Skip to content
DevOps Diaries cover art

Jack McCurdy

DevOps Diaries

A Technology podcast

Good podcast? Give it some love!

About the show

DevOps Diaries, brought to you by Gearset, is the podcast for Salesforce professionals to hear stories from folks in the Trailblazer ecosystem responsible for delivering awesome Salesforce implementations — the trials, tribulations, and successes. Hosted by Jack McCurdy.

Newest episodes

081 — The AI advice every Salesforce team needs.

37 min

Stick around until the end of the epiosde for a special message from Jack! Tune in to the full episode for clips from some of the brilliant guests in 2026, discussing their advice for succeeding in Salesforce's AI-forward era.  With the AI landscape changing, this is the advice for Salesforce professionals that's relevant now, and always will be.

080 — A DevOps engineer on DevOps engineering

46 min

What if the ultimate goal of a great DevOps engineer is to make yourself unnecessary? Jack sits down with Alex Louderback, Salesforce DevOps engineer and the voice behind The Developer's Developer blog, to unpack what happens when you do your job so well someone else takes it over.  Alex and Jack dive into why mapping the human process always comes before touching a single tool, the security risks lurking when AI-generated changes skip proper governance, and Alex's hot take on flow testing. They also get into the real story of turning a Gearset skeptic into the team's number one promoter. 

079 — Customer zero: building with Cam, the Gearset agent!

37 min

Agentic change for Salesforce, from Gearset. Jack sits down with Florence and Katharine, Commercial Operations Analysts who look after Gearset's internal Salesforce org, to talk about what's changed since they started building directly with Gearset's newly released agent, Cam.  Florence had never touched Salesforce 12 months ago, now she's shipping changes to production within 24 hours. Katharine, who's worked on Gearset's Salesforce org from inception, digs into the process that keeps it all safe, the hidden dependencies the agent catches, and why "job to be done" thinking matters more than ever when tickets doesn't speak the whole truth. Tune in to hear what it's really like being customer zero.

Similar podcasts

All episodes

081 — The AI advice every Salesforce team needs.

37 min

Stick around until the end of the epiosde for a special message from Jack! Tune in to the full episode for clips from some of the brilliant guests in 2026, discussing their advice for succeeding in Salesforce's AI-forward era.  With the AI landscape changing, this is the advice for Salesforce professionals that's relevant now, and always will be.

080 — A DevOps engineer on DevOps engineering

46 min

What if the ultimate goal of a great DevOps engineer is to make yourself unnecessary? Jack sits down with Alex Louderback, Salesforce DevOps engineer and the voice behind The Developer's Developer blog, to unpack what happens when you do your job so well someone else takes it over.  Alex and Jack dive into why mapping the human process always comes before touching a single tool, the security risks lurking when AI-generated changes skip proper governance, and Alex's hot take on flow testing. They also get into the real story of turning a Gearset skeptic into the team's number one promoter. 

079 — Customer zero: building with Cam, the Gearset agent!

37 min

Agentic change for Salesforce, from Gearset. Jack sits down with Florence and Katharine, Commercial Operations Analysts who look after Gearset's internal Salesforce org, to talk about what's changed since they started building directly with Gearset's newly released agent, Cam.  Florence had never touched Salesforce 12 months ago, now she's shipping changes to production within 24 hours. Katharine, who's worked on Gearset's Salesforce org from inception, digs into the process that keeps it all safe, the hidden dependencies the agent catches, and why "job to be done" thinking matters more than ever when tickets doesn't speak the whole truth. Tune in to hear what it's really like being customer zero.

078 — A beginners guide to great Salesforce DevOps

38 min

Salesforce DevOps doesn't have to be difficult. Patrick Müeller joins Jack on DevOps Diaries to discuss why. They get into why implementing a Salesforce DevOps tool is the easy part compared to getting a whole team on board, why admins are understandably terrified of version control and Salesforce metadata, and how feature flags and smaller releases stop users from feeling overwhelmed by change. They also talk through using AI, including Gearset's org intelligence, to make sense of a Salesforce org that's a decade or more old. Tune in to hear Patrick's refreshingly unfussy advice for anyone just starting their DevOps journey.

077 — Why Data 360 is the real Agentforce challenge!

44 min

Claudia shares her three-step playbook for starting your Agentforce journey on solid ground. Think Agentforce is the hard part? For most teams, it's the warm-up act. Jack sits down with Claudia McPhail, a seven-year Gearset veteran who's gone from customer support engineer to Product Manager leading Agentforce and Data 360 support, to unpack why so many rollouts stall the moment data hygiene enters the chat.  They dig into the real economics of consumption credits, why small, shippable agents beat ten-agent moonshots, and why deploying agents straight to production is a habit worth breaking. Claudia also gets into why the pace of change (goodbye Agent Planner, hello Agent Script) is reshaping what "expertise" means.

076 — Say goodbye to Salesforce project failures.

1 hr 3 min

If you've ever wondered why a project you worked incredibly hard on didn't land the way you hoped, this one's for you. Dan's whole career has been shaped trying to solve one of the biggest challenges in the Salesforce ecosystem: organisations pour blood, sweat and tears into Salesforce implementations and change programs, and then nobody uses them. The training was great, the tech was great, but nobody took the time to treat the people going through the change like actual humans. here are no pipeline diagrams or deployment strategies here. Instead, Dan and Jack get into the real reasons Salesforce adoption fails. Grief, identity, burnout, and the gap between what executives think they're building and what end users actually experience.  Dan shares his heart, head and hand framework, the four Ps every leader needs to communicate before a go-live, and why the people who resist change the hardest are often your most valuable allies.

075 — Why community is essential in Salesforce's AI-forward future

43 min

Jack sits down with Denise Carbone, two-decade Salesforce veteran, MVP, co-leader of the Chicago Admin User Group, and Director of Delivery at ImagineCRM.  Denise has seen more of this ecosystem than almost anyone. From the pre-Trailhead days of learning through user groups, to the Lightning migration wars, to where we are now with AI reshaping what it means to work in Salesforce. Her perspective is hard-won, warm, and reassuring for anyone feeling uncertain about what comes next. The conversation covers how to build a network with intention rather than just collecting LinkedIn connections, why domain knowledge is a bigger differentiator than most people realise, and why the business analyst mindset (process first, technology second) has never been more valuable than it is right now.  Denise shares how her team is actually using AI in delivery work today, closes with a reflection on what corporations can learn from the mission-driven focus of the nonprofit world.

