Vala Afshar

Vala Afshar serves as chief digital evangelist at Salesforce, a leading cloud computing and customer relationship management (CRM) platform. Afshar is recognized for his expertise in digital transformation, cloud computing, social collaboration, business intelligence, and CRM. He has been named to the Thinkers50 Radar Class and has twice been recognized as the top social media influencer of chief marketing officers by Forbes. Afshar is a two-time Stevie Award winner, drawing on his experience as chief marketing officer for Enterasys and Extreme Networks.

Before joining Salesforce, Afshar held executive roles across the technology sector. He served as chief marketing officer at Extreme Networks, where he led a company rebranding project and implemented marketing initiatives. He previously held the roles of chief marketing officer and chief customer officer at Enterasys Networks, overseeing global marketing and customer service operations and earning multiple awards for customer satisfaction and service excellence. Afshar’s operational background includes leadership as a chief marketing officer, chief customer officer, and vice president of engineering at several technology companies, providing a grounded perspective on digital strategy and organizational transformation.

Afshar is an author whose books address business leadership in the digital age. His book "Autonomous: Why the Fittest Businesses Embrace AI-First Strategies and Digital Labor," co-written with Henry King, presents a framework for companies adopting AI-first operating models and integrating human and digital labor. In "Boundless," also co-authored with King, Afshar outlines seven principles for breaking down organizational silos and connects these principles to emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence. His earlier work, "The Pursuit of Social Business Excellence," co-authored with Brad Martin, established his reputation in social business strategy.

Afshar is a U.S. patent-holding inventor, weekly columnist for ZDNet, podcaster, keynote speaker, and social media contributor. He co-hosts "DisrupTV," a weekly show focused on digital business and innovation trends. Afshar has interviewed more than 1,000 senior executives, company founders, authors, and venture capitalists. With a large social media following and a portfolio of U.S. patents, Afshar translates complex technology topics—especially artificial intelligence and digital labor strategies—into actionable insights for business leaders.

Afshar is a keynote speaker for senior executives, leadership teams, and audiences focused on digital transformation, emphasizing the strategic potential of artificial intelligence for organizational reinvention and sustainable growth. He has hosted the Vatican's first hackathon, demonstrating his ability to connect technology with broader societal issues. Afshar frequently speaks at events worldwide on the impact of social technology and digital innovation.