Learn how Capgemini and Salesforce provide pathways to a new career for women returning to the workforce.
Like many parents, Naomi Stephens always encourages her kids to try something new. So when it was her turn to step outside her comfort zone and into the world of technology consulting, her kids became the motivators to help set her on a new path. And it was Capgemini’s Relaunch Program that smoothed the path for her, giving her the flexibility that she needed to get started.
As a program consultant at Capgemini, Naomi helps fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands find technology solutions to their business needs. In a few shorts months, Naomi has gone from a stay-at-home mom to a valued member of Capgemini’s team. And her leap into the unknown was made easier through Capgemini’s Relaunch Program, with the help of Talent Alliance at Salesforce.
Capgemini wanted to address two business needs with their Relaunch Program—the skills gap in the ITC industry, and the lack of diversity within the industry. According to a recent study by the analyst firm IDC, between now and 2026, the global Salesforce economy will create $1.6 trillion USD in new business revenue and more than nine million new jobs. Finding those nine million people won’t be easy, and looking outside the usual talent pools won’t be enough to fill the gap.
With the encouragement of Salesforce through Talent Alliance, Salesforce partners like Capgemini are developing their own programs to solve the talent shortage, bringing in net-new talent from more diverse backgrounds. This, in turn, helps build a diversity of experience, ideas, and understanding to their teams.
Capgemini initially focused on bringing in women looking to return to the workforce. Naomi is a perfect example. She had several years of FMCG experience but little technology experience. She also took a break in her career to help raise her children, so a role at Capgemini seemed like a massive leap for her. But as Juanita Blanch, Program Lead at Capgemini, explained, their program offers three months of training, Salesforce certification, and shadow roles to enable their consultants to have the best start for their new career. Having Naomi’s deep FMCG and corporate experience is invaluable, and her training in the Relaunch Program means she can quickly deliver value at the firm.
It was a similar story for Aarti Ahuja, a program consultant at Capgemini working on MuleSoft integrations. Although Aarti had software experience as an engineer in India, she knew little about CRM and virtually nothing about Salesforce. As with Naomi, Aarti’s family offered her the support she needed to get back into the corporate world. Capgemini helped make her transition easier, with flexible hours, work-from-home options, and mentoring and coaching assistance.
One of those mentors is Tara Ridley, Vice President of Alliances and Channels ANZ at Salesforce, and a huge advocate for this and other programs that Salesforce partners are rolling out. “The Salesforce ecosystem offers a flexible and supportive environment for women, and with such a huge demand for net-new talent globally, we know that Salesforce and our partners can offer women great opportunities to build rewarding careers around the digital transformation our world is undergoing.”
Tara also points out that the Salesforce Talent Alliance program has been one of the main drivers for partners to help grow talent. Working with Talent Alliance, partners who commit to bringing in 20% net-new talent into their workforce receive numerous benefits, including training vouchers, priority access to job fairs, and Trailblazer Scorecard points. Salesforce also assists with Salesforce induction sessions and mentoring. All of these things aim to help people like Naomi and Aarti ease back into the workforce and provide them with advocates to make it a smooth and rewarding transition.
For both Naomi and Aarti, the journey so far has been just that. Naomi said her kids have noticed the spark in her eye at being back at work, and Aarti’s family couldn’t be prouder of her new role and renewed vigor. Even with the help the program provides, there’s still a leap of faith to be taken when it comes to career transitions like theirs. But as the Salesforce ecosystem looks to fill those nine million roles, more pathways, for more people, from more diverse and valuable backgrounds, will open up.
Learn more about the Capgemini Relaunch Program here.
Salesforce partners can sign up for the Talent Alliance here.