074 — Make SOX audits easy with Salesforce DevOps!

39 min

Jack sits down with Tapan Patel, Gearset DevOps Leader for 2026 and DevOps Lead for the Salesforce practice at Braze, a publicly traded omnichannel platform where every change management decision is subject to SOX audit scrutiny.  Tapan brings a rare blend of project delivery experience, release management rigour, and genuine passion for building DevOps not just as a set of processes, but as a culture. The episode is a masterclass in phased, people-first DevOps rollout. Tapan walks through exactly how he's taken Braze from change sets and manual deployments to a governed, audit-ready CI/CD pipeline over the past year and a half — breaking it down into four distinct phases and sharing what actually worked, what took longer than expected, and where he's headed next. Tapan shares his rounded take on AI, including where it's already adding value in the pipeline today, why agentic autonomy in prod is still a way off, and how Claude, Jira and Gearset's reporting API are becoming a powerful combination for DevOps KPI tracking. 00:01 – Intro & Meet Tapan Patel 00:40 – Tapan's Journey: From Data & Analytics to Salesforce DevOps 02:12 – What DevOps Actually Means as an Organisational Culture 04:10 – DevOps in a SOX-Audited, Publicly Traded Company 05:10 – The State of DevOps at Braze When Tapan Joined 08:14 – Shifting Mindsets From Change Sets to a DevOps Tool 10:32 – Precision Deployments: Why Page Layouts Break Everything 11:49 – Stakeholder Visibility & the Value of Issue Tracking Integration 13:36 – What Tapan Values Most About Gearset 15:53 – The Four Phases of CI/CD Rollout at Braze 19:16 – Phase Two: Stabilisation & SOX Integration 20:30 – Phase Three: Automation Layers & QA Integration 21:18 – Phase Four: Maturity & Minimal Intervention 22:55 – The Admin Learning Curve for DevOps Adoption 25:25 – Continuous Improvement as a Practice, Not a Project 28:34 – Where AI Fits Into the DevOps Pipeline Right Now 31:07 – Supplementary vs. Agentic AI: Why Tapan Is Taking It Sl...

073 — Mike Dickson: Successful Salesforce data strategy!

41 min

Tune in to hear everything from why data projects are chronically underestimated at the exec level, to what a proper data strategy actually looks like when you strip away the buzzwords. Mike gets practical on data migrations, data cleanup, and the hidden gotchas that trip teams up when they start handing control to agentic AI.  Before finding his way into Salesforce consulting, Mike Dickson cycled solo across Canada, studied mechanical engineering, and cut his teeth on some of the most data-rich implementations in the nonprofit space. That analytical, problem-solving mindset shapes everything he has to say about why so many organisations are sleepwalking into their AI ambitions without the data foundation to back them up. Mike and Jack close things out with a thread about what commercial organisations can learn from the nonprofit world when it comes to relationships, relevance, and not being noisy. 00:01 Intro & Meet Mike Dickson 00:13 Why Data Is So Important in Salesforce 01:47 Mike's Background: Mechanical Engineering & Cycling Across Canada 05:12 Lessons from the Road That Still Apply Today 07:53 10 Years in the Ecosystem: The Rise of Data 08:17 Starting in the Nonprofit Space & Why Nonprofits Were Data-Rich Early Adopters 12:25 Data Migrations: Why They're Harder Than Anyone Thinks 15:58 Is the Complexity of Data Projects Misunderstood at the Exec Level? 19:01 What a Solid Data Strategy Actually Looks Like 22:08 Start With the Business Objective, Not the Data 23:13 How to Approach a Data Cleanup Project 26:49 The Hidden Gotcha: Records That Can't Be Saved Anymore 27:04 Don't Boil the Ocean — Chunk It Up 30:14 Data Migration Tips & How to Avoid Disaster 33:22 The Right Tooling for the Job 35:36 Data Doesn't Sit in a Vacuum 36:05 What Nonprofits & Commercial Orgs Can Learn From Each Other 40:15 Where to Find Mike & Speediful

072 — Mike Gerholdt: The future of Salesforce Admins

46 min

With agentic AI reshaping what it means to work in Salesforce, Mike Gerholdt makes a compelling case for why the role of a Salesforce Admin isn't shrinking, but shifting. The value was never really in the buttons Salesforce admins click, but in the judgments they make. Jack chats to Mike about everything from the principle of least privilege in an agentic world, to whether generalist or specialist skills will win out as the platform keeps expanding.  Mike also shares why the admin who hoards their knowledge, whether that's contacts in a Rolodex or config know-how in their head, is ultimately doing their organisation and themselves a disservice.  Plus, with TDX just around the corner at the time of recording, Mike gives a preview of what makes that event different from every other Salesforce gathering on the calendar. 00:01 Intro & Meet Mike Gerholdt 01:32 Why Admins Shouldn't Fear the AI Revolution 04:14 Decisioning is Cheap, Judgment is Expensive 06:35 What a Salesforce Org Actually Is 07:28 The Mundane Stuff vs. The Valuable Stuff 10:27 Why Admins Have an Emotional Response to AI 11:19 Identity, Expertise & the Evolving Admin Role 13:44 Security, Permissions & Principle of Least Privilege 17:14 Trust, Vibe Coding & the AI Learning Curve 19:51 Why Tools Like Gearset Still Matter 21:03 AI Won't Replace Admins — Here's Why 23:43 How Engineers Are Actually Using AI Day-to-Day 26:48 Security Guardrails in an Agentic World 31:02 User Experience as a Specialisation 32:47 Generalist vs. Specialist: Where Should You Focus? 38:26 You're Not Learning to Drive Until After You Pass Your Test 40:59 What to Look Forward to at TDX 44:22 Final Bits of Wisdom

071 — Matt Dickens (CPO, Gearset): Moving beyond AI's veneer of value

52 min

After 70 episodes, Jack finally gets Gearset's CPO and co-founder Matt Dickens!  The conversation goes deep on what it means to build something people want to use, as well as why most teams, whether they're building product or building on Salesforce, are asking the wrong questions.  Matt shares his honest take on AI. Why the barrier to doing things has never been lower, why that's not the same as the barrier to doing something valuable, and why verticalized AI solutions will win out over general purpose tools for teams that actually want ROI.  Tune in for a rare peek behind the curtain from someone who thinks about these problems every single day. 00:00 Intro & Meet Matt Dickens 00:44 From EA Game Dev to Gearset Co-Founder 02:23 The Founding Story: How Gearset Was Born Inside Redgate 04:48 Why the Salesforce Ecosystem Is Unlike Any Other 06:02 Salesforce Teams vs. Traditional Software Engineering 09:52 How the Salesforce DevOps Landscape Has Shifted 11:23 How Gearset's Own DevOps Practices Have Evolved 12:41 Building Products People Actually Want to Use 16:44 What "Job to Be Done" Really Means at Gearset 20:36 Advice for Junior Salesforce Professionals in the Age of AI 22:02 Expose Your Ignorance: The Most Underrated Career Skill 26:13 Lead with Curiosity: Jack & Matt's Shared Philosophy 28:44 AI in the Salesforce Ecosystem: The Opportunity & The Trap 33:20 General Purpose vs. Verticalized AI Tools 41:29 How Gearset Is Thinking About AI 46:51 Closing Advice for the Salesforce Ecosystem 52:13 Wrap Up

070 — Paul Calf: From audit fail to DevOps pipeline success!

