In a recent Dreamforce special Cloudely Conversations podcast, Eric Dreshfield hosted a conversation with Salesforce MVP Hall of Famers Elizabeth Davidson, Martin Humpolec, and Shonnah Hughes. Between them, they have attended Dreamforce more than 50 times, offering practical advice and memorable takeaways for both newcomers and seasoned participants.
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Eminent Speakers
Shonnah Hughes is a senior alliances and GTM executive with deep expertise in Salesforce, AI, and ecosystem growth. A Salesforce Hall of Fame MVP and Community Advisory Board member, she is passionate about building inclusive communities, shaping agentic AI strategies, and driving partner-led revenue acceleration.
Elizabeth Davidson is a Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame member with five certifications and over 15 years of experience on the Salesforce platform. With experiences at Dreamforce real and virtual over 15 years, she looks forward to sharing her knowledge of navigating the Salesforce event of the year!
Martin Humpolec is a Salesforce CTA and Hall of fame MVP, being active in the Salesforce ecosystem for the last 13 years as a consultant and architect. He attended 5+ Dreamforce and presented at various Salesforce conferences around the world including Dreamforce.
Host Eric Dreshfield is a Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame member and founder of Midwest DreamIn’ with immense experience in Dreamforce.
Experiences That Stand Out
Elizabeth Davidson shared how Dreamforce has always been about connecting with people:
“Getting to meet all these people that I had met online through the older Dreamforce sites and just the community and getting to put faces with names in 3D, not just on pictures… That’s one of my favourite memories.”
For Martin Humpolec , an unexpected encounter made a strong impression:
“I’ve been in the Trailblazer Forest, and suddenly I realised I’m next to Benioff. All the security details have been around us… That was pretty special to me.”
Shonnah Hughes highlighted the impact of PepUp Tech being featured in the 2019 keynote:
“We were able to bring 75 different students from around the world to participate in the event and to show them what it’s like to really be involved in the tech economy and the ecosystem. It was so magical and so heartwarming.”
Advice for First-Time Attendees
Dreamforce can be overwhelming, with more than 100,000 participants in peak years. The speakers shared strategies to make the experience manageable and rewarding:
- Step outside your comfort zone. “If you’re going to a conference like Dreamforce, it’s imperative that you step outside of that introverted comfort zone,” said Shonnah .
- Engage in conversations. Elizabeth advised, “Basically you see somebody with the matching lanyard… talk to them. Most likely they’re in the same boat as you.”
- Use speaking and volunteering as networking tools. Martin noted, “What works typically on conferences… is being a speaker because then people will come to me and it’s way easier.”
What to Expect in Dreamforce 2025
The group agreed that AgentForce and AI innovations will take center stage. But the value of exploring beyond the main sessions was also emphasized.
“I’m always excited about the sponsors, because I really like to find out about all those applications we can extend the solution with,” said Martin.
Shonnah added, “Going through the campground and viewing all of the partner applications is actually really exciting… The partners are actually extending that platform, and it creates this whole other world for you to dive into.”
Keeping the Spirit Alive After Dreamforce
The discussion also covered how to stay connected beyond the event:
- Trailblazer community and Slack workspaces for ongoing collaboration.
- Local user groups to exchange ideas and updates.
- LinkedIn connections with personalized notes to maintain context.
As Shonnah explained, “When you do connect with someone, immediately send them a message about what your conversation was about… Just so you have context when you want to go back and really engage with that individual.”
Pro Tips for Dreamforce Participation Success
The session closed with three practical “commandments” for anyone attending Dreamforce:
- Wear comfortable shoes. “You’re on your feet and it’s a lot more standing and walking around than you would ever expect.”
- Stay hydrated. “Make sure you are drinking water… It’s important because you get very dry very quickly.”
- Keep protein snacks handy. “This is a marathon, not a sprint… pack your little bag with some snacks, a drink, and something to write with.”
Dreamforce is as much about building relationships as it is about technology. Whether attending in person or virtually, the advice from these experienced MVPs underscores one message: prepare well, engage actively, and make the most of the opportunities the event brings.
Let’s meet at Dreamforce 2025!
Our team is attending Dreamforce 2025! If you’d like to connect, write to us at salesforce@cloudely.com and schedule a meet-and-greet with our team at the event.
