Saba Ahmad is a transformational tech leader who brings a unique blend of business acumen and technical expertise to the table, with extensive work experience in business systems engineering, business development, business change management, strategic corporate planning, marketing, and executive relationship management, across India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the US.
Throughout her career, Saba has implemented cutting-edge technology solutions for global enterprises across diverse industries, helping these organizations solve real business problems through technology solutions for achieving their goals. She’s a change agent at heart, with an unwavering passion for innovation, building high-performance global teams that work collaboratively across borders.
With Saba as the Co Founder and COO at Infoglen, the organization is on its path to succeed and thrive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing digital landscape.
Infoglen, the San Jose-based tech company, is a premium Salesforce consulting company, specializing in delivering high-quality custom solutions to organizations across industries. With a rapidly expanding team spread across the USA, Canada, UAE, and India, Infoglen is geared towards helping clients succeed throughout their digital transformation journey. Whether it involves providing tailored and high-quality technological solutions or strategic technology consulting, Infoglen is recognized for its innovative approach and ability to deliver significant business value to its clients. Their top services include Salesforce implementations of its various clouds like Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Revenue Cloud (CPQ), Marketing Cloud, Field Service, Experience Cloud, Lightning, Einstein, and advanced integrations.
Entrepreneur Insights has recognized Saba Ahmad’s outstanding achievements while representing Infoglen, leading us to name her as one of the Inspirational Business Women to watch in 2023. In a recent interview, she shared her entrepreneurial journey which can serve as an inspiration for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
How did the idea for your business emerge ?
Before founding Infoglen, both Haroon Ahmad (our CEO) and I, worked on Salesforce technology in large multinationals, including Google. We saw a gap in the market for high-quality Salesforce consulting services and were excited by the prospect of building a company that could help other businesses harness the power of this powerful platform. We were driven by a deep passion for the Salesforce technology and its transformative power. We were also motivated to chart our own course and build a business that reflected our values and vision for the future.
What were the key driving forces for you to become an entrepreneur ?
There were many factors at play. Firstly, we were motivated by the challenge of building something from scratch. Overcoming obstacles and creating lasting solutions to solve real-world problems for businesses, excited us. We have been able to streamline operations, improve customer experiences, and help businesses achieve their goals, benefiting employees, customers, and communities.
Secondly, for me entrepreneurship is not just about building a successful business, but how you make a difference in the lives of your employees, contribute to society and the planet, through your business, and build a more sustainable world. Infoglen prioritizes social responsibility and gives back to the community by partnering with local charities and donating to causes aligned with its values. By focusing on our mission and values, we have been able to create a company that is not only successful, but also has a positive impact on the people and communities we serve.
Have you ever faced any gender bias situations in your entrepreneurial journey ?
I have not experienced gender bias at Infoglen. Our core values emphasize equality, and we have implemented policies to ensure inclusion and diversity. We strive to make Infoglen a safe space for everyone. However, outside of our organization, I have encountered instances where I have felt stereotyped based on the assumption that women, particularly in technology, are less competent or knowledgeable than men.
What are the tips to build a successful customer base ?
Infoglen’s success is fueled by strong customer referrals. We have instilled a culture of doing-what-it-takes to deliver successful business outcomes. Our white glove service sets us apart from competitors. We consistently deliver on promises, provide exceptional service, address customer pain points quickly, and go above and beyond to exceed expectations. This approach has earned us the trust and confidence of our clients, who continue to work with us year after year and refer new customers.
What kind of work culture have you established within your organization ?
We believe that our employees are the most valuable asset of our organization. We promote an environment where our team can embrace a shared mission, feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to the organization’s success while also achieving their personal goals.
We prioritize team learning and collaboration by offering initiatives like Infoglen University training sessions and Project Insights sessions, which facilitate cross-project knowledge sharing.
We recognize the importance of empowering women, especially in the tech industry. In 2021, we launched the Women Infogleners Circle (WI Circle) for women employees to come together, share experiences & resources, and support each other. This initiative is shaping Infoglen’s women empowerment agenda, with a focus on creating an inclusive and equitable workplace.
In your journey as an entrepreneur, which milestone were you the most excited to achieve ?
The launch of our first product, Infoglen Pulse, marked an exciting milestone for our organization. Pulse is a revolutionary product geared towards optimizing business processes, with the power of data & insights, on the native Salesforce platform. The second exciting milestone was the launch of GreenGlen, our climate action program, to support reforestation initiatives and raise awareness about plastic pollution. Third, is a very recent milestone that Infoglen achieved – the Salesforce Crest (Gold) Partner Status – demonstrating our team’s expertise, dedication, and commitment to delivering outstanding customer success.
What motivates you the most ?
I am driven by a deep passion for the work that we do, and a strong desire to make a positive impact in the business community and society as a whole. I am also inspired by the idea of creating innovative solutions that can improve people’s lives and businesses. This motivation drives me to work hard and continuously seek ways to improve our products and services, ensuring that we are always delivering value to our customers.
How do you balance your work and family ?
Firstly, I make sure to establish clear boundaries between work and family time by setting specific work hours, and designating specific family time, during which I turn off my phone or email. Secondly, I make a list of priorities and ensure that I prioritize time with my family, even if it means saying “no” to some work commitments or delegating tasks to others. Thirdly, communication is key. I make sure I communicate my work commitments to my family, and involve them in decision-making where required. Lastly, I seek support from family, friends, or colleagues when I need it.
What do you feel are your set of responsibilities and targets for the next five years ?
As the Co-Founder and COO of Infoglen, my focus is on driving growth and success for the next five years. To achieve this I will be developing and executing a long- term strategy which will include identifying growth opportunities, and developing new products and services. My focus will also be on building a high-performing team, by hiring and retaining top talent, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. I will also be driving revenue growth, which means expanding our customer base, and maximizing customer retention. Maintaining a strong relationship with Salesforce is also an important target for me. Finally, I will ensure that we stay ahead of the competition, by delivering innovative solutions, and continuously improving our products and services.
Indrani Banarjee – Entrepreneur Insights