Polly Sumner
Chief Adoption Officer for Salesforce
As chief adoption officer for Salesforce, Polly Sumner is responsible for customer success and ensuring that each and every customer receives maximum value from Salesforce products and services.
Sumner’s move to Salesforce in 2008 followed a 20-year career in executive management in the technology industry.
Salesforce, an enterprise cloud computing company, is the leader in enterprise social collaboration, customer relationship management apps, and development in the cloud. More than 92,300 customers now manage their success with our social, mobile, and open cloud technologies.
“State of the Connected Customer … a Business Imperative for Change”
Customers are the lifeblood of any business. Without customers, there is no business. Today we face the biggest gap ever between the expectations of customers and the companies they purchase from. Our brands are challenged by others—not our traditional competitors in an industry we understand, and not only by innovation, startups, entrepreneurs, etc., but by a key new shift. The expectations of customers today are shaped by the last experience they had.
The technologies are clear—mobile, social, voice, intelligence, integrated—today, experiences are based on trust and transparency, emotional connections create loyalty, value-driven, purpose-driven companies are differentiated and can command a premium. So what about our organizations? Are we purpose-driven? Do we strive for customer loyalty that is earned not paid?
How do our actions demonstrate our values in the communities we serve? What type of company will you join or create?
Polly will share insights from research on the changing aspects of consumer and customer behavior and thoughts on how business leaders should respond.
Polly is an NAU graduate (1975) and a 40-year veteran of the Tech Industry.
Northern Arizona University seeks to enhance education and understanding by fostering an environment in which to nurture and broaden perspectives.
The President’s Distinguished Speaker Series at Northern Arizona University offers students, faculty, staff, and members of our community opportunities to hear from, and engage with, nationally recognized thought leaders about important possibilities, issues, and challenges in our world today.
Frequently asked questions
Parking information for the President's Speaker Series To activate the Parking information for the President's Speaker Series tab, press your spacebar.
The High Country Conference Center is located at 201 W. Butler Ave. Complimentary parking will be available in the High Country Conference Center Garage.
Upon entry to the garage you will be asked to take a ticket. Please bring it with you to the event to get it validated.
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The President’s Speaker Series will be streamed online. Click here to watch live.