Mums On Cloud Nine

What does it take to become a Salesforce Golden Hoodie winner, and how can community involvement shape an entire career? In this episode of our Golden Hoodie Winners series, I sit down with Christina Nava, Salesforce professional, Service Cloud expert, and Golden Hoodie recipient. Christina received her Golden Hoodie at Dreamforce after years of dedication to the Serviceblazer community, where she became known for helping others, sharing knowledge, and supporting fellow Salesforce professionals. What makes Christina's story particularly inspiring is that her recognition wasn't built around a single achievement. Instead, it came from years of consistently showing up, contributing to the community, and helping others succeed. Finding A Home in the Salesforce Ecosystem Christina takes us back to her introduction to Salesforce in 2011 while working in technical support and software consulting. What began as exposure to a CRM platform gradually developed into a career specializing in Service Cloud. Along the way, she discovered a passion for solving problems, supporting users, and building solutions that help organizations deliver better customer experiences. She also reflects on the challenges of being a solo Salesforce Admin and why finding a supportive professional community became such an important part of her growth. Why Community Matters More Than Ever One of the strongest themes throughout our conversation is the value of community. Christina shares how the Serviceblazer community became a place where she could ask questions, learn from others, and avoid feeling isolated in her role. Over time, she transitioned from someone seeking support to someone providing it. Her experience highlights an important lesson for anyone building a career in technology. Success rarely happens in isolation. The relationships you build, the people you help, and the knowledge you share often become just as valuable as technical expertise. Building Skills Through Curiosity And Practice Like many Salesforce professionals who started before today's abundance of free learning resources, Christina had to find her own path. She discusses the early days of learning Salesforce before Trailhead became widely available and explains how hands-on experience, curiosity, and persistence helped her develop her expertise. We also talk about consulting life, being thrown into unfamiliar situations, learning quickly, and why practical experience often teaches lessons that no certification alone can provide. Leadership, Mentorship, And Giving Back As her career progressed, Christina discovered another passion, helping others develop their own careers. She shares how mentors and supportive women within the Salesforce ecosystem helped shape her journey and why those relationships became so valuable throughout her career. Today, Christina serves as a co-leader of the Houston Women in Tech group, helping create opportunities for others while continuing the cycle of mentorship that helped her succeed. AI, Service Cloud, And The Future Of Customer Experience We also discuss the growing role of AI within Service Cloud and customer service operations. Having recently participated in Salesforce demonstrations around new AI capabilities, Christina shares her perspective on where organizations are seeing opportunities and why strong foundations remain important before adopting emerging technologies. It's an insightful discussion that balances innovation with practical implementation. Advice For Anyone Starting Their Salesforce Journey Throughout our conversation, Christina returns to a simple theme: keep learning, stay curious, and get involved. Whether you're just beginning your Salesforce journey, considering a career transition, or looking for ways to expand your network, her story demonstrates how consistency, community involvement, and a willingness to help others can create opportunities you never expected. Which part of Christina's journey resonated most with you, and how could getting more involved in your own community help shape your career?

If you grew up far from the big-city career bubble or you are returning to work after a break, building a network can feel mysterious. In this conversation, Amy Blanthorn-Hazell shares how she went from an intern who knew almost no one in tech to a senior sales leader at Salesforce. Her story starts in a small village in the north of England and evolves into a career shaped by curiosity, initiative, and the right advocates. Amy explains the difference between short-term transactions and real relationships. She talks about giving value first, creating communities when none exist, and asking for advice in ways that make people want to say yes. You will hear how she used simple moves like thoughtful follow-ups, tailored compliments after talks, and one-to-one coffees to turn chance meetings into long-term sponsors. The episode leans into honest moments too. Amy shares what felt awkward early on, how she learned to balance I and we when talking about results, and why the best mentors sometimes start with a single session before committing to more. It is practical, kind, and refreshingly doable. Positioning Yourself For The Next Step Promotions are not made in the room. They are made in the conversations that happen when you are not there. Amy breaks down how to build advocates who will speak up for you when it counts, why timing matters, and how to prepare a clear, business-focused case that leaders can support. We get into the nuts and bolts of promotion readiness. Amy shows how to map your current skills against the next level, gather feedback from managers and peers, and use stretch projects to prove you can operate at a higher band without losing sight of your core results. She also calls out common red flags, like moving too fast before you have shown enough impact. There is guidance on interviews and panels too. From reaching out to interviewers ahead of time to sending an agenda and following up, Amy lays out the basics that so many people skip. The result is a calm, confident approach that helps decision makers see you in the role before the title changes. Practical Moves You Can Use This Week If you are new to networking, start with a clear goal. Amy shows how to target conversations based on what you want to learn, the teams you want to join, or the skills you want to grow. Then she models simple language that shares wins without bragging, invites collaboration, and highlights the people who helped you get there. If your workplace lacks community, create one. Amy describes how she launched a women's foundation group early in her career and why that decision still pays off years later. Small acts like hosting a learning session, sharing a playbook in Slack, or forwarding kind client feedback to your manager can quietly build your reputation. If you are planning to ask for a promotion, give yourself time. Build a short business case, link outcomes to company priorities, and gather examples that show consistent performance in your role plus stretch impact beyond it. Then book the meeting, share your thinking, and ask for clear guidance on what to demonstrate next.