37 min

Jack sits down with Paul Calf (Salesforce Release Manager at Standard Life, and Gearset DevOps Leader for 2026) to talk through a decade-long Salesforce journey that took him from accidental admin to release manager. Paul gets candid about the failed audit that forced his team to get serious about governance, what it looked like to build a compliant release process from scratch, and why cherry-picking components in VS Code nearly broke him (and the team). The conversation goes beyond tooling. Paul opens up about the culture-first approach his team takes to collaboration, from daily standups to blameless post-mortems, and what happens when someone accidentally data loads the wrong file into prod. He also shares his take on evaluating DevOps tools, approval bottlenecks, and how his financial services org is treading carefully, but deliberately, into AI territory. About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Meet Paul Calf 02:00 – The Accidental Admin Origin Story 03:44 – The Audit That Changed Everyth...

069 — Dan Barckley: Accidental admin, intentional architect!

39 min

What happens when you deploy to prod on a Friday and it starts firing emails to every customer? Dan Barckley has lived it — and it's why he's now a DevOps believer. In this episode: accidental admin origins, why simple beats complex every time, Agentforce skepticism, and the leadership mindset that changes everything. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters: 01:36 Introducing Daniel Barckley: A Journey in Salesforce 04:16 The Joy of Problem Solving in DevOps 07:05 Learning from Mistakes: The Accidental Admin 09:35 Tinkering and Innovation: Building in Salesforce 12:37 The Importance of Mentorship and Leadership 15:21 Characteristics of Great Leaders 18:18 Navigating the Salesforce Ecosystem 20:46 The Future of Salesforce: AI and Automation 23:46 Data Management and Business Continuity 26:43 Iterative Development and Continuous Improvement 29:19 Embracing Change in the Tech World 32:11 Closing Thoughts: Lead with Curiosity

068 — Sam Crossland: Securing AI Code & Mastering DevOps Fundamentals

45 min

Sam Crossland returns to DevOps Diaries to dissect the evolving world of Salesforce development and AI-generated code. As artificial intelligence reshapes the coding landscape, Sam and Jack go beyond the hype to discuss the real risks and rewards. They explore why trusting AI-generated code without strict quality gates is a dangerous game, emphasizing that human oversight remains the ultimate security protocol for reliable software delivery. However, technology is only half the battle. Sam advocates for a return to the fundamentals that drive high-performing teams, highlighting the critical importance of robust documentation and the use of RACI metrics to clarify roles. The conversation dives deep into the necessity of continuous improvement, offering practical strategies for chipping away at technical debt and measuring success through meaningful metrics.  Whether you are navigating the complexities of AI integration or simply seeking to streamline your team’s workflow, this episode offers the strategic blueprint you need to thrive in the modern DevOps lifecycle. Tune in now to discover how to perfectly balance innovation with reliability.

067 — Nicolas Vuillamy: CTO, DevOps enthusiast, and open-source champion!

35 min

Jack sits down to talk all things Salesforce DevOps, open-source, and career development in an AI-forward world with Nicolas Vuillamy.  They discuss the often-overlooked reality that DevOps is a mindset, not just a set of buttons to push and Nicolas opens up about the responsibilities of technical leadership. Also discussed are the "threat" and opportunity of AI, and why getting involved in open-source projects might be the single best move you can make for your career.  Whether you are a junior developer or an aspiring architect, this conversation offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of Salesforce in 2026 and beyond. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Open Source and DevOps 02:43 The Value of Open Source Collaboration 05:13 Journey into Salesforce and Trailhead 07:42 Understanding DevOps in Salesforce 09:54 SFDX Hardis: A DevOps Tool for Salesforce 12:31 Challenges in Salesforce DevOps 15:29 The Role of AI in Salesforce 18:02 Career Advice for Aspiring Salesforce Professionals 20:31 The Importance of Collaboration in Tech 23:05 The Evolving Role of a CTO 25:56 Predictions for the Future of Salesforce and DevOps

066 — Ana Moreno: Lessons from a Salesforce Release Engineer in DevSecOps!

51 min

Do you actually need a Release Engineer to manage Salesforce DevOps?  Ana Moreno joins Jack to share her incredible (and truly accidental) journey from the world of art history to the heart of tech. Before they dive into release management, Jack derails the conversation to hear all about the fascinating world of art fraud, including tales of Man Ray's lost negatives and fake Victorian photographs. Once back on track, Ana pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to manage a complex, high-stakes Salesforce release process at a company that lives and breathes DevOps. Tune in to learn: - What the day-to-day life of a dedicated Release Engineer actually looks like. - How GitLab manages weekly Salesforce releases with a 30+ person team across five pods. - Strategies for handling merge conflicts as a "necessary evil." - Ana's top advice for teams looking to overhaul their process (Hint: It's not just about buying a tool). - The practical role AI is playing in their DevOps cycle today. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to t...

065 — Aga Peryie: The truth about Salesforce backup, recovery & archiving!

42 min

"Data loss" is a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of every Salesforce professional. But what if you could face a data incident with calm and confidence? Jack speaks with Aga Peryie, Senior Product Manager at Gearset, about building a solid data management strategy. They discuss the vital role of understanding customer needs, the challenges of data backup, and why so many teams are vulnerable to simple user errors. This conversation is a masterclass in shifting from anxiety to control. Tune in to learn: - Why most teams are unprepared for the most common cause of data loss: user error. - The key to reducing anxiety: regularly testing your recovery process before you need it. - Practical strategies for archiving data to manage Salesforce storage limits effectively. - How to build a backup solution truly tailored to the complexities of Salesforce. - Why a "set it and forget it" backup plan is a recipe for disaster. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and secu...

