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Jada Gonzales Pi Zeta - Arizona State University
Sr. Salesforce Technology Consultant, Salesforce Center of Excellence, Southwest Airlines Headquarters
Which of the Delta Zeta shared values resonates with you the most? 0
Can you share a brief 5-7 sentence biography about yourself, highlight key moments in your career that have shaped who you are today?
As the first person in her family to go to college, Jada had to navigate the journey entirely on her own — from getting there to figuring out how to make it work. With a passion for creativity and strategy, she pursued a degree in marketing and film at Arizona State University, determined to carve out a path for herself.
Her first year after college, she made a bold career pivot — one that would change everything. She transitioned from marketing to technology, stepping into a world where she had to learn everything from scratch, without prior technical experience. What could have been overwhelming instead felt natural — technology clicked, problem-solving became second nature, and she quickly mastered Salesforce, automation and enterprise cloud solutions.
Her first major role in the technology industry, as a Salesforce Adoption Manager in Oahu, Hawaii, became a defining moment. Tasked with implementing Salesforce across seven sales teams spanning multiple states, she faced immediate resistance and technological challenges. But rather than backing down, Jada leaned in. She built trust, created training programs, optimized workflows and transformed user adoption rates. This experience proved her success wasn’t just about understanding technology, it was about people, communication and driving meaningful change.
Determined to expand her expertise, she took another bold step by going back to school at Southern Methodist University (SMU) to study coding and cloud technologies. This decision propelled her forward, leading her into Salesforce consulting, where she delivered high-impact enterprise solutions across finance and banking, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing, retail and marketing.
Today, as a Senior Salesforce Technology Consultant at Southwest Airlines’ Center of Excellence, she is at the forefront of innovation, leading enterprise-wide Salesforce strategy, governance and digital transformation.
From being the first in her family to graduate college, to making a daring industry shift, to mastering technology at a rapid pace, and ultimately becoming a leader in enterprise tech and digital innovation, Jada is proof that success isn’t about where you start, but how boldly you move forward.
Who has been an invaluable mentor for your professional career? What did you learn from this friendship?
Looking back on my career, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of Cheston and Sue, my two managers at my very first Salesforce role. They weren’t just bosses, they were two of the biggest influences in shaping the way I approach my career and life.
From the beginning, they challenged me, and never let me take the easy way out. They taught me that hard work and determination will always be more valuable than talent alone, that running away when things get hard is never the answer and the best things in life come from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
There were times when I felt overwhelmed, when the learning curve was steep and when I doubted myself. Instead of letting me sink, they made me rise. They showed me that every challenge is an opportunity to better myself.
They also taught me one of the most valuable lessons of all: the biggest rewards come from taking risks. If you want an extraordinary life, you can’t play it safe. You have to be willing to step into the unknown and trust yourself. That lesson has stuck with me in every career move I’ve made.
Their mentorship is something I will carry with me forever, and I am endlessly grateful for the impact they’ve had on my journey.
How did you discover your passion and what opportunities have helped shape your curiosity for what you do?
I never could have predicted that Salesforce would become my passion. In fact, when I applied for my first Salesforce role, I had zero technical background. I just had a willingness to learn, an eagerness to grow and a gut feeling that this was an opportunity worth taking.
It was a risk. I could have played it safe and stayed in my comfort zone. Instead, something told me to bet on myself.
The moment I stepped into that role, I dove in full force. I soaked up everything I could, from learning system architecture to understanding automation, workflows and security. What started as a challenge quickly became something that felt natural to me. I found myself excited to tackle complex challenges, optimize processes and create solutions that actually made a difference.
Salesforce wasn’t just another job, it became a passion, a career, and a space where I could push myself to innovate and grow. That single decision to take a risk on something new set me on a path that led me to my dream role at Southwest Airlines.
Just like my career in Salesforce started with a leap of faith, my journey into modeling and pageantry was another chapter that unfolded naturally from a passion I discovered in childhood, which was dance.
Growing up as a dancer, I was drawn to the art of performance. Dance gave me discipline, confidence and a deep love for being on stage.
