DevOps Diaries, brought to you by Gearset, is the podcast for Salesforce professionals to hear stories from folks in the Trailblazer ecosystem responsible for delivering awesome Salesforce implementations — the trials, tribulations, and successes. Hosted by Jack McCurdy.
Listen to episodes
60 recent
June 9, 2026Episode 7543 min
074 — Why community is essential in Salesforce's AI-forward future
Jack sits down with Denise Carbone, two-decade Salesforce veteran, MVP, co-leader of the Chicago Admin User Group, and Director of Delivery at ImagineCRM. Denise has seen more of this ecosystem than almost anyone. From the pre-Trailhead days of learning through user groups, to the Lightning migration wars, to where we are now with AI reshaping what it means to work in Salesforce. Her perspective is hard-won, warm, and reassuring for anyone feeling uncertain about what comes next.The conversation covers how to build a network with intention rather than just collecting LinkedIn connections, why domain knowledge is a bigger differentiator than most people realise, and why the business analyst mindset (process first, technology second) has never been more valuable than it is right now. Denise shares how her team is actually using AI in delivery work today, closes with a reflection on what corporations can learn from the mission-driven focus of the nonprofit world.
May 21, 202639 min
074 — Make SOX audits easy with Salesforce DevOps!
Jack sits down with Tapan Patel, Gearset DevOps Leader for 2026 and DevOps Lead for the Salesforce practice at Braze, a publicly traded omnichannel platform where every change management decision is subject to SOX audit scrutiny. Tapan brings a rare blend of project delivery experience, release management rigour, and genuine passion for building DevOps not just as a set of processes, but as a culture.The episode is a masterclass in phased, people-first DevOps rollout. Tapan walks through exactly how he's taken Braze from change sets and manual deployments to a governed, audit-ready CI/CD pipeline over the past year and a half — breaking it down into four distinct phases and sharing what actually worked, what took longer than expected, and where he's headed next. Tapan shares his rounded take on AI, including where it's already adding value in the pipeline today, why agentic autonomy in prod is still a way off, and how Claude, Jira and Gearset's reporting API are becoming a powerful combination for DevOps KPI tracking.00:01 – Intro & Meet Tapan Patel00:40 – Tapan's Journey: From Data & Analytics to Salesforce DevOps02:12 – What DevOps Actually Means as an Organisational Culture04:10 – DevOps in a SOX-Audited, Publicly Traded Company05:10 – The State of DevOps at Braze When Tapan Joined08:14 – Shifting Mindsets From Change Sets to a DevOps Tool10:32 – Precision Deployments: Why Page Layouts Break Everything11:49 – Stakeholder Visibility & the Value of Issue Tracking Integration13:36 – What Tapan Values Most About Gearset15:53 – The Four Phases of CI/CD Rollout at Braze19:16 – Phase Two: Stabilisation & SOX Integration20:30 – Phase Three: Automation Layers & QA Integration21:18 – Phase Four: Maturity & Minimal Intervention22:55 – The Admin Learning Curve for DevOps Adoption25:25 – Continuous Improvement as a Practice, Not a Project28:34 – Where AI Fits Into the DevOps Pipeline Right Now31:07 – Supplementary vs. Agentic AI: Why Tapan Is Taking It Slow33:14 – Using Claude + Gearset Data for Sprint Analysis & KPI Tracking36:00 – The DevOps KPIs That Matter at Braze37:24 – Closing Advice for Anyone Starting Their DevOps Journey
April 21, 2026Episode 7341 min
073 — Mike Dickson: Successful Salesforce data strategy!