064 — Raksha Sanganee: The secret to DevOps success is culture, not code!

41 min

What’s the most overlooked element in a successful DevOps strategy? According to Salesforce Architect and community leader Raksha Sanganee, it's culture. In this powerful episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy sits down with Raksha to uncover her remarkable journey from a school finance officer to a respected DevOps consultant. She shares the invaluable lessons learned while training over 300 people in Salesforce for free and unpacks her core principles for transforming a team's software delivery lifecycle. Tune in to learn why "seeing is believing" is the key to overcoming client skepticism, how to build unbreakable trust, and why you should never, ever forget your backups! About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Raksha Her Journey 04:23 Transitioning to Salesforce and Community Impact 09:13...

063 — Conlan Morton-O'Rourke: Correction of Errors, Contractors, and Compliance!

50 min

In the world of tech, it’s easy to get lost in the code, the pipelines, and the deadlines. But what truly separates a good team from a great one? In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Conlan makes the case that it’s a culture built on trust and continuous improvement. Conlan shares his experience managing a complex Salesforce project management application where the stakes are high. He reveals how his team navigates the strict world of SOX compliance, not as a burden, but as a driver for quality. We explore his passion for automation, from CI/CD pipelines that supercharge efficiency to automated deployments that eliminate human error. However, the real magic lies in the human element. Conlan explains how creating psychological safety and running blameless post-mortems transforms mistakes into learning opportunities, and why true collaboration only happens when every single person, including contractors, feels like a core part of the team. If you want to build systems and teams that last, this episode is for you. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Conlan 02:11 Managing Compliance in Project Management Applications 07:04 The Intersection of Compliance and Data Quality 08:32 Importance of DevOps in Delivery Processes 12:02 Automation and Change Managemen...

062 — Alice Jessop: Mastering Salesforce Security

47 min

Is your Salesforce org as secure as you think? Many common configurations leave companies vulnerable, but mastering a few core principles can transform your security posture. In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy is joined by Technical Program Manager and Salesforce security author Alice Jessop to demystify the art of protecting your CRM. They cut through the noise to deliver actionable insights for admins, developers, and managers. Alice unpacks the modern challenges of Salesforce security, from debunking dangerous misconceptions to navigating the complexities of user management. You'll learn the critical difference between Profiles and Permission Sets, why the principle of least privilege is non-negotiable, and how to cultivate a security-first mindset within your team. Tune in to explore: - The Evolution of Salesforce Security: How to stay ahead in the ever-changing Salesforce landscape. - Profiles vs. Permission Sets: Finally understand when and how to use each for optimal security. - The role of humans in security: Why your biggest vulnerability might not be technical. - The future of AI in security: How artificial intelligence is poised to change Salesforce security forever. - Actionable advice: Concrete tips on data classification and career growth for Salesforce professionals. Whether you're new to the ecosystem or a seasoned architect, this conversation provides a crucial framework for building a more resilient and secure Salesforce environment. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply Dev...

061 — Kurt Kemple: A masterclass in enablement and community driven product at Slack!

53 min

How does someone with a non-traditional background end up leading Developer Relations for a tech giant like Slack? In this episode, host Jack McCurdy dives deep into the incredible story of Kurt Kemple. Kurt pulls back the curtain on his journey and shares the hard-won lessons that shaped his philosophy on community, collaboration, and creating meaningful tech. He reveals the critical importance of developer enablement and challenges a "build it and they will come" mentality. Get ready for a powerful conversation about the human side of DevOps. You'll hear Kurt's take on the future of community, the one framework that clarifies every project, and why building relationships is the ultimate key to shared success. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Kurt Kemple and Slack 02:56 Kurt's Journey...

060 — Andy Barrick: Observability for Salesforce, your secret weapon to stop firefighting!

49 min

How much has DevOps really changed since the AI boom? Are you truly observing your Salesforce org, or just reacting to fires? When do you pay down technical debt versus pushing for the next big feature? If you're asking these questions, you're not alone. Host Jack McCurdy is joined by DevOps expert Andy Barrick to tackle the tough challenges facing teams today. This practical conversation covers the evolution of the field since 2022, providing actionable advice on implementing proactive observability, managing risk, and making incremental changes that deliver massive impact. Learn more: Read the observability whitepaper: https://grst.co/4lFfxmm How Salesforce teams execute observability for Salesforce: https://grst.co/3GXddrU See Flow and Apex Error Monitoring in action: https://grst.co/3IF5Eqq About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co...

059 — Amy Oplinger Singh: What they don't teach you about a career in Salesforce!

48 min

Think you know the path to success in the Salesforce ecosystem? Think again. In this candid conversation, Jack McCurdy and dataimporter's Amy Oplinger-Singh pull back the curtain on the untold truths of a career in tech. From battling imposter syndrome to mastering the art of data management, Amy provides a masterclass in navigating the complexities of the industry. Learn why your network is your most valuable asset and how to find a role that truly aligns with your personal and professional goals. This isn't just another tech talk. It's a guide to building a resilient and authentic career. Key Insights: - The power of authenticity in a competitive industry. - How to turn networking from a chore into a superpower. - Leadership strategies to foster a burnout-proof team culture. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapte...

058 — Jon Cline: Mastering the People Puzzle in DevOps!

52 min

In a tech-driven world, human connection is more critical than ever. In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy sits down with Jon Cline to explore the power of a people-first approach in the Salesforce ecosystem and beyond.  Discover strategies for navigating high-pressure situations, resolving conflict with emotional intelligence, and turning chaos into compliments. Learn how to foster a culture that attracts and retains top talent by focusing on what truly matters: your people. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Salesforce Ecosystem 03:02 The People-First Method: Transforming Teams 06:05 Conflict Resolution and Project Success 09:08 Embracing Discomfort in Professional Growth 11:48 The Importance of Face-to-Face Interactions 14:50 Navigating High-Pressure Situations 17:50 The F...

057 — Dangsenpenan Nokshuwan — Beyond the Ecosystem: How One Analyst is Changing Lives

56 min

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, host Jack McCurdy sits down with Dangsenpenan, a Salesforce Analyst at RSPCA. Discover Dangsenpenan's inspiring self-taught journey into the Salesforce world and how he's paying it forward by founding West Africa Dreaming.  Learn about the power of accountability, the strength of the global Salesforce Ohana in fostering local talent, and the challenges of event sponsorship. Dangsenpenan also shares insights on engaging the next generation in tech and the evolving definition of community in the digital age.  Tune in for a story of passion, community building, and the transformative impact of non-profit work. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dangsenpenan's Journey 02:53 The Path to Salesforce: A Unique Journey 05:53 Self-Learning and Overcoming Challenges 09...