That foundation in dance led me into the world of modeling and pageantry. What started as an extension of my passion for performance quickly became a space where I could blend creativity with confidence, and grace with grit. Walking the runways of New York Fashion Week, earning international magazine features and competing in major pageants wasn’t just about aesthetics, it was about challenging myself to push boundaries and shine.
Looking ahead in your career, how do you envision continuing to incorporate generosity into your leadership style and professional endeavors?
Generosity has always been at the heart of how I approach both my career and my leadership style. Looking ahead, I envision continuing to incorporate generosity in my professional endeavors by lifting others as I climb, creating opportunities for growth, and fostering a culture of mentorship, collaboration and empowerment.
As the first person in my family to go to college and after making a career change, I know how valuable support can be. Because of that, I want to be the mentor that I once needed by helping others navigate their own journeys.
I want to help more professionals, particularly women and underrepresented groups in technology, to feel empowered.
Beyond my career in tech, my experiences in modeling, pageantry and entertainment have given me a platform to inspire others. I want to continue using that platform to remind people that success is not just about talent, it’s about believing in yourself even when others don’t.
For me, generosity is about paying forward the lessons I’ve learned and opening doors for others. Whether it’s in technology, fashion, or storytelling, my goal is to leave every space better than I found it because true success isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about how many people you bring with you along the way.
How has your community helped you professionally? Is there a friend (or Delta Zeta sister) that has been behind you every step of the way on your career journey?
Success is never a solo journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the incredible community that has supported me.
From the very start, I’ve surrounded myself with people who believe in me, even when I doubt myself. My best friends from Delta Zeta in college were my first true support system, cheering me on as I navigated being the first in my family to go to college. They were there for every success, setback and every moment in between. To this day, we are just as close, and their unwavering support has been a foundation in my life.
What does empowerment mean to you, and how have you worked to empower others in your career or personal life?
I’ve learned that true empowerment comes from betting on yourself, whether it was applying for my first Salesforce role, stepping onto a runway for the first time, or pushing through the discomfort of breaking into male-dominated industries. Every time I’ve faced a challenge, I’ve grown stronger. And that’s what empowerment is: choosing to show up for yourself, even when it’s hard.
But empowerment isn’t just personal — it’s collective. It’s about building up others and making sure the next person has an easier path than you did. I’ve been fortunate to have been surrounded by those who believed in me, and now, I want to do the same for others. I believe empowerment is something we pass forward.
At its core, empowerment is about breaking barriers and stepping fully into who you are without asking for permission. It’s about knowing that you belong in every room you step into and that your dreams are just as important as anyone else’s.
For me, empowerment is a way of life. It’s not just something I strive for, it’s something I choose to embody every single day.
What does it mean to you to create an environment of belonging for others, and how do you carry that lesson into your personal and professional life?
Creating a true environment of belonging starts with empathy and taking the time to truly understand people for who they are and where they come from.
I know firsthand that not everyone starts from the same place. I understand what it feels like to walk into a room and feel like you don’t belong. I also know what it means to work twice as hard to create opportunities that others may have had handed to them. That perspective has shaped how I work to make others feel that they belong.
To create an environment of belonging, I focus on three things:
Leading with Empathy – I believe the best way to make someone feel like they belong is to genuinely listen and understand where they’re coming from. Everyone has a story, and sometimes, all it takes is one person who sees their potential to help them rise. I make it a priority to meet people where they are, recognize their challenges and help them navigate a path forward.
Creating Space for Others – Belonging isn’t just about feeling welcomed; it’s about feeling valued. I actively work to make sure others feel included, in every aspect of my life. I do my best to make sure people understand that I see their value and urge them to take leeps of faith into experiences that might have once seemed out of reach.
Opening Doors & Paying It Forward – I believe that if you’ve been able to climb, you should be reaching back to help others up. Success means nothing if you don’t create opportunities for others along the way. I want to make sure that people, especially those who come from nothing, know that they belong.
At the heart of it all, I want people to know that they don’t have to fit a certain mold to succeed. No matter one’s background, they belong here. And if I can help create that environment where people feel supported, then I know I’m doing something right.