Life at Fionta

Empowering women of color: Christine Priester’s path to 2024 Salesforce MVP

Salesforce recently announced the selection of Christine Priester into the class of ’24 Salesforce MVPs, highlighting her remarkable contributions to the Salesforce community.

The Salesforce MVP program recognizes individuals for their expertise, leadership, and generosity within the Salesforce ecosystem. MVPs are distinguished by their deep knowledge of Salesforce, willingness to share, and their community leadership.

With a natural affinity for community building and mentorship, Christine (“Chrissy”) created Gems in Tech, a volunteer-led community centered on supporting Black women, women of color, and non-binary individuals in North America to transition to a tech career or to thrive in their existing careers. Members support women with free resume reviews, mock interviews, career coaching, and more.

To become a Salesforce MVP, one must:

  • demonstrate at least two years of active contributions
  • hold Trailhead Ranger status
  • have Salesforce credentials
  • create technical content
  • lead community groups or conferences
  • be generous with their knowledge, including participation in pro bono Salesforce implementations

The nomination process for Salesforce MVPs involves community nominations, where individuals can nominate themselves or others. The Trailblazer Community Team and Salesforce stakeholders initially review these nominations. Current MVPs then provide feedback, followed by a final review by the Trailblazer Community Team.

Her nomination included the following, “Christine has spent the past four years leveraging the opportunities offered by the Salesforce ecosystem to change her life for the better. As a result of Salesforce changing her life, she has made it her duty to mentor others, focusing on helping women of color. 

She has mentored and coached over 100 underrepresented individuals on transitioning to Salesforce. Additionally, she has dedicated her time as a volunteer Salesforce instructor and mentor for organizations such as PepUp Tech, Tech Forward, and the Women’s Empowerment Institute, all organizations that help under-presented individuals transition to Salesforce.”

Congratulations to the entire class of ’24 Salesforce MVPs!

For more details on the Salesforce MVP program, visit Salesforce MVP.