056 — Jessica Riffe: The blueprint to scaling Salesforce & DevOps teams!

40 min

Ever wondered what it takes to climb the ladder from Salesforce developer to Salesforce architect to Salesforce manager in the complex and fast-paced ecosystem we live in?  In this episode of DevOps Diaries, host Jack McCurdy sits down with Salesforce leader Jessica Riffe to uncover her incredible journey. Get ready for a deep dive into the evolution of Salesforce DevOps, the secrets to impactful documentation, and the real-world challenges (and triumphs!) of growing a high-performing team. If you're navigating your own DevOps transformation or looking to elevate your team's collaboration, Jessica's hard-won insights on pipelines, understanding DevOps user needs, and effective communication are pure gold. Don't miss these invaluable lessons – listen to the full episode now! About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW

055 — Valerio Chang: Lessons from building the most trusted customer support team!

45 min

Valerio Chang from Gearset chats to Jack about the evolving landscape of customer support in SaaS companies. Valerio offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Gearset has built a world-class support team, leaning into the importance of truly understanding customer needs and using documentation to elevate user experiences. Valerio delves into the unique challenges of supporting customers in the Salesforce ecosystem, and how the nature of Salesforce DevOps conversations has matured over time. Valerio discusses Gearset’s mission to act not just as a tool provider but as a trusted advisor, helping users navigate complexity through empathy, curiosity, and continuous improvement. Throughout the conversation, Valerio highlights the power of asking the right questions, the role of customer feedback in shaping product development, and the fulfilment that comes from solving meaningful problems. The episode wraps with a thoughtful reflection on the human side of support and the profound impact it can have on the people behind the tickets. About DevOps Diaries:  Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset:  Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforc...

054 — Chris Starleaf: Get to grips with data governance!

47 min

Think database skills are dead in the Salesforce era? Think again.  In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy talks to Chris Starleaf of Zinc Partners, who argues they're more relevant than ever. Listen in as Chris shares insights from his Salesforce journey, exploring why tech pros need sales skills, the crucial balance between quick wins and long-term strategy, and the vital role of data governance.  They tackle the generalist vs. specialist debate and discuss how strong leadership and team development drive success.  Want to build better data strategies and lead more effectively in the Salesforce ecosystem? Don't miss this episode! About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKW Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chris Starleaf and His Journey 03:02 The Relevance of Database Management in Salesforce 06:00 Sales Skills for Tech Prof...

053 — Varun Kavoori: From chaos to control: How Okta nails Salesforce DevOps!

38 min

From his early days in the Salesforce ecosystem to becoming a driving force behind Okta’s DevOps strategy, Varun shares candid insights and hard-won lessons. Jack McCurdy sits down with Varun Kavoori, Principal Salesforce DevOps Engineer at Okta, for a deep dive into his career journey and the evolving world of Salesforce DevOps. Jack and Varun explore how Okta approaches release management, the power of flexible DevOps practices, and why setting strong guardrails is key to compliance and scale. Varun lifts the lid on the tools and tactics that keep his team running smoothly, especially on high-stakes release days, and looks ahead to the growing role of AI in the DevOps space. Whether you’re a seasoned Salesforce engineer or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways and fresh perspectives. About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2 Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-...

052 — Megan Tuano: The secret sauce in Salesforce business analysis!

51 min

Megan Tuano shares her unique journey into the tech industry, the importance of communication, questions, and the value of empathy in customer service. She discusses her experiences with Salesforce and the significance of building relationships, emphasizing that success comes from being authentic and understanding the human aspect of technology. Megan and Jack also explore various themes surrounding customer service, the journey of content creation on YouTube, the challenges of balancing careers and parenthood. They wrap up by discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on business analysis, how to craft effective user stories, and how shifting left collaboratively harnesses the best results. Learn more: - Salesforce release management best practices. - How to deploy Agentforce. - DevOps for enterprise Salesforce implementations. About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day tr...

051 — Nathen Harvey: How to Measure Success in the Age of AI

55 min

How do DORA metrics apply to the unique challenges of Salesforce development? Join Jack McCurdy and Nathan Harvey as they dive into the evolving landscape of software delivery, exploring the intersection of platform engineering, AI, and human performance. They discuss practical strategies for implementing DORA metrics, navigating the shift to agile, and reducing developer burnout. In this episode they uncover how to foster empathy, improve team collaboration, and leverage AI to enhance your Salesforce development processes. Expect insights on effective tooling, communication strategies, and the importance of questioning the status quo to drive innovation. Learn more: - Everything you need to know about Agentforce - Insights from the latest DORA report - How to apply DORA metrics to Salesforce About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to DORA a...

050 — Wade Wegner: The birth and evolution of SalesforceDX!

52 min

Wade Wegner was a key member of the team that helped reshape the developer landscape at Salesforce. In his conversation with Jack, Wade recounts his journey from navigating the once-dreaded development platform, to spearheading groundbreaking initiatives which we now know as SalesforceDX. He explains how the introduction of Scratch Orgs and a strategic shift to VS Code revolutionized the developer experience, transforming complex challenges into agile, collaborative opportunities.Wade breaks down the evolution of key projects, from Project Janus laying the groundwork, to early concepts like DevOps Center and Code Builder, that set the stage for today’s fast-paced development environment. He also shares insights on the critical role of ISVs, the importance of strategic planning and team alignment, and the delicate balance between core features and new technologies. With his deep consulting background and a passion for collaboration, Wade reveals how building trust and strong relationships with engineering peers is essential to delivering real value and solving complex problems in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Tune in for an engaging discussion packed with real-world lessons on innovation, teamwork, and the transformative power of a forward-thinking approach to product development. Learn more: - Gearset for SalesforceDX teams - SalesforceDX whitepaper - Gearset's Agentforce deployment solution About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube cha...