On this week's Mums on Cloud Nine podcast, we're tackling one of the biggest challenges many women face after having children or entering perimenopause: maintaining a healthy weight while balancing everything else in life. Heather is joined by Charlotte Norton, Chief Medical Officer at The Slimming Clinic, who brings both her medical expertise and lived experience as a mum to the conversation. Together, they explore why weight can be so hard to manage, the role of hormones at different life stages, and the emotional connection many of us have with food. Charlotte also explains the health benefits of reaching and sustaining a healthy weight, how to find an approach that fits your lifestyle, and why kindness to yourself is just as important as the strategies you choose. From lifestyle changes and mindset shifts to medical support options, this episode offers a real-world look at the many routes women can take to feel better in their bodies and boost their confidence. Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics—from health and mindset to money and career growth. Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset.

On this week's Mums on Cloud Nine podcast, we're tackling a challenge that shows up in almost every area of life: getting people to truly listen. Whether it's your kids tuning you out, your partner missing the point, or colleagues distracted by a never-ending to-do list, the frustration is universal. Joining Heather for this conversation is Ruth Kudzi, CEO and founder of Optimus Coach Academy, who has spent years teaching coaching skills to leaders, managers, and aspiring coaches. Ruth shares why listening is at the heart of strong relationships, why we sometimes fail to hear each other, and how we can create an environment where people want to engage. They explore the subtle cues that make us feel valued, the role of trust and safety in communication, and how distractions, both external and internal, derail conversations before they have even begun. Ruth also explains how coaching skills, even at a basic level, can improve listening, build stronger connections, and encourage more productive exchanges. The discussion moves from the personal to the professional, with examples of how to approach tricky moments at home, including with children who have boundless energy or short attention spans, and strategies for workplace conversations where timing, tone, and empathy make all the difference. Ruth also offers insight into the training options at Optimus Coach Academy, from short online courses for everyday communication to accredited diplomas for leaders and professional coaches. Whatever your role, she believes coaching skills can help you become more present, more curious, and ultimately more effective in every conversation you have. Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics from health and mindset to money and career growth. Episode Highlights Why people sometimes fail to listen and how trust, safety, and feeling valued influence communication. The role of distractions, both external and internal, in breaking focus during conversations. How coaching skills can help improve listening, presence, and curiosity in everyday interactions. Practical tips for getting children to engage, including choosing the right time and environment for conversations. Approaches for ensuring colleagues listen in the workplace, such as timing discussions and understanding communication preferences. The different training options offered by Optimus Coach Academy, from short skills-based courses to accredited coaching diplomas. Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics, from health and mindset to money and career growth. Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset.

This week, we're talking all about productivity, and there's no better guest to guide us than Lucy Watkins, Head of Productivity at Salesforce and proud mum of two. Lucy doesn't just talk about getting more done. She lives and breathes it. She leads a global sales team while being a visible advocate for working parents. She also sponsors Salesforce's Parents and Families Equality Group, helping to shape how major companies support parents in the workplace. In this honest and energising conversation, Lucy shares the three pillars that help her balance high-impact leadership with real-life parenting. She talks about the mindset shift that helped her leave burnout behind, how she uses a weekly "family playbook" to create alignment at home, and why being a parent is actually the best leadership training you'll ever have. We explore time blocking, boundary-setting, relationship dynamics, how to ask for help, and why career ambition does not have to mean constant hustle. Lucy opens up about her own challenges, including how she and her partner rebuilt their home life from survival mode into something intentional, joyful, and sustainable. Whether you're knee-deep in nappies or navigating a promotion while managing school runs, this episode is packed with real talk and practical wisdom to help you feel more in control and less alone. Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics, from health and mindset to money and career growth. Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset.

