5 Leadership Lessons from 20 Years on the Sales Frontline

Targets, forecasts, and pressure; enterprise sales is often seen as a numbers game. But for Daisy Gita Santosa, it’s always been about something deeper.

As Regional Vice President of Digital Sales at Salesforce, Daisy works across Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Pakistan. Her days are packed — back-to-back meetings, regional travel, and big goals to hit — but for her, the real impact comes from the people she supports and the culture she shapes.

With over 20 years in the industry, she’s gathered a treasure trove of hard-earned lessons about leadership, change, and staying grounded while moving forward.

She’s stepped away from success at its peak (she’s a boomerang!), leaned into uncomfortable growth, and embraced tools like AI well before they became mainstream. Her story is less about titles and more about the choices that shape you along the way.

Here are five key lessons Daisy has learned in her 20+ year journey — and the one piece of advice she’d give her younger self.

1. Trust is the real currency of leadership

Daisy doesn’t believe in micromanaging. To her, leadership begins with trust — and without it, nothing else works.

“I don’t micromanage. I trust my team to run their business like their own,” she says.

That belief in trust and empowerment has been a constant thread throughout Daisy’s career. She’s seen firsthand how people rise when they know they’re trusted to own their work and make smart decisions.

One moment that stands out happened years ago, when her team secured a major CRM deal in Indonesia — even before Salesforce had a local data center in place. It was a huge leap of faith on the customer’s part. But they moved forward because they believed in Daisy and the team behind her. That deal didn’t just represent a win — it reflected the kind of trust that takes time, care, and consistency to build.

And that trust paid off. Four years later, Salesforce launched its Hyperforce data center in Indonesia. But the true success story had already been written: one where trust outpaced timelines.

2. Fun and high performance aren’t opposites

At a time when many leaders equate pressure with productivity, Daisy offers a refreshing counterpoint: fun is not a distraction; it’s a catalyst.

Back in her earlier Salesforce stint, Daisy led a team that tripled revenue in just one year. She credits that performance not just to strategy, but to the culture they built together. It wasn’t forced. People wanted to collaborate. They felt included. Energized.

“When the team did well, I took them, and everyone who supported them, on a celebration trip,” she recalls. “We grew because we cared, and had fun doing it.”

3. AI won’t replace you; it will elevate you

When ChatGPT and Agentforce first entered the scene, Daisy noticed the usual hesitation. Was it a shortcut? A gimmick? Would everyone end up sounding the same?

Rather than dismissing those concerns, she addressed them head-on. “With the right education and context, AI becomes a powerful complement,” she explains.

As a leader, she made it clear to her team: tools like Agentforce for sales aren’t shortcuts — they’re enablers. From generating tailored outreach to helping reps navigate complex objections, Agentforce became a trusted sales coworker — streamlining backend work so her team could focus on building real relationships.

For Daisy, AI and agents aren’t replacing salespeople — they’re amplifying them. And Agentforce, in particular, has become a key driver of how her team shows up smarter, faster, and more prepared in every customer interaction.

4. Walking away can be the boldest growth move — but so can returning

Five years ago, Daisy was promoted to Regional VP at Salesforce. It was the kind of milestone most professionals dream about.

And on the very same day, she resigned.

Why? Because another opportunity came her way — one that would take her out of her comfort zone and into a broader operational role at a smaller company. It was a hard decision. She loved her team. She was thriving. But something inside nudged her to grow.

“I didn’t leave because things weren’t going well,” she says. “I left because I wanted to push myself.”

That choice changed everything. It gave her exposure to new challenges, expanded her leadership lens, and reaffirmed what she valued most. So when she returned to Salesforce years later, she brought not just experience — but maturity, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose.

“I always knew the door was open,” she says. “Salesforce was the place I wanted to return to — and when the timing and the role aligned, it felt like coming home.”

5. Balance isn’t a bonus — It’s a strategy

Daisy doesn’t pretend work-life balance is easy. With three children and a regional role that involves constant travel, she’s had to fight for it. But fight she does.

Her coping mechanisms? Dancing (Body Jam is her favorite), baking (she once volunteered to bake cakes for hospitals during COVID), and learning (she completed a diploma in a lifelong goal to better mentor others).

“I sneak off to a Body Jam class when I can,” she laughs. “It keeps me sane.”

That small ritual, like many others in her routine, helps her stay energized in a demanding role. And it’s not just about her — Daisy actively encourages her team to find their own rhythms too. She reminds them it’s okay to rest and that downtime is part of showing up strong.

The lesson she’d tell her younger self

Looking back, what would Daisy tell her younger self who was just getting started?
“Don’t stay in your comfort zone, even if things are going well,” she says. “Push yourself. Say yes to things that scare you a little. That’s where the real growth happens.”

It’s a message she now models through every decision she makes. Whether embracing new tech, stepping away from a role, or returning to a place that feels like home — Daisy has made a habit of pushing forward, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Because that’s where growth lives. And if her journey has taught her anything, it’s that the most rewarding paths are rarely the easiest ones.

Want to join dedicated sales leaders like Daisy? Check out our open roles and apply today!