049 — Ian Gotts & Jack Lavous: We did it! Practical advice for implementing Agentforce

54 min

Jack McCurdy is joined by Ian Gotts and Jack Lavous from Elements.cloud to discuss the transformative impact of Agentforce within the Salesforce ecosystem. In this episode we explore how Elements.cloud implemented Agentforce internally, emphasizing the importance of well-defined business processes and the role of business analysis in building effective agents. The conversation delves into the Job to Be Done framework, the challenges organizations face in adopting agents, and the necessity of documentation and structured approaches to ensure success. Jack Lavous offers insights into the actual build process of agents and the importance of making documentation AI-ready, how to use prompt templates, data cloud strategies, and deployment using Gearset.  They also discuss the significance of internal trust and the return on investment from implementing AI agents, while also expressing excitement for the future of AI technology in business. Learn more: - Deploy Agentforce with Gearset - What is Agentforce? - How to effectively document Salesforce processes About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesf...

048 — Mitch Spano: The hard truths about career progression!

57 min

Mitch Spano, Senior Application Engineering Manager at Google, shares his journey in the Salesforce ecosystem and discusses his early experiences with Salesforce, the importance of an engineering mindset, and how to advance your career in tech. He outlines the typical role structures in technology companies, from junior to VP levels, and emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation to avoid career stagnation. Mitch also shares hard truths about career growth and the importance of taking initiative to create new opportunities. Jack and Mitch share their insights, emphasizing the importance of identifying opportunities, key traits for success, the significance of organizational culture, and the necessity of setting ambitious goals. They also discuss how to navigate workplace dynamics, the value of mentorship, and the need for self-awareness and resilience in the face of challenges. The conversation culminates in actionable advice for listeners to track their progress and to set high aspirations for their careers. Learn more: - Automate Salesforce releases with Pipelines - How to analyze your Apex code - How to document processes in large Salesforce teams About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with...

047 — Paul Battisson: DevOps gets worse before it gets better, tell them up front!

56 min

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, host Jack McCurdy welcomes Paul Battisson to discuss his 15-year journey in Salesforce. They explore the importance of saying yes to challenges, the evolution of the Salesforce platform, and the balance between simplicity and complexity. Paul shares insights on innovation, problem-solving, and the significance of good processes and communication in successful project delivery. In this conversation, Paul and Jack discuss the challenges and strategies involved in implementing change within organizations, particularly in the context of DevOps and consulting. They emphasize the importance of transparency, building trust, and involving stakeholders in the process to overcome resistance. The discussion also touches on the human element of consulting, the impact of technology on job security, and the necessity of consistency and detail in achieving success. Learn more: DevOps for the Salesforce enterprise Transforming Salesforce DevOps in financial services How to deploy Salesforce flows Groundwork Apps About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply...

046 — DevOps Diaries: "Best of" Part Two

29 min

In this episode of DevOps Diaries we cover some of the outstanding moments from DevOps Diaries in 2024. Hear about everything from artificial intelligence and Salesforce Flows, to Heroku and QA testing. You can expect snippets of conversation with: Julián Duque, Steve Fouracre, Alba Rivas, Dave Carroll, Jon Robinson, Todd Halfpenny and Andy Utkan. Thank you to all our guests this year for sharing wonderful insights and knowledge! All episodes from this year can be found on Gearset's YouTube channel as well as audio platforms. Learn more: - Deploy Salesforce Flows easily - Salesforce DevOps for enterprise organizations - Easy backup and restore solutions for Salesforce - How successful are teams using Gearset? About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial. Chapters: 00:00 Julián Duque — Heroku and Salesforce 03:55 Steve Fouracre — Impact of AI on Salesforce Development 08:02 And...

045 — Jon Robinson: Quality Assurance, the white collar career for anarchists!

44 min

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy interviews John Robinson, a seasoned QA professional. They discus the significance of quality assurance (QA) in the Salesforce ecosystem, exploring the evolution of QA, the misconceptions surrounding it, and the necessity for dedicated QA roles within teams. John emphasizes the importance of understanding testing practices at their core, the role of tooling, and why there's the need for education to elevate the QA standards in Salesforce implementations. Jack and Jon's conversation highlights the challenges faced by teams in adopting effective QA processes and the critical need for a proactive approach to ensure quality in software delivery. They delve into the critical aspects of testing and quality assurance (QA) within the Salesforce ecosystem. They chat about the misconceptions surrounding testing, the importance of understanding user perspectives, and the need for a robust QA strategy. Jon also shares his take on the shift left ideology and the necessity of collaboration between QA and business analysts. Learn more: - What is Salesforce test automation? - How to integrate testing into your Salesforce deployment pipeline - What are the best practices for Salesforce testing? About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gears...

044 — Alba Rivas: Agentforce vs. Copilot, everything you need to know!

50 min

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy speaks with Alba Rivas, Principal Developer Advocate at Salesforce. They discuss Alba's journey in the Salesforce ecosystem, her role in engaging the developer community, and the evolving landscape of Salesforce technologies. Alba dives in to the nuances of artificial intelligence and Salesforce's new Data Cloud. She shares insights on the differences between Agentforce and Einstein Copilot, the importance of hands-on experience, and how to effectively test AI applications. Their conversation emphasizes the need for developers to embrace new technologies, engage with the community for growth and learning, and how to submit a great session for TrailblazerDX. Learn more: - How to pick the right Salesforce DevOps solution for your needs - What is Platform Engineering and how does it impact Salesforce DevOps? - Salesforce CI/CD Pipelines that include LWC testing DevOps - Salesforce DevOps for AI Enterprise About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapid...

043 — Dave Carroll: APIs, passion and trustworthiness. A recipe for Salesforce success!

59 min

In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Jack McCurdy sits down with Dave Carroll, a veteran in the Salesforce ecosystem. They discuss Dave's journey from being a Salesforce ISV partner to a key player at Salesforce for 21 years. Dave's mission has been to help develop the tools and practices that empower Salesforce developers to be successful, and has graciously stepped out of retirement briefly to appear on DevOps Diaries. Jack and Dave's conversation covers the evolution of Salesforce, the importance of customization and integrated solutions, as well as the challenges faced by developers across the development lifecycle. Dave shares insights on what it takes to build a successful developer evangelism team through experimentation, and offers valuable advice for aspiring developers looking to navigate the Salesforce ecosystem successfully. Dave Carroll was a Senior Director at Salesforce, managing product development for Salesforce DX, Salesforce Einstein, and was the founding member of the Salesforce developer relations programme. Learn more: How to pick the right Salesforce DevOps solution for your needs What is Platform Engineering and how does it impact Salesforce DevOps? Salesforce DevOps for Enterprise customers Improve the quality, performance, and security of your Apex code About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.c...

042 — Todd Halfpenny: The bridge between admins and developers is empathy!

