Let me tell you about the time I implemented Salesforce across Sub-Saharan Africa and unintentionally turned a software rollout into a travel blog… with a splash of drama (literally).
So there I was, responsible for rolling out Salesforce in my region, coordinating with Tracy (my calm-in-the-storm sidekick) and Steve, the implementation manager flown in from Dubai. Now, Steve had never been to South Africa before, and you know we weren’t just going to throw him into Bellville office traffic and call it a day. Oh no, we were going to do it right. South African style.
First stop: Cape Town.
Now if you’ve ever been to Cape Town, you know it’s less of a city and more of an experience. Naturally, we had to show Steve the magic. Sundowners on Signal Hill, with tapas, wine, and a sunset so good it looked AI-generated. A boat ride out to Robben Island where we stood in front of Madiba’s cell in complete silence. The weight of history just… settles into your bones there.
From there, we kept it light: Guinness at the Brass Bell (because obviously), and mojitos at Cape to Cuba in Kalk Bay where the cocktails are cheeky and the décor is one curtain short of a Caribbean carnival. We wrapped the tourist tour with dinner at the V&A Waterfront because no intro-to-Cape-Town package is complete without overpriced fish and chips and a table view of Table Mountain.
But alas, the holiday vibe ended and real work began.
Our training venue was in Bellville. The good news? We were staying close to the Waterfront and travelling against traffic. The better news? We weren’t in the thick of Cape Town peak hour. (If you’ve ever done that drive on the N1 at 8am, you’ll understand why I consider that a form of trauma.)
When we walked into the office, the energy was a mixed bag: part curiosity, part panic. Some folks were hyped to level up, others looked like they’d rather do a group dental cleaning than learn a new CRM system. But hey, such is the beauty of corporate change management!
I placed my laptop down, coffee in hand, ready to roll. Stepped out to greet someone and that’s when it happened.
The Great Coffee Catastrophe of Cape Town.
A student, clearly in his own world, swung his backpack around like a helicopter blade. One innocent gesture, one rogue shoulder strap, and bam, my full cup of coffee went flying like it had dreams of becoming a projectile missile. Straight onto my open laptop.
Steam. Hissing. Chaos. A dramatic gasp. (Okay, maybe that was just me.)
My laptop was fried. Like, “throw it a funeral” fried.
Cue panic.
But Tracy, bless her soul, didn’t even blink. She whipped out her laptop like a tech ninja and kept the training moving while I called HQ, who then worked some IT magic and had a brand new machine couriered to meet me in Durban. Overnight. Heroes wear headsets, folks.
Moral of the story?
Always, always, have a backup plan. Whether that’s a second laptop, a shared Google Drive, a Plan B presenter, or even just a mental note that says “when chaos comes, breathe and pivot.”
And honestly? That day turned into one of my best lessons in leadership, resilience, and the power of a calm team in a coffee storm.
So next time you roll out a multi-region CRM system while playing tour guide and dodging caffeinated disasters… pack an extra laptop. And maybe skip the open coffee cups.
You’re welcome.