In this episode, Kraig Swensrud—3x founder, CEO of Qualified, and former CMO of Salesforce, reflects on the people and pivotal moments that shaped his career. From early bets placed on him as a rookie sales engineer, to mentors who opened doors, to colleagues who pushed him to take bold risks, Kraig shares how relationships powered his path from Oracle to founding three companies.
He opens up about the leaders who invested in him, why he now pays it forward by spotting future superstars inside his own company, and the simple practices that build lifelong bonds. Kraig also offers grounded advice for early-career professionals: take more risks than you feel comfortable with, lean into emerging technology, never burn bridges, and remember that today’s peers will be tomorrow’s industry leaders.
A candid, inspiring look at how great careers are never built alone, but together.
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Time Stamps:
01:33 - Introduction to Kraig’s Journey
01:47 - The Salesforce Acquisition Story
05:04 - Taking Risks and Building Relationships
06:19 - Breaking into Tech and Early Mentorship
08:18 - Paying It Forward: Mentorship Today
10:26 - Forging Relationships Through Work
11:45 - The Tech Industry Is Smaller Than You Think
13:56 - Networking Strategies and Building Connections
18:46 - Leveraging AI and Technology in Networking
19:50 - Cold Emails and Standing Out
23:10 - Lessons from Marc Benioff
25:40 - Final Reflections and Career Advice
People That Helped Kraig Along The Way:
06:19 - Norman Gennaro – One of Kraig’s First Bosses, CRO of Miro
02:14 - Sean Whiteley – 3x Co-Founder with Kraig, How They Got Their Start
7:06 - Phillip Merrick – It Started With a Cold Email
13:59 - Alex Bard – Thanksgiving Ritual That Builds Lifelong Relationships
15:50 - Dan Darcy – Surround Yourself With a Superconnector
18:46 Rich Campbell – Grab Onto a Technology To Grow Your Career
23:10 Marc Benioff – Master Networker and Someone Who Truly Cares
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