53 min

Todd Halfpenny is a Salesforce MVP, Golden Hoodie recipient, and community leader. His impact on the UK Salesforce community is extensive and far reaching. Todd co-leads the London Salesforce Developers user group, is an organizer of Salesforce community conference London's Calling, and a co-founder of charitable clothing organization, Shirtforce. In this episode Jack and Todd discuss Todd's journey from a telecoms engineer to a prominent figure in the Salesforce ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of luck, opportunity, and community engagement. Throughout the conversation, Todd explores the dynamic between declarative and programmatic development, the evolving roles of admins and developers, and the significance of empathy in collaboration. Todd shares insights on the growth of business analysis roles, the challenges of managing complex Salesforce orgs, and the value of open source contributions. They also touch on the impact of AI on future roles, the importance of building resilient applications, and investing in community relationships. Learn More: Gearset acquires Salesforce code analysis platform, Clayton How to deploy Salesforce Flow with ease Join the Salesforce community at DevOps Dreamin' Discover Shirtforce About DevOps Diaries: Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practic...

041 — Inside Scoop: Why Clayton joined forces with Gearset

57 min

This week on DevOps Diaries, catch up on the recording of a game-changing moment in the world of Salesforce DevOps — Gearset has officially acquired Clayton. Join Jack McCurdy as he chats with Kevin Boyle (Gearset CEO and Co-Founder) and Lorenzo Frattini (Clayton CEO and Founder) about their vision for the future. They discuss how this acquisition will transform the DevOps experience for Salesforce professionals, enhance product offerings, and unlock powerful new capabilities for customers. Expect insights into: - Why this acquisition? How Gearset and Clayton came together to redefine releases on the Salesforce platform - What is code scanning for Salesforce? - What’s next? An early sneak peek into the future of what to expect from Gearset - Your role in this exciting new chapter! This is your chance to hear directly from the leaders shaping the future of Salesforce DevOps. Whether you’re a current Gearset or Clayton user, a Salesforce expert, or simply passionate about Salesforce, you won’t want to miss this. Learn more: - Develop and deploy secure, well-architected Salesforce solutions using Clayton from Gearset - Clayton’s 2024 State of Salesforce Development Report - The State of Salesforce DevOps 2024 Report - 10 common engineering mistakes Salesforce teams still make About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesf...

040 — Andy Utkan: The secrets you don't know about Salesforce Flow!

40 min

Andy Utkan is a Salesforce MVP, founder of Flow Canvas Academy, and a Salesforce Flows expert. His newsletter, Salesforce Break, has over 10,000 subscribers. His involvement in the Salesforce community has been profound, providing support and guidance for thousands of professionals brining declarative automation to their Salesforce orgs. In this episode, Andy and Jack chat about the power and potential of Salesforce Flows for automating business processes. He shares the benefits of visual programming and the ability to simplify complex technical concepts. Andy emphasizes the importance of collaboration between admins and developers and its importance in being able leveraging the strengths of Flows and Apex. He also addresses the challenges of using version control, testing, and deploying Salesforce Flows. He advocates for improved testing capabilities, using Gearset's Flow Navigator, and questions whether a Salesforce Flow certification is necessary. Learn more: - Gearset acquires Clayton - How to deploy Salesforce Flows successfully - Discover Gearset's Flow Navigator - Discover best in class code analysis for Salesforce About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ depl...

039 — Steve Fouracre: How AI will eradicate Salesforce development as we know it!

35 min

Steve Fouracre is the founder of Self Evolving Software (SES), and Head of Salesforce Delivery at Metacube. Steve started his career in the Salesforce ecosystem as a Salesforce Developer, and grew to managing Salesforce development teams for some of the largest businesses in the UK. In this episode, Steve and Jack dive deep into the merits of using artificial intelligence to support Salesforce development. Steve's company SES provides a way to introduce AI into the development process in an impactful way — Steve shares what that means, and where in the software development lifecycle AI can have a positive and transformative effect. Steve shares how we can make AI more useful for gathering requirements, as well as how the ability for AI to generate code is going to change the way that developers work. While it's easy to overlook the human aspect of this process, Jack and Steve discuss how people can make the biggest difference in the successful adoption and impact of AI. Learn more: - Where to find Gearset at Dreamforce - How to automate your Salesforce tests - Transform your AI enterprise with enterprise DevOps - Connect with Steve About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and...

038 — Julián Duque: How to use Heroku for connected customer experiences!

46 min

Julián Duque is Principal Developer Advocate for Heroku at Salesforce. His background in Node.js allows him to think objectively about development on the Salesforce platform and how it scales. His work with Heroku gives him a unique perspective on where traditional software engineering, DevOps, and Salesforce development intersects. In this episode, Julián and Jack discuss the importance of community in software development. Julián dives into how his career has developed in the Developer Relations space, and how sharing knowledge benefits the teacher and the student, building great relationships. Julián teaches Jack what Heroku is, and shares some of the common applications. He explains how Heroku benefits Salesforce teams, and provides the foundation for integrating applications, enabling one source of truth for data so businesses can make data-driven decisions across their tech stacks. Heroku is constantly evolving. Julián sheds light on the future roadmap, why he’s excited for the future of Salesforce and what we’ll be achieving with new technologies. Learn more Build applications with Heroku Where to find Gearset at Dreamforce How Gearset integrates with your tech stack Salesforce DevOps for Data Cloud About DevOps Diaries Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/gearset Facebook: facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset   Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CP...

037 — Kevin Boyle: Growing Gearset, the CEO's Story!

45 min

Kevin Boyle, CEO of Gearset, joins Jack on this episode of DevOps Diaries. Kevin’s career has taken him from software engineering intern at Microsoft, to leading one of the most successful Salesforce ISV’s as CEO. His background gives him a unique approach to running a business, with a foundation of great software engineering and product strategy. Kevin & Jack discuss the origin story of Gearset and how it has grown over the years. They also talk about the intricate challenges of implementing DevOps practices in the Salesforce ecosystem and how Gearset has developed features to address those challenges. Kevin emphasizes the importance of understanding the users' needs and continuously iterating, one of the core principles of DevOps itself, to improve the Gearset platform. He also shares his experience transitioning from a software engineer to a CEO and applying software engineering principles to other areas of business. Kevin discusses the importance of continuous iteration and feedback in product development. He shares how the onboarding process at Gearset empowers employees to develop this mindset. Kevin is passionate about the  value of equipping Salesforce teams with the right tools to be successful in their jobs. He talks about some of the proud moments he’s had as CEO — expressing gratitude for the team and the positive feedback from customers. Learn more: Gearset revolutionizes Salesforce DevOps with new features Manage long term projects in your CI/CD pipeline Why DevOps toolchains need purpose build solutions Five ways to improve your Salesforce DevOps strategy About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New...

