Meet Trailblazing Partner Mitch Gouss of OwnBackup

Mitch Gouss spent much of his career in the high-stress nature of direct sales, but his latest role at OwnBackup helps him learn more and stress less. “I am influencing everything from marketing to leadership discussions.” That’s an exciting opportunity for this trailblazing partner, because he’s learning new things, flexing his creative muscle, and making an impact on the business. This movie buff’s passion for creativity, business success, and health was what intrigued us to interview him to find out more.

Tell us more about your role at OwnBackup.

Mitch: I'm part of the executive team at OwnBackup, and I have a big impact on the direction of the company, especially as it relates to the partnership with Salesforce. This role allows me to scratch the itch of things that I couldn’t really do in sales. I originally wanted to be in the film industry, either as a writer or director. I love movies. At one point I was going to be an advertising copywriter. I've always had a very creative part of me. This role allows my creativity to shine. That's what I've always been looking for in my career.

What have been some of your challenges to get to this point in your career?

Mitch: While I've been very successful in my sales career, it’s stressful, and I'm a high-stress individual. Direct sales was taking a toll on me and my family. The Salesforce ecosystem gave me the opportunity to get into alliances and do something that I love, while reducing my stress levels. That will not only elongate my career, but my life.

Salesforce saved me. It allowed me to make a change in my career at a stage where a lot of people can't make changes. For that, I'm really grateful.

How do you continue to learn and grow, and how do you find the time to do it?

Mitch: Finding the time is the key. That's a very, very hard thing to do. I travel throughout the U.S. and Europe and meet different groups and cultures. That’s probably the best way that I learn. I also learn on my own when the kids are asleep and my wife is doing her work. I'm a big LinkedIn person, so I learn a lot from articles and connections there. I’m starting to get into Trailhead. As somebody who wants to continually push themselves and be at the forefront of the partnership with Salesforce, it is really important to always be learning.

What does being a Trailblazer mean to you?

Mitch: A trailblazing partner is a good representation of what a partner can and should do; to help to educate the ecosystem about the best ways to work with Salesforce; and to educate Salesforce about the best ways to work with partners.

A Trailblazer helps others have similar successes. There are some people that say, ‘Don't share your secret sauce.’ And say, ‘It's not secret sauce, because it's not something that's a secret.’ I want people to do well, and that’s not going to diminish what I do.

This is about leading the pack, doing things in a new way, and sharing successes so that others can follow.

Check out OwnBackup on AppExchange.