Admins in the Agentic Era is a series exploring how Salesforce Administrators are evolving in the era of AI, automation, and autonomous systems. We spotlight leaders who are experimenting, advising, and redefining how modern systems are built, governed, and scaled.
Nicole is a Delivery & Operations Leader at SaltClick and Slack Practice Lead, helping organizations connect Salesforce, Slack, and the way work actually gets done. A Salesforce MVP and Golden Hoodie recipient, she’s been in the ecosystem since 2011, growing from an “accidental admin” into a leader across delivery and operations. Outside of work, she’s active in the community and a proud mom of two who keep her grounded.
Everything feels different about the admin role right now, even as certain responsibilities remain the same.
If I think back 10 to 15 years, the admin role for me felt isolated. I really kept to Salesforce and building within it, and I focused on learning the core features of that system. I was a solo “accidental admin.” I didn’t have Trailhead, and outside of a friend who got me started, I didn’t really know what this community was. At that time, we found help in blogs and websites like SFDC99, learning from pioneers in the ecosystem.
Fast forward to today: The way we learn, consume content and training, and get help has completely shifted. Admins are shifting as well. Salesforce has evolved into so much more than just a system. It’s a platform that spans a customer’s entire organization and touches its entire tech stack. During this evolution, admins have shifted into platform administrators who have equity across the entire tech stack. They need to understand all of these systems to a certain extent, how the business functions as a whole to be effective, and how these systems can and should integrate.
Fundamental to all admins, and something I hope never shifts, is that we stay curious and innovative. As the people who understand these platforms, tech stacks, and how people operate, we have to continue to question the “why.” As admins, we’ll always be responsible for the scalability and security of what companies run on, and it’s on us to teach others the best path forward.
I’m currently experimenting with AI when it comes to building custom solutions for Slack and pushing the boundaries of Slack and Salesforce integration. I’m constantly reading up on large language models (LLMs) and best practices to leverage these tools so that we can protect our systems and data, and do the same for our customers.
I’m not a traditional developer. In fact, I was an English teacher in a past life. I did graduate from RAD Women Code though — love that program! Tools like Claude and Agentforce Vibes now help me bring my ideas to life. I can create a proof of concept MVP, validate my vision, and then hand it off to a developer for Code Review. There’s a new sense of freedom in that, taking raw ideas and bringing them to life on my own.
With all of the advances happening, and that newfound freedom, security has to stay top of mind, including being intentional around data governance and access. We have to plan for who can see, edit, and act on our data, and make updates across our tech stack. And we have to document the “why” behind our decisions.
My greatest concern about the rise of autonomous systems is that we could easily lose sight of what makes humankind so magical. In some ways, our ability to innovate could weaken the very skills that make innovation possible.
Because of this, I believe we have to continue to strengthen our minds. For example, if you’re using AI to generate content like articles, make sure you still challenge yourself to write on your own. If you’re using AI to solve problems for you, make sure you still allow yourself to think through solutions on your own.
At the same time, the idea that we can do so much at such a great speed is exciting. Technological change has never moved this quickly, and adapting alongside it feels like we’re living through a historic moment. I love to learn and try new things, and it’s even easier for me to do that now with AI. I’m not a traditional developer, but with vibe coding I can bring ideas to life — and there’s a real sense of freedom and independence in that. AI doesn’t have to be scary when we use it intentionally and ethically.
Admins have always been resourceful, and as we enter this next evolution of technology, the skills that matter most won’t just be technical. Curiosity, business acumen, and communication are key so that we can continue to learn, understand how businesses operate, and explain how systems need to evolve to help organizations adapt.
Admins are at the forefront of this next great disruption, and we need to evolve our mindsets. We are platform administrators, architects building the flow of work across systems, and trusted business advisors.
Systems will continue to converge, and we need to understand the foundations, how and when to integrate with other systems, how work flows across them, and where AI fits in. If it sounds like a lot, just remember: You don’t need to know it all. You just need to understand where your gaps are and start upskilling where it matters most.
Embracing AI as an admin means understanding that the role is evolving beyond configuration and into governance, workflow design, and trusted guidance. As AI becomes more embedded into Salesforce, Slack, and everyday work, admins play a critical role in ensuring systems are structured, secure, and designed intentionally so AI can provide meaningful value instead of amplifying noise.
The admins who thrive in this next evolution will be the ones who embrace systems thinking, curiosity, and continuous learning. AI is increasing the value of admins who understand how work flows across tools like Salesforce and Slack, and who can help organizations balance automation with thoughtful human decision-making.
The role of admins in the Agentic Era is still being defined — and your voice matters. What skills are you building? What questions are you wrestling with? Join the conversation.
Salesforce Administrators have always been at the center of how organizations run their most critical systems. But as AI, automation, and agents reshape the way work gets done, the admin role is evolving faster than ever. “Admins in the Agentic Era” is a series exploring how Salesforce Administrators are evolving to run the Agentic Enterprise. […]
Salesforce Administrators have always been at the center of how organizations run their most critical systems. But as AI, automation, and agents reshape the way work gets done, the admin role is evolving faster than ever. “Admins in the Agentic Era” is a series exploring how Salesforce Admins are evolving to run the Agentic Enterprise. […]
Salesforce Administrators have always been at the center of how organizations run their most critical systems. But as AI, automation, and agents reshape the way work gets done, the admin role is evolving faster than ever. “Admins in the Agentic Era” is a new series exploring how Salesforce Administrators are evolving to run the Agentic […]
