S9 Ep8: From Author to Contributor, the Developer Thought Leader

What happens to careers in the Salesforce ecosystem when AI starts changing how work gets done?

In this episode of Mums on Cloud Nine, we continue our Golden Hoodie series with Keir Bowden, who received his Golden Hoodie at Dreamforce 2024 after nearly two decades of contributing to the Salesforce community.

Keir began his career as a Java developer before moving into Salesforce, where answering questions on the original Force.com discussion boards led to blogging, public speaking, community leadership and writing books for fellow Salesforce professionals.

From Community Contributor to Golden Hoodie

Keir shares how giving back to the community became a major part of his career, from helping people online to supporting developer groups, speaking at Salesforce events and helping new speakers find the confidence to share their own experiences.

We also hear how becoming self-employed has given Keir greater freedom to choose the projects, conferences and technical subjects that interest him.

What Does AI Mean for Salesforce Careers?

Keir offers a thoughtful perspective on the uncertainty surrounding AI and employment. He questions predictions that junior roles will disappear and asks an important question: if companies stop hiring juniors today, where will tomorrow’s senior professionals come from?

He also explains why governance, compliance, business analysis and human oversight continue to create opportunities for people who understand how Salesforce systems actually work.

Working With Agentforce

Having worked with the technology that eventually became Agentforce, Keir discusses where he sees genuine value today.

From customer service and sentiment analysis to helping admins diagnose Salesforce issues, Keir sees opportunities for AI to save people time. He also explains why handing entire processes to autonomous agents can introduce new problems when organizations lose sight of how decisions are being made.

Building Your Confidence in the Salesforce Community

Keir finishes with practical advice for anyone considering public speaking.

His message is simple: start with community groups, talk about something you know from your own experience and stop assuming everybody in the audience knows more than you.

Your story and experience can help somebody else, regardless of where you currently are in your Salesforce career.

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