This week on Mums on Cloud Nine, we're getting honest about something that affects more women than we often realise: unhealed trauma and how it quietly shapes our relationships, careers, health, and sense of self. I'm joined by Adele-Marie Hartshorn, the coach, therapist, and somatic strategist who steps in when mindset work just doesn't cut it anymore. Adele explains how trauma isn't always about big, catastrophic events. Sometimes, it's simply the absence of the nurturing, presence, or stability we needed growing up. From people-pleasing to burnout, anxiety to chronic health issues, Adele breaks down how our nervous system responds to life's emotional load, and why we can't simply think our way out of it. We talk about what nervous system dysregulation actually looks like, how trauma can stay trapped in the body, and why traditional talking therapies might fall short for some. Adele also shares how somatic healing helps us process what's unresolved and gently move back into regulation. As someone who has worked with Adele personally, I can say her work is powerful, practical, and deeply transformative. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, self-doubt, or simply struggling to feel present in your own life, this conversation might be the nudge you've been waiting for. We also explore the subtle ways trauma can show up in motherhood, leadership, and relationships, and why learning to regulate your nervous system is a game-changer, not just for your wellbeing but for everyone around you. Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics, from health and mindset to money and career growth. Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips to elevate your mindset.

Is it a crisis… or could it actually be an awakening? In this week's episode of Mums on Cloud Nine, we're joined by transformational coach and breathwork facilitator Naomi Buff, who brings honesty, humour, and healing to the subject of midlife shifts. Whether you're rethinking your career, rebuilding after a divorce, wrestling with perimenopause, or just wondering "Is this all there is?", this conversation is a permission slip to pause, breathe, and reset. Naomi shares her personal journey of losing everything: her marriage, her business, her sense of self, all at 40. She explains how that breakdown became a breakthrough. We talk about the emotional rollercoaster of midlife, the power of breath to regulate your nervous system, and why so many women feel like they're constantly reinventing themselves, even before they hit the so-called "crisis" years. This isn't about clichés or quick fixes. It's about reconnecting with who you really are, letting go of the stories that no longer serve you, and embracing the next version of yourself. That might mean a new job, a new rhythm, or simply learning to breathe again. We also explore: What a "midlife awakening" actually looks and feels like Why grief, rage, and reinvention often go hand in hand How to release emotional energy instead of storing it up The role of boundaries, breath, and belief in navigating change Why it's okay to fall apart if you're willing to rebuild with intention Naomi also breaks down the different types of breathwork, how it can be used to release trauma, and why you don't need an hour-long session to feel its benefits. Even a few minutes a day can help reset your state and reclaim your power. Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics, from health and mindset to money and career growth.

In this heartfelt episode of Mums on Cloud Nine, your hosts Heather Black, Lyn Constantine, and Kelly-Jace Halls open up about the power of setting clear, meaningful goals and how doing so shapes our daily mindset, our sense of purpose, and our long-term dreams. From building a house in Turkey to slimming down and saving money, they share personal stories, practical strategies, and honest laughs about what keeps them motivated through life's busy weeks. Together, they unpack what makes a goal stick, how to break big dreams into manageable steps, and why sharing your wins, even the small ones, can give you the best boost of all. Expect relatable insights, friendly accountability, and plenty of real-life examples you can borrow for your own ambition toolkit. Episode Highlights Why having clear goals stops you feeling lost and fuels daily purpose Kelly's story of saving for her dream home abroad, one small step at a time What SMART really means when setting realistic, trackable goals The art of breaking big goals into mini milestones and why chunking works Lynn's personal take on mixing passion with practicality when choosing what to aim for How to keep goals front of mind and build habits that stick The role of community, coaching, and honest accountability in staying motivated Why celebrating every win, big or small, keeps your motivation alive Practical tips for sharing your goals and progress to inspire others How to use free resources like the Mums on Cloud Nine Goal Setting Tool to get started Mums on Cloud Nine is your go-to destination for inspiring content that empowers women to build a life and career they love. Each week, we share expert advice, personal stories, and practical tips across a range of topics—from health and mindset to money and career growth. Check out our website at www.mumsoncloudnine.co.uk and subscribe for weekly tips, free resources, and expert advice to elevate your mindset.