Behind The Cloud

I suspect many people know little about Salesforce as a company, yet probably use its services daily, either directly or through businesses built on its platform. Working in IT and tech, I was already familiar with Salesforce from a product and industry standpoint, but I wasn’t aware of the full story behind its founding and growth into the multibillion-dollar giant it is today.

It’s a fascinating story of drive, focus, and consistency. Of how an idea born in a small apartment evolved into one of the world’s most influential software companies. Behind the Cloud isn’t a traditional biography of Marc Benioff; it’s written more like a playbook, outlining the key strategies, lessons, and frameworks that powered Salesforce’s success.

The book is packed with insights that are especially valuable for anyone in tech or aspiring to build a startup or SaaS product. The audiobook narration leaves a bit to be desired, but the content more than compensates for it. This is also another one that I listened to in audio but certainly has a place in my physical library for ease of reference.

With the rapid advancement of AI making it easier than ever for individuals to create and scale software solutions, delving into this book is probably quite timely. Even if you’re outside the software space, the practical business lessons on innovation, marketing, and culture make this a worthwhile read.

Who’s it for?

While anyone can gain valuable takeaways from Behind the Cloud, it’s likely to resonate most with those in technology, SaaS, or entrepreneurial roles. For anyone building products, managing teams, or simply curious about how Salesforce became what it is today, this offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at both the mindset and mechanics behind its rise.