[INFOGRAPHIC] What it Takes to Be a Salesforce MVP

Eric Dreshfield is an advocacy manager at Apttus.

According to Salesforce, the MVP Program recognizes exceptional individuals within the Salesforce community for their leadership, knowledge, and ongoing contributions to the community. They embody and represent what the spirit of the community is all about by being accessible & responsive, while sharing their expertise and knowledge about the ecosystem. MVPs are also leaders in the community and brand advocates for Salesforce as well as the community. As a 4-time Salesforce MVP, I thought I already knew what the program was all about and what makes most of the MVPs tick, but as I dug deep and investigated the MVPs from many different angles it became clear to me that my knowledge was just the tip of the iceberg.

What is an MVP?

Before we dive deep in to the numbers, let’s start with an explanation of what a Salesforce MVP is. Salesforce MVPs are customers and partners of Salesforce. They are not Salesforce employees. The title of MVP is awarded for a period of one year, with two classes of MVPs awarded each year. There is no guarantee that MVPs will have the title renewed each year. Each award is based on the MVP candidates ongoing contributions to the community, and as Holly (Goldin) Firestone, Senior Manager of Community Programs at Salesforce explains, even that process is driven by the community!

How does one become an MVP?

That’s a question I get asked a lot. “What does it take to become an MVP?” That’s not the easiest question to answer: there’s no “secret sauce”, and most of us MVPs do not try to become one, it just happens. We don’t always understand why we were bestowed with the title, and most of us MVPs don’t feel that we deserve the honor. We just do what’s in their hearts, and that’s helping people. Surviving life as an MVP is the classic tale of the Good, the Bad & the Ugly.

The Numbers

MVPs are a unique bunch of people. Some incredibly smart, with the certifications and Trailhead badges to prove it. Others are super passionate about the Salesforce Community and lead user groups or regional super user group events. MVPs are Admins, Developers and more. Many have spoken at Dreamforce, and almost all of them have taken a selfie with SaaSy! MVPs hail from over half the states in the United States as well as more than 15 countries across the globe.

Check out the infographic for all the details!