The Night Stevie Wonder Stole the Show: Elizabeth Davidson’s 15-Year Love Affair with Dreamforce Community

About Elizabeth Davidson

Salesforce.com MVP Hall of Fame

Elizabeth Davidson has been attending Dreamforce since 2010, making her one of the veteran community members who’s witnessed the evolution of both the platform and the incredible community that surrounds it. Elizabeth brings a unique perspective shaped by over a decade of Dreamforce experiences—from that very first community keynote where she watched her friends become the inaugural class of Salesforce MVPs to countless connections made in session queues and volunteer opportunities. Her Dreamforce philosophy is refreshingly simple: comfortable shoes, genuine connections, and always being ready to help the person next to you. What makes Elizabeth’s story special isn’t any single dramatic transformation, but rather the consistent thread of community generosity that has defined her entire Salesforce journey.

Elizabeth’s Journey Highlights:

🎵 Witnessed the legendary unplanned Stevie Wonder interview in 2010

👥 Part of the original Dreamforce community from the platform’s early days

🤝 Passionate advocate for genuine connections over agenda-cramming

👟 Unwavering champion of comfortable shoes (seriously, she mentions this a lot)

💡 Answers Bar volunteer helping newcomers find their community footing

🎯 Believes in community as “year-round Dreamforce”

❤️ 15+ years of consistent Dreamforce attendance and community involvement

When Bill Clinton Was Late and Stevie Wonder Changed Everything

Elizabeth’s first Dreamforce in 2010 was supposed to be about one thing, but became about something completely different—and that difference shaped her entire relationship with the event.

“Bill Clinton was supposed to be the big keynote speaker but was running late. The room was full of attendees waiting and Marc Benioff took matters into his own hands. That was the night of the unexpected interview with Stevie Wonder.”

What happened next encapsulated everything that would come to define Dreamforce for Elizabeth: “Hearing what Stevie said about helping each other just emphasized all the reasons I was there and enjoying my new Salesforce career. It was completely unplanned and yet one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever witnessed.”

The irony wasn’t lost on her: “Bill did show and did speak, but honestly I was still thinking so much about what Stevie and Marc had shared I barely heard him.”

That unplanned moment became her framework for understanding what Dreamforce really is: “That’s what Dreamforce became to me—a place to reconnect in person with people who had become friends from afar while showing what can happen when people are kind and encourage each other to do better and be better in their careers and as humans.”

The Moment She Realized Her Friends Were MVPs

Elizabeth’s biggest “aha moment” didn’t come from a session or a demo—it came from watching people she cared about get the recognition they deserved.

“At the first community keynote, I was sitting with all my new friends I’d met in the community and excited to listen to Erica Kuhl speak. She announced the first class of Salesforce MVPs and asked them to come up to the stage.”

The realization hit her in waves: “I was first shocked when I realized she was calling all my friends and then realized how proud I was to see them get this recognition. They had all helped me get started and encouraged me to be involved in the community because that’s just what the Salesforce community does for one another.”

This moment crystallized something important about the Salesforce ecosystem: “Even though I was new to the platform, I had insights and experiences to share and was welcomed with open arms.”

The lasting impact was profound: “As much as I love Salesforce, it has been and remains the generosity of the community which keeps me engaged and excited and wanting to contribute back as much as I can.”

Community as a Year-Round Philosophy

When asked about the most valuable thing she learned at Dreamforce, Elizabeth’s answer is consistent and unwavering: “The community. It always comes back to the community for me because I know there are people who are just as geeky as I am about the platform but more importantly, committed to helping each other in their own ways.”

This philosophy extends far beyond the conference itself. Elizabeth sees community as a lifestyle, not just an event: “Community is a year round Dreamforce—and even has sparked community sponsored events such as the various Dreamin’ events!”

Her perspective on community support is deeply personal: “The community has been there since the beginning for me—when I was a new solo admin with no idea what I was getting into. The community has given me opportunities to learn, to share and to grow in my career and as a person.”

The Answers Bar: Where Helping Others Becomes the Best Session

While most people think of sessions and keynotes as the heart of Dreamforce, Elizabeth found her most impactful experiences in a different venue entirely.

“Participating in the answers bar—getting to meet new people who had questions and finding I could help them and encourage them to participate in the community when they went home.”

This experience became more meaningful to her than any formal session: it was about “getting to meet new people who had questions and finding I could help them and encourage them to participate in the community when they went home.”

The Answers Bar represents everything Elizabeth values about Dreamforce: real people with real questions getting real help from community members who genuinely want to see them succeed.

