# Heather Conklin

> Heather Conklin is CEO of Torch, a San Francisco-based digital coaching platform that pairs leaders with expert coaches to drive measurable behavior change at scale. A Salesforce veteran who spent nine years there - culminating as SVP & GM of Trailhead - she joined Torch as COO in 2022 before being elevated to CEO in August 2024. Her philosophy blends behavioral science, data-driven measurement, and the radical idea that vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness.

- **Role:** CEO at Torch
- **Organizations:** Torch, Salesforce
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Logistics/Supply Chain Management, University of Maryland, College Park
- **Known for:** Led Salesforce's Trailhead platform as SVP & GM - overseeing product, engineering, marketing, and go-to-market, Founded Salesforce's Associate Product Manager (APM) Program in 2018 in partnership with Bret Taylor, Guided Torch through post-Series C growth as COO before ascending to CEO

## Career timeline

- **2002-2006** — BS in Marketing and Logistics/Supply Chain Management, University of Maryland
- **2006-2015** — Various roles at Salesforce spanning 9 years
- **2018** — Founded Salesforce's Associate Product Manager (APM) Program in partnership with Bret Taylor
- **2015-2022** — SVP & General Manager of Trailhead at Salesforce - responsible for product, engineering, marketing, and go-to-market
- **2019** — Maternity leave and transformative encounter with Brené Brown's work reshaped her leadership philosophy
- **2022-06** — Joined Torch as Chief Operating Officer
- **2024-08** — Promoted to CEO of Torch; co-founder Cameron Yarbrough transitions to Executive Chair

## Achievements

- Led Salesforce's Trailhead platform as SVP & GM - overseeing product, engineering, marketing, and go-to-market
- Founded Salesforce's Associate Product Manager (APM) Program in 2018 in partnership with Bret Taylor
- Guided Torch through post-Series C growth as COO before ascending to CEO
- Elevated to CEO of Torch in August 2024, succeeding co-founder Cameron Yarbrough
- Authored research-backed perspectives on AI adoption failures linked to leadership gaps, cited in Fortune (October 2025)
- Featured at Concordia Summit as speaker on leadership development
- Built Salesforce's Integrated Customer Experience group focused on Customer 360 vision

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Featured in Fortune article on AI adoption failures, arguing that 95% of generative AI pilots fail due to leadership gaps, not technology - and that coaching is the missing link
- **2024-08** — Promoted from COO to CEO of Torch; co-founder Cameron Yarbrough transitions to Executive Chair role
- **2022-05** — Torch raised $40M Series C led by 137 Ventures with Initialized Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, and Obvious Ventures participating

## Links

- Website: https://torch.io
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherconklin/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/_HeatherConklin
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hc_conklin/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/torchlabs/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/heather-conklin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-26