036 — Daisy Garcia & Hannah Kahn: Women, give yourself permission to fail and learn!

39 min

Jack is joined by Daisy Garcia, CEO and founder of ImagineCRM, and Hannah Kahn, CRO at ImagineCRM. Daisy and Hannah share a love for philanthropy, and driving foundations and nonprofits to success through technology. Their love for their mission is equal to their passion for uplifting women in tech. In this episode of DevOps Diaries, Hannah & Daisy discuss their experiences as women in tech, and how to support other women in the industry — including what they’ve done for each other. They share their diverse backgrounds and career paths, highlighting the importance of networking and mentorship. Throughout the episode they emphasize the need for women to support each other and create opportunities for one another. The conversation also touches on the challenges women face in leadership roles and the importance of authenticity and vulnerability. They wrap the episode with advice for attendees of the WITness Success, highlighting how to maximize their experience with networking opportunities that can be created intentionally. Learn more: ImagineCRM Witness Success Women in Salesforce DevOps, ignite your career Bring your full self — Rebecca’s experience as a UX Intern Join the women in Salesforce DevOps community About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform. Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset. Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/gearset X/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQ Facebook: https://facebook.com/gearsethq About Gearset: We launched Gearset when we saw how lacklust...

035 — DevOps Diaries best bits: Highlights from 2024 so far!

50 min

Over thirteen episodes in 2024, we’ve learnt a whole lot. About Salesforce, leadership, DevOps, and personal growth. To mark the half-way point in the year, Jack has compiled some of the best snippets from all thirteen episodes! Strap in and listen to brilliant nuggets of wisdom from a star-studded line up. There’s something for everyone. Technical advice, how to support your team, artificial intelligence, deployment management. If you can think of it, a DevOps Diaries guest has it! Thank you to all the amazing guests for making this podcast what it is, and committing to sharing your wisdom with the Salesforce trailblazer community. Learn more: Watch the whole series on YouTube Learn more about Gearset The State of Salesforce DevOps 2024 Upcoming live DevOps events Connect with Jack X/Twitter LinkedIn Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset, the complete Salesforce DevOps platform. Try Gearset free for 30 days. 

034 — Abi Claus: Language is the API of the brain!

43 min

Abi Claus has been in the Salesforce ecosystem since 2011. She is passionate about spreading her knowledge to empower women in technology. She’s grown from a Salesforce admin to a Salesforce platform owner and director, and is now dedicated to sharing her knowledge and wisdom through her new venture as co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of She Makes It Work. In this episode, Abi discusses what it takes to be successful in the corporate world. She and Jack discuss the challenges of communicating effectively across your team, and with stakeholders above you to excel. They discuss how language plays a pivotal role in how information is relayed, using analogies as a powerful tool for being understood and heard. Jack and Abi also dive into the importance of allyship, how you can make sure you’re seen and heard in every  room, and why events like WITness Success are imperative to the growth and betterment of the Salesforce community. Abi is candid with her experiences, regaling the time she spent crying in bathrooms learning SalesforceDX, and how she brings her authentic self and “true genius” to work. Learn more: She Makes It Work Get the most out of SalesforceDX Accelerate digital transformation with Salesforce DevOps Register for WITness Success Connect with Abi LinkedIn Connect with Jack X/Twitter LinkedIn Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset, the complete Salesforce DevOps platform. Try Gearset free for 30 days. 

033 — Jason Lantz: Modern Salesforce development is modular!

53 min

Jason Lantz is a prominent figure in the Salesforce ecosystem, known for his contributions to Salesforce DevOps and open source tooling. He is the founder and CEO of MuseLab, a company that enhances Salesforce ISVs' product lifecycles, and is the creator of CumulusCI and MetaDeploy. Jason was the Sr. Director of Release Engineering at Salesforce.org, where he led the development of tools that support nonprofits. In this episode Jason talks about how to develop deployment practices with automation that benefit every Salesforce team. His experience in the ecosystem has been dedicated to addressing complex deployment challenges, which he talks about in depth. Jack and Jason also discuss high-fidelity testing, sandboxes, and the merit of scratch orgs. They also dive into the human element of processes, why asking the right questions and effective partnerships leads to the best solutions. Jason is an advocate for modular development — he shares how and where we can get started with second generation packaging. Learn more: Choosing between sandboxes and scratch orgs Salesforce CI/CD best practices Get the most out of SalesforceDX How to automate Salesforce testing Connect with Jason LinkedIn Connect with Jack X/Twitter LinkedIn Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset, the complete Salesforce DevOps platform. Try Gearset free for 30 days. 

032 — Nathen Harvey: Using DORA to measure your team performance with confidence!

37 min

Nathen Harvey is Developer Advocate and the lead for DORA at Google Cloud, their DevOps Research and Assessment unit. For ten years Nathen has spearheaded tech communities and authored several reports that now form the industry standard for measuring DevOps performance. He was once a CRM system administrator too — he knows his stuff and the challenges we all face too! Nathen joins Jack on the DevOps Diaries podcast to discuss all things metrics. In an enticing and insightful conversation, Nathen shares with us how the DORA metrics came to be, what they are, and why measuring performance is important for all teams to drive their businesses in the right direction. Nathen also shares with us some of the common pitfalls of metrics, including Goodhart's Law, and what we can do to avoid them. If you’re unsure of where to start when it comes to measuring performance, or how to improve, this is the episode for you. Nathen and Jack also discuss the wider market trends and how engineering teams can up their game using the SPACE framework. Learn more: DORA 2023 report The State of Salesforce DevOps 2024 report The common pitfalls when measuring performance How to align metrics with business performance Connect with Nathen LinkedIn X/Twitter Connect with Jack X/Twitter LinkedIn Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset, the complete Salesforce DevOps platform. Try Gearset free for 30 days. 

See all 81 episodes

–

0 ratings from members

5
4
3
2
1

Rate this podcast

Log in to rate and review the shows you listen to.

No reviews yet — be the first member to rate "DevOps Diaries".

This podcast, its content and its artwork are not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Castquire.

Keep listening

Discover more podcasts like this.

Up next

  1. Nothing queued. Use + Queue on any episode to line it up.

0:00 0:00