moments are when I get certifications and when projects go well, achieving milestones within the project, and gaining self-motivation with successful cases. When the client succeeds!

Mariana Gouveia, Developer
A: I have been in this career for only a few months, but I am happy to answer this question already. I have experienced several memorable moments, but what struck me the most was being trusted to design the pages of the application I am working on.

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Were there any misconceptions or stereotypes about women in STEM that you had to overcome, and how did you tackle them?

Maria Durão, Business Analyst
A: In college, I didn’t experience any different treatment. I studied for an engineering degree where the number of female students is very low. Whenever I used to tell someone that I was studying Electrotechnical Engineering, they would say “Isn’t that a course for men? Don’t you feel pressure being one of the only girls?” But even though in some classes I was almost the only girl, I knew I had the capabilities that others had. At Stellaxius, I never felt any discomfort or the typical prejudice that women have to go through in tech. And something very noticeable in this company is that there are many female managers!

Laura Rodrigues, Business Analyst
A: In other areas, like hospitality, I felt it, but not in Salesforce.

Mariana Gouveia, Developer
A: During my university journey, I encountered comments such as “Computer Science is a course for men,” “You’re the only girl, so you handle the report while we do the programming,” and “You don’t look like you belong in computer science.” Contrary to what might be expected, these comments only fueled my determination to prove that I could be a programmer. At Stellaxius, I never experienced discrimination, and it’s inspiring to know that there is approximately a 50% balance between women and men.

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What advice would you give young girls interested in pursuing a career in science or technology but might feel discouraged by societal expectations?

Maria Durão, Business Analyst
A: Don’t ever pay attention to the opinion of people who say things like “This is a man/woman job”. Don’t doubt your capacities, because we can achieve anything we put our minds to (this is applicable for both men and women). Oh, and you’ll be surprised by the number of female manager positions – the world is changing!

Laura Rodrigues, Business Analyst
A: Try various things, take a kind of “quiz” to understand where you fit in Salesforce. Consistency, persistence, and patience – the path is not easy… persevere! Ignore social expectations regarding this; this issue is heavily fueled, and we shouldn’t feed the disparities in the technical world. It only continues if women allow it!

Mariana Gouveia, Developer
A: There are no jobs specifically for men or women, only for people. Follow what makes you happy, fight for your goals, and persevere when facing obstacles.

Let these stories serve as an inspiration for all young girls to pursue their passions without hesitation. The future of science and technology is undoubtedly brighter when diversity, innovation, and equality converge. The narratives of Maria, Laura, and Mariana remind us that the journey may have challenges, but the destination is worth every step.

If you wish to know more about Stellaxius’ social responsibility efforts, check out our articles about Social Responsibility: our commitment to the world and Stellaxius DNA: we are made of this.