A Networking Philosophy Built on Kindness

Elizabeth’s approach to Dreamforce networking is refreshingly authentic and human-centered.

“Keep an open mind. Listen to the people around you and join in. If someone looks lost, ask if you can help them. Basically be kind and engage with people around you.”

Her advice acknowledges that networking can feel overwhelming, especially for introverts: “Even if you are introverted, you’ll find kindred spirits and maybe they will be the key to resolving a problem you’re experiencing or you will be the key for them!”

Most importantly, she advocates for prioritizing relationships over agenda items: “Don’t hesitate to prioritize the relationships you are building over racing to another session.”

This philosophy has served her well over 15 years of Dreamforce attendance, creating connections that have lasted far beyond any individual conference.

The Wisdom of Experience: Practical Advice That Actually Matters

After attending Dreamforce 5+ times, Elizabeth’s advice is wonderfully practical and specific.

Her number one tip comes with emphasis: “1- COMFORTABLE SHOES. There is a lot of standing and walking—wear shoes that will support you through it all. Don’t worry about how cute your shoes are—functional shoes win every time.”

But she doesn’t stop there: “2- Make sure you get protein and keep hydrated. 3- Take breaks when you need to—get some sleep. It is a marathon not a sprint—there is so much going on and so many potential choices, know you can not do everything and accept the things you do do!”

Her preparation advice is equally practical: “Get your flu shot at least two weeks before and find the shoes you want to wear and break them in before you ever get near the campus. And pack a collapsible bag if you need to stop by a store, you can avoid the charge for bags.”

The biggest mistakes she sees? “Wearing uncomfortable shoes. Not taking care of your body—make sure you eat, drink and sleep. Not talking to anyone.”

What Really Matters at Dreamforce

Elizabeth’s recommendations for what not to miss reveal her values perfectly.

“Meeting the person sitting next to you at a session or workshop or in a line or just hanging out at lunch. Spend some time enjoying the music or volunteering!”

Her focus isn’t on specific sessions or speakers—it’s on the human connections that happen in the spaces between the official programming. Whether you’re waiting in line, sitting next to someone at lunch, or volunteering together, those are the moments that create lasting relationships.

This perspective comes from someone who’s seen Dreamforce evolve over more than a decade and understands what creates lasting value versus what’s just momentarily exciting.

The Enduring Impact of Consistent Community Engagement

Elizabeth’s Dreamforce story isn’t about a single transformation or dramatic career change—it’s about the cumulative impact of consistent community engagement over more than a decade.

“My Dreamforce experiences continue to inspire me and firmly commit to the platform as a career choice. I have absolutely no regrets.”

When asked about meaningful connections, her response reveals the breadth of relationships she’s built: “I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many people calling one out is difficult. They’ve all been important to me for various reasons—some because of work and some because of the time and circumstance.”

This reflects someone who approaches Dreamforce—and the Salesforce community—with genuine curiosity about people and authentic interest in building relationships that matter.

Looking Ahead: Still Deciding, Still Excited

Even after 15 years of attendance, Elizabeth’s approach to Dreamforce 2025 reflects someone who hasn’t lost her enthusiasm for the community aspects that drew her in originally.

Her excitement if she attends? “Seeing friends and meeting new friends from the community! Getting encouraged and excited for the platform!”

Her main goal remains consistent with her long-term philosophy: “Connections and learning about real life examples of using new features.”

This focus on “real life examples” reflects the wisdom of someone who’s learned that the most valuable insights often come from peer conversations rather than polished presentations.

The Simple Truth About Dreamforce

Elizabeth’s story offers something different from the typical Dreamforce transformation narrative. Instead of dramatic career pivots or breakthrough moments, she represents the steady, consistent value of community engagement over time.

Her advice for anyone considering attendance is characteristically direct: “If you get the chance to go—DO IT.”

But her real message is deeper: Dreamforce is valuable not because of the technology demonstrations or the celebrity keynotes, but because of the people you meet and the relationships you build. The community that helped her as a new solo admin in 2010 is the same community she’s been contributing to for over a decade.

The thread that runs through Elizabeth’s entire Dreamforce experience—from watching her friends become the first MVPs to volunteering at the Answers Bar to prioritizing the person sitting next to you—is that the Salesforce community succeeds because people like Elizabeth show up consistently, help generously, and remember that behind every badge is a real person with real challenges who can benefit from encouragement and support.

Sometimes the most profound impact comes not from dramatic transformation, but from steady, generous participation in a community that values helping each other succeed. Elizabeth’s 15-year Dreamforce journey is proof that this approach creates lasting value for both individuals and the broader ecosystem.

And yes, she really, really wants you to wear comfortable shoes.