Tune in to hear everything from why data projects are chronically underestimated at the exec level, to what a proper data strategy actually looks like when you strip away the buzzwords. Mike gets practical on data migrations, data cleanup, and the hidden gotchas that trip teams up when they start handing control to agentic AI. Before finding his way into Salesforce consulting, Mike Dickson cycled solo across Canada, studied mechanical engineering, and cut his teeth on some of the most data-rich implementations in the nonprofit space. That analytical, problem-solving mindset shapes everything he has to say about why so many organisations are sleepwalking into their AI ambitions without the data foundation to back them up.Mike and Jack close things out with a thread about what commercial organisations can learn from the nonprofit world when it comes to relationships, relevance, and not being noisy.00:01 Intro & Meet Mike Dickson00:13 Why Data Is So Important in Salesforce01:47 Mike's Background: Mechanical Engineering & Cycling Across Canada05:12 Lessons from the Road That Still Apply Today07:53 10 Years in the Ecosystem: The Rise of Data08:17 Starting in the Nonprofit Space & Why Nonprofits Were Data-Rich Early Adopters12:25 Data Migrations: Why They're Harder Than Anyone Thinks15:58 Is the Complexity of Data Projects Misunderstood at the Exec Level?19:01 What a Solid Data Strategy Actually Looks Like22:08 Start With the Business Objective, Not the Data23:13 How to Approach a Data Cleanup Project26:49 The Hidden Gotcha: Records That Can't Be Saved Anymore27:04 Don't Boil the Ocean — Chunk It Up30:14 Data Migration Tips & How to Avoid Disaster33:22 The Right Tooling for the Job35:36 Data Doesn't Sit in a Vacuum36:05 What Nonprofits & Commercial Orgs Can Learn From Each Other40:15 Where to Find Mike & Speediful
April 7, 2026Episode 7246 min
072 — Mike Gerholdt: The future of Salesforce Admins
With agentic AI reshaping what it means to work in Salesforce, Mike Gerholdt makes a compelling case for why the role of a Salesforce Admin isn't shrinking, but shifting. The value was never really in the buttons Salesforce admins click, but in the judgments they make.Jack chats to Mike about everything from the principle of least privilege in an agentic world, to whether generalist or specialist skills will win out as the platform keeps expanding. Mike also shares why the admin who hoards their knowledge, whether that's contacts in a Rolodex or config know-how in their head, is ultimately doing their organisation and themselves a disservice. Plus, with TDX just around the corner at the time of recording, Mike gives a preview of what makes that event different from every other Salesforce gathering on the calendar.00:01 Intro & Meet Mike Gerholdt01:32 Why Admins Shouldn't Fear the AI Revolution04:14 Decisioning is Cheap, Judgment is Expensive06:35 What a Salesforce Org Actually Is07:28 The Mundane Stuff vs. The Valuable Stuff10:27 Why Admins Have an Emotional Response to AI11:19 Identity, Expertise & the Evolving Admin Role13:44 Security, Permissions & Principle of Least Privilege17:14 Trust, Vibe Coding & the AI Learning Curve19:51 Why Tools Like Gearset Still Matter21:03 AI Won't Replace Admins — Here's Why23:43 How Engineers Are Actually Using AI Day-to-Day26:48 Security Guardrails in an Agentic World31:02 User Experience as a Specialisation32:47 Generalist vs. Specialist: Where Should You Focus?38:26 You're Not Learning to Drive Until After You Pass Your Test40:59 What to Look Forward to at TDX44:22 Final Bits of Wisdom
March 23, 2026Episode 7152 min
071 — Matt Dickens (CPO, Gearset): Moving beyond AI's veneer of value
After 70 episodes, Jack finally gets Gearset's CPO and co-founder Matt Dickens! The conversation goes deep on what it means to build something people want to use, as well as why most teams, whether they're building product or building on Salesforce, are asking the wrong questions. Matt shares his honest take on AI. Why the barrier to doing things has never been lower, why that's not the same as the barrier to doing something valuable, and why verticalized AI solutions will win out over general purpose tools for teams that actually want ROI. Tune in for a rare peek behind the curtain from someone who thinks about these problems every single day.00:00 Intro & Meet Matt Dickens00:44 From EA Game Dev to Gearset Co-Founder02:23 The Founding Story: How Gearset Was Born Inside Redgate04:48 Why the Salesforce Ecosystem Is Unlike Any Other06:02 Salesforce Teams vs. Traditional Software Engineering09:52 How the Salesforce DevOps Landscape Has Shifted11:23 How Gearset's Own DevOps Practices Have Evolved12:41 Building Products People Actually Want to Use16:44 What "Job to Be Done" Really Means at Gearset20:36 Advice for Junior Salesforce Professionals in the Age of AI22:02 Expose Your Ignorance: The Most Underrated Career Skill26:13 Lead with Curiosity: Jack & Matt's Shared Philosophy28:44 AI in the Salesforce Ecosystem: The Opportunity & The Trap33:20 General Purpose vs. Verticalized AI Tools41:29 How Gearset Is Thinking About AI46:51 Closing Advice for the Salesforce Ecosystem52:13 Wrap Up
March 5, 2026Episode 7037 min
070 — Paul Calf: From audit fail to DevOps pipeline success!
Jack sits down with Paul Calf (Salesforce Release Manager at Standard Life, and Gearset DevOps Leader for 2026) to talk through a decade-long Salesforce journey that took him from accidental admin to release manager. Paul gets candid about the failed audit that forced his team to get serious about governance, what it looked like to build a compliant release process from scratch, and why cherry-picking components in VS Code nearly broke him (and the team).The conversation goes beyond tooling. Paul opens up about the culture-first approach his team takes to collaboration, from daily standups to blameless post-mortems, and what happens when someone accidentally data loads the wrong file into prod. He also shares his take on evaluating DevOps tools, approval bottlenecks, and how his financial services org is treading carefully, but deliberately, into AI territory.About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKWChapters:00:00 – Intro & Meet Paul Calf02:00 – The Accidental Admin Origin Story03:44 – The Audit That Changed Everything05:28 – Building a Release Process from Scratch08:00 – From Change Sets to Gearset09:34 – Tackling Approval Bottlenecks12:43 – Breaking Down Silos & Building a Collaborative Culture15:42 – Blameless Culture & Owning Your Mistakes18:55 – Lessons from Building a DevOps Pipeline22:29 – Cherry Picking: A Horror Story25:40 – How to Evaluate DevOps Tooling28:11 – Continuous Improvement as a Mindset30:15 – Approaching AI in a Regulated Industry33:46 – Final Advice for Salesforce & DevOps Teams37:20 – Wrapping Up
February 19, 2026Episode 6939 min
069 — Dan Barckley: Accidental admin, intentional architect!
