S9 Ep3: Changing lives from a community centre to African Ohana

How does a tech internship at a community centre in Kenya lead to one of the highest honours in the Salesforce ecosystem?  

In this episode of our Golden Hoodie Winners series, we sit down with Alimali Stephens, Salesforce Senior Developer, community leader, and Salesforce Golden Hoodie recipient. Alimali shares an inspiring story that began with a desire to give back to his local community and led to an unforgettable moment on the Dreamforce stage.  

His journey reminds us that opportunities often arrive when we’re focused on helping others rather than chasing recognition. 

Where It All Began 

Alimali takes us back to his early days at the Karibu Centre in Kenya, where he joined as an intern supporting programmes for mothers, children, and the wider community. 

It was there that he was first introduced to Salesforce through a volunteer programme. Rather than simply learning a new platform, he became part of a project that transformed how the organisation measured its impact, automated manual processes, and better supported the families it served. 

That first experience with Salesforce would shape the rest of his career. 

An Unforgettable Dreamforce Moment 

One day, his director called him into the office with an unexpected question. How comfortable was he speaking in front of a large audience? 

Soon afterwards, Alimali discovered he had been invited to present on the Dreamforce Admin Keynote. It would be his first visit outside Africa, his first trip to the United States, and, as it turned out, the day he received a surprise Salesforce Golden Hoodie. 

To make the moment even more memorable, it all happened on his birthday.  

Building A Career While Building A Community 

Since receiving his Golden Hoodie, Alimali has continued to grow professionally, progressing from Salesforce Administrator to consultant and now Senior Salesforce Developer.  

Alongside his day job, he has remained committed to community leadership. As a Salesforce Community Leader in Nairobi and a technology lead with Africa Ohana, he spends his time mentoring aspiring professionals, organising events, and helping others discover opportunities within the Salesforce ecosystem. 

His belief is simple. The more people we help today, the stronger the community becomes tomorrow. 

Why Community Changes Careers 

Throughout our conversation, Alimali explains how discovering the Salesforce community transformed his own learning journey. 

Early in his career, he often found himself solving problems alone because he didn’t know there were other Salesforce professionals nearby who could help. Today, he works to ensure new Trailblazers never have that same experience. 

It’s a powerful reminder that asking questions, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another often accelerates everyone’s growth. 

AI Through The Eyes Of A Salesforce Developer 

We also discuss how AI is changing the role of Salesforce developers.  

Rather than seeing AI as a threat, Alimali views it as a practical tool that helps developers solve problems faster, reduce repetitive work, and deliver better solutions for customers. He shares examples of building AI-powered Salesforce solutions and explains why learning to work alongside AI will become an increasingly valuable skill. 

What part of Alimali’s journey inspired you the most, and how could giving back to your own community shape your career in ways you never expected? 

About Supermums 

Founded by Heather Black, a Salesforce Golden Hoodie winner, Supermums helps relaunchers and seasoned Salesforce professionals accelerate their careers in tech through expert training, career coaching and recruitment support. 

Whether someone is returning to work, pivoting into a new role, or ready to step up in the Salesforce ecosystem, Supermums provides practical training, mentoring and access to job opportunities to help them build confidence, sharpen their skills and progress faster. 

Alongside its career development programmes, Supermums partners with employers to connect them with talented Salesforce professionals who are ready to make an impact.

Find out more here https://supermums.org/podcast-intro

About our Sponsor, Hubbl Technologies 

Hubbl gives Salesforce teams the clarity they need to move faster.

By connecting technical metadata with real business processes, Hubbl reveals what is happening inside your Salesforce org — from security and access risks to process gaps, tech debt, and AI readiness. The result: less guesswork, faster audits, better documentation, and smarter decisions for teams who want to build, scale, and innovate with confidence 

Find out more about https://qrco.de/bgY7zw

Episode Highlights 

• How an internship at a Kenyan community centre introduced Alimali to Salesforce 
•  Using technology to support mothers, children, and local communities 
•  The incredible story behind receiving a Golden Hoodie at Dreamforce 
•  Why his Golden Hoodie arrived on his birthday 
•  Building a Salesforce career from administrator to senior developer 
•  The importance of mentoring and growing local Salesforce communities 
•  How Africa Ohana is supporting the next generation of Trailblazers 
•  Why AI is helping developers become more productive 
•  The role community plays in accelerating learning and career growth 
•  Why giving back has remained central to every stage of his journey 

What part of Alimali’s journey inspired you the most, and how could giving back to your own community shape your career in ways you never expected?