Lesley Ostrowski - Accidental Admin to Empowered Leader
Meet Lesley Ostrowski - a true accidental admin who stepped into the Salesforce world out of necessity when her company suddenly lost its admins. With no prior tech background, she dived in driven by care and determination - and quickly grew into a confident leader, transforming challenges into opportunities. Today, Lesley champions innovation and empowers her team, proving that stepping up can spark a remarkable journey.
Lesley Ostrowski - A Success Story
When COVID hit, Lesley Ostrowski’s company, a global distributor of hardware and software, lost both of its Salesforce admins. With no one left to manage the system, she raised her hand to help the team out and develop her understanding of Salesforce.
“I literally had one day of training from the person leaving,” Lesley recalls. “I was shown how to give user access. That was it. But I wanted to help. I wanted to be useful, so I decided to create a plan of action and start looking at all the ways to learn."
At the time, Lesley was a product owner overseeing renewal applications and RPA tools. She had no background in Salesforce, but she was curious, motivated, and determined to contribute.
She stepped into the role not because she was ready, but because she cared.
“I literally had one day of training from the person leaving,” Lesley recalls. “I was shown how to give user access. That was it. But I wanted to help. I wanted to be useful, so I decided to create a plan of action and start looking at all the ways to learn."
At the time, Lesley was a product owner overseeing renewal applications and RPA tools. She had no background in Salesforce, but she was curious, motivated, and determined to contribute.
She stepped into the role not because she was ready, but because she cared.
For Lesley, taking on Salesforce wasn’t about learning something she wouldn't use; it was about learning the tool, what she could see has so much potential; to do more and help her team more.
“I wanted to be an asset to my team and to the business. I wanted to support them better. And to do that, I needed to know more.”She taught herself what she could with Google and Trailhead, but something was missing. “Trailhead didn’t match how I learn. I needed human interaction, real examples, and the chance to ask ‘why’ and ‘what if’.”
Lesley had already been managing renewal applications and supporting tech projects across the business. But to lead the Salesforce strategy, she knew she had to level up. She approached her leadership and asked for support to join the Get Force Certified Admin Academy. They backed her immediately.
“My company saw it as a win-win. I knew the business inside out, and with admin skills on top, I could do so much more.”
“I wanted to be an asset to my team and to the business. I wanted to support them better. And to do that, I needed to know more.”She taught herself what she could with Google and Trailhead, but something was missing. “Trailhead didn’t match how I learn. I needed human interaction, real examples, and the chance to ask ‘why’ and ‘what if’.”
Lesley had already been managing renewal applications and supporting tech projects across the business. But to lead the Salesforce strategy, she knew she had to level up. She approached her leadership and asked for support to join the Get Force Certified Admin Academy. They backed her immediately.
“My company saw it as a win-win. I knew the business inside out, and with admin skills on top, I could do so much more.”
Finding the Right Learning Fit
Lesley had taken some of Dave Massey’s Udemy courses and seen him buzzing around Dreamforce.“There was this energy around Dave when I saw him at Dreamforce. There was so much happening at that event, but everyone was talking about him. When I saw the Admin Academy, I thought this is exactly what I need.”
The live sessions, held twice a week, provided her with structure. The group dynamic gave her perspective. And Dave’s teaching style brought the material to life.
“When other people asked questions, it triggered things for me. I’d think, ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that, ’ and suddenly we’d be having this deep conversation. I loved that because it brought such richness to the learning and different ways to think about things.”
The course didn’t just prepare her for the exam. It connected theory to practice. Lesley brought her real-life Salesforce challenges to class and got guidance on the spot. The fun elements, including live quizzes, games, and group chats, helped ease the pressure.“The Admin exam is hard, and it's known as not being easy to pass. Dave’s style brought a lightness to it. It helped me keep going as I was managing a full-time job in a hectic period, and I was fully committed to my course.”
Lesley had taken some of Dave Massey’s Udemy courses and seen him buzzing around Dreamforce.“There was this energy around Dave when I saw him at Dreamforce. There was so much happening at that event, but everyone was talking about him. When I saw the Admin Academy, I thought this is exactly what I need.”
