{"id":79545,"date":"2024-07-18T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=79545"},"modified":"2024-07-18T10:30:23","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T17:30:23","slug":"indigenousforce-equality-group-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/indigenousforce-equality-group-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Salesforce Equality Group Leader on Uplifting Indigenous Cultures, Voices, Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: This story is part of an ongoing series to spotlight our <\/em>Equality Groups<\/em><\/a> and how they serve Salesforce employees globally. Check out previous interviews with the leaders of Outforce<\/a>, <\/em>Asiapacforce<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Southasiaforce<\/em><\/a>, and <\/em>Earthforce<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Indigenousforce is a Salesforce Equality Group dedicated to education, engagement, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, with the aim of respecting and celebrating Indigenous peoples and their cultures around the world. The Equality Group brings together unique Indigenous experiences and perspectives, cultivates a psychologically safe community for Indigenous employees and allies, preserves culture and heritage, and gives back to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke with Margot Tollefsen<\/a>, a Salesforce product marketing manager and Global President of Indigenousforce, to learn more about the power of representation, bringing awareness to issues faced by Indigenous people, and uplifting voices within the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. How did you get involved with Indigenousforce?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a proud member of the Cherokee Nation, and I\u2019ve always been passionate about equality. As part of my undergrad, I studied Native American rights, and Salesforce\u2019s continued commitment to equality is what attracted me to join the company four years ago. When I started at Salesforce, there wasn\u2019t an Indigenousforce presence in Dallas, where I was based at the time, so I connected with another Indigenous <\/strong>colleague in the area, and we started a local hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As part of my undergrad, I studied Native American rights, and Salesforce\u2019s continued commitment to equality is what attracted me to join the company four years ago.<\/p>\nMargot Tollefsen, a product marketing manager and Global President of Indigenousforce<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For the next year, I helped organize events and got involved with the global team on a larger scale. I continued to take on more responsibility, and now as the Global President of Indigenousforce, I get to make an impact on a community that is part of my family\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. As Global President of Indigenousforce, what are your focus areas for the next year?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous people are historically underrepresented in society and in tech. We\u2019re focused on uplifting and bringing awareness to indigenous cultures, voices, and traditions. We want to make sure that the Indigenous community at Salesforce and in our broader ecosystem are represented in a way that feels authentic. This includes building a community that shares similar values, cultures, and family histories, and partnering with our allies to ensure they understand the Indigenous cultures we represent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n