What happens when you deploy to prod on a Friday and it starts firing emails to every customer? Dan Barckley has lived it — and it's why he's now a DevOps believer. In this episode: accidental admin origins, why simple beats complex every time, Agentforce skepticism, and the leadership mindset that changes everything.About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKWChapters:01:36 Introducing Daniel Barckley: A Journey in Salesforce04:16 The Joy of Problem Solving in DevOps07:05 Learning from Mistakes: The Accidental Admin09:35 Tinkering and Innovation: Building in Salesforce12:37 The Importance of Mentorship and Leadership15:21 Characteristics of Great Leaders18:18 Navigating the Salesforce Ecosystem20:46 The Future of Salesforce: AI and Automation23:46 Data Management and Business Continuity26:43 Iterative Development and Continuous Improvement29:19 Embracing Change in the Tech World32:11 Closing Thoughts: Lead with Curiosity
January 15, 2026Episode 6845 min
068 — Sam Crossland: Securing AI Code & Mastering DevOps Fundamentals
Sam Crossland returns to DevOps Diaries to dissect the evolving world of Salesforce development and AI-generated code. As artificial intelligence reshapes the coding landscape, Sam and Jack go beyond the hype to discuss the real risks and rewards. They explore why trusting AI-generated code without strict quality gates is a dangerous game, emphasizing that human oversight remains the ultimate security protocol for reliable software delivery.However, technology is only half the battle. Sam advocates for a return to the fundamentals that drive high-performing teams, highlighting the critical importance of robust documentation and the use of RACI metrics to clarify roles. The conversation dives deep into the necessity of continuous improvement, offering practical strategies for chipping away at technical debt and measuring success through meaningful metrics. Whether you are navigating the complexities of AI integration or simply seeking to streamline your team’s workflow, this episode offers the strategic blueprint you need to thrive in the modern DevOps lifecycle. Tune in now to discover how to perfectly balance innovation with reliability.
December 11, 2025Episode 6735 min
067 — Nicolas Vuillamy: CTO, DevOps enthusiast, and open-source champion!
Jack sits down to talk all things Salesforce DevOps, open-source, and career development in an AI-forward world with Nicolas Vuillamy. They discuss the often-overlooked reality that DevOps is a mindset, not just a set of buttons to push and Nicolas opens up about the responsibilities of technical leadership. Also discussed are the "threat" and opportunity of AI, and why getting involved in open-source projects might be the single best move you can make for your career. Whether you are a junior developer or an aspiring architect, this conversation offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of Salesforce in 2026 and beyond.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Open Source and DevOps02:43 The Value of Open Source Collaboration05:13 Journey into Salesforce and Trailhead07:42 Understanding DevOps in Salesforce09:54 SFDX Hardis: A DevOps Tool for Salesforce12:31 Challenges in Salesforce DevOps15:29 The Role of AI in Salesforce18:02 Career Advice for Aspiring Salesforce Professionals20:31 The Importance of Collaboration in Tech23:05 The Evolving Role of a CTO25:56 Predictions for the Future of Salesforce and DevOps
November 13, 2025Episode 6651 min
066 — Ana Moreno: Lessons from a Salesforce Release Engineer in DevSecOps!
Do you actually need a Release Engineer to manage Salesforce DevOps? Ana Moreno joins Jack to share her incredible (and truly accidental) journey from the world of art history to the heart of tech. Before they dive into release management, Jack derails the conversation to hear all about the fascinating world of art fraud, including tales of Man Ray's lost negatives and fake Victorian photographs.Once back on track, Ana pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to manage a complex, high-stakes Salesforce release process at a company that lives and breathes DevOps.Tune in to learn:- What the day-to-day life of a dedicated Release Engineer actually looks like.- How GitLab manages weekly Salesforce releases with a 30+ person team across five pods.- Strategies for handling merge conflicts as a "necessary evil."- Ana's top advice for teams looking to overhaul their process (Hint: It's not just about buying a tool).- The practical role AI is playing in their DevOps cycle today.About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2Subscribe to Gearset's YouTube channel: https://grst.co/4cTAAxmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gearsetX/Twitter: https://x.com/GearsetHQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/gearsethqAbout Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKWChapters:00:00 Welcome Ana Moreno, Salesforce Release Engineer at GitLab02:36 Ana's journey: The "Accidental Admin"03:30 From art history to tech09:33 Let's talk about art fraud!15:14 From Admin to Release Engineer22:35 What does a Release Engineer actually do all day?25:48 Inside GitLab's weekly Salesforce release cycle28:09 The challenge of managing 1,000+ Apex tests33:07 Taming the "necessary evil" of merge conflicts38:41 Key advice for teams overhauling their DevOps process46:12 The real-world future of AI in the DevOps pipeline50:57 Ana's Final Mantra
Is this your show?
Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.