The live sessions, held twice a week, provided her with structure. The group dynamic gave her perspective. And Dave’s teaching style brought the material to life.
“When other people asked questions, it triggered things for me. I’d think, ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that, ’ and suddenly we’d be having this deep conversation. I loved that because it brought such richness to the learning and different ways to think about things.”
The course didn’t just prepare her for the exam. It connected theory to practice. Lesley brought her real-life Salesforce challenges to class and got guidance on the spot. The fun elements, including live quizzes, games, and group chats, helped ease the pressure.“The Admin exam is hard, and it's known as not being easy to pass. Dave’s style brought a lightness to it. It helped me keep going as I was managing a full-time job in a hectic period, and I was fully committed to my course.”
Passing the Exam and Keeping the Cheatsheets
By the end of the course, Lesley felt ready.“I wanted to take the exam the very next day. But, with work being so hectic and not wanting to be distracted, I took it the week after, and I passed there and then.”
She attributes her success to Dave’s unique way of reinforcing learning.
“He created 'cheat sheets' that I still use today; they are just so helpful and so down-to-earth when it comes to making you think differently. They were my textbooks. I’d go back to them whenever I got stuck, and they saved me so much time.”
By the end of the course, Lesley felt ready.“I wanted to take the exam the very next day. But, with work being so hectic and not wanting to be distracted, I took it the week after, and I passed there and then.”
She attributes her success to Dave’s unique way of reinforcing learning.
“He created 'cheat sheets' that I still use today; they are just so helpful and so down-to-earth when it comes to making you think differently. They were my textbooks. I’d go back to them whenever I got stuck, and they saved me so much time.”
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Real Impact in the Real World
Within a year of becoming an accidental admin, she has earned her Business Analyst Certification and taken on managing additional responsibilities; she is their CRM Manager, the lead Salesforce Admin, and the company's Product Owner.
Additionally, she leads four Salesforce Admins and plays a key role in migrating her company's EMEA Salesforce organisation to its North American team.
“Now I have the skills, I can actually help shape the platform. I’m not just guessing. I’m building with purpose.” Since completing Admin Academy, Lesley hasn’t stopped. She’s working toward both her AI Specialist and User Experience Designer certifications. “I want to make Salesforce better for our users. If I can improve design and functionality, I can improve their day-to-day experience. That matters to me.”
Serving with Confidence
Lesley’s motivation has always been simple: serve better, support better, lead better. “I wanted to be a better asset to my team and my company. That’s why I did this.”
The Admin Academy helped her gain not just technical knowledge, but confidence. It provided her with a space to ask questions, collaborate with others, and develop into the leader her team needed. And now, she’s exploring what’s next – possibly stepping into a global leadership role as the business evolves.
Lesleys Advice to Others
When asked what she’d say to someone thinking about Admin Academy, Lesley doesn’t hesitate:
“Do it. You’ll get fundamental skills in a real setting with a teacher who truly cares. Dave explains things in a way that makes sense, using real-life examples and breaking down even the most complicated concepts into something digestible. You won’t just learn how to pass the exam; you’ll understand how actually to use Salesforce in your day-to-day role.
The Admin Academy gave me confidence, not just as an admin, but as someone my team can rely on. You’ll come out of it more confident, more capable, and ready to bring real value to your team and organisation.”
Lesley’s motivation has always been simple: serve better, support better, lead better. “I wanted to be a better asset to my team and my company. That’s why I did this.”
The Admin Academy helped her gain not just technical knowledge, but confidence. It provided her with a space to ask questions, collaborate with others, and develop into the leader her team needed. And now, she’s exploring what’s next – possibly stepping into a global leadership role as the business evolves.
Lesleys Advice to Others
When asked what she’d say to someone thinking about Admin Academy, Lesley doesn’t hesitate:
“Do it. You’ll get fundamental skills in a real setting with a teacher who truly cares. Dave explains things in a way that makes sense, using real-life examples and breaking down even the most complicated concepts into something digestible. You won’t just learn how to pass the exam; you’ll understand how actually to use Salesforce in your day-to-day role.
The Admin Academy gave me confidence, not just as an admin, but as someone my team can rely on. You’ll come out of it more confident, more capable, and ready to bring real value to your team and organisation.”
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