Global People Executive · Culture & Governance Leader
Rebuilt how a Fortune 500 company manages 83,000 people across 32 countries — connects global people strategy directly to the bottom line.
Spending three decades building the people, culture, and governance infrastructure that multibillion-dollar companies run on at MCI Worldcom, Oracle, and now on the global stage at Salesforce.
About Me
I've spent three decades making sure the people living through technological change never got lost in it.
Started as a commercial executive in telecommunications in 1988 — the era of green screens. Led through every shift since: the arrival of the internet, Y2K, the move to cloud computing, and now AI and agentic systems. At Oracle, ran a portfolio of thirteen global CXO advisory boards shaping nearly $6B in annual revenue. At Salesforce, built a $15M marketing function that grew pipeline 25%+ a year — then moved to rebuilding Global Employee Relations into a global center of excellence for 83,000 employees across 32 countries. Most recently, took on an expatriate assignment in Mexico City, becoming the senior-most HR executive for Latin America.
An entire career building the infrastructure other people's careers grow inside of — and a deep recognition of the distinct power of aligning internal business culture initiatives with external social missions.
The Readiness Scorecard
What enterprise-scale people leadership actually requires.
A six marker framework search firms and boards probe for when hiring top HR leadership.
6/6markers met, in my record.
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Enterprise scale
12 years global leader, 83,000 employees, 32 countries, $31+ billion in revenue
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Governance fluency
Driving enterprise risk mitigation, compliance, and ethical standards across complex global talent landscapes
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Global operating experience
Leads a matrixed global team of executives across six regions. Three decades of global enterprise leadership across multiple tech firms. Expatriate assignment in Mexico City championing the people and culture strategy
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Technology-shift leadership
A career spanning green screens, the internet, Y2K, cloud computing, and now AI and agentic systems
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Leadership pipeline, not just a claim
An Executive Equality Sponsor, Salesforce's Internal Equality Global Board member, work that reaches more than 50,000 employees. Founded the Women's LEAD Development Program, now running in all six global regions, whose alumni outperform company benchmarks on retention, promotion and engagement. Faculty for Salesforce's senior executive leadership program.
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Board-level standing
Evaluates choices through enterprise value, long-term risk, risk mitigation, and shareholder ROI
On stage at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit.
How I Lead
“Cindy runs people strategy with accountability, transparency, and discipline.”
Transformed Global Employee Relations function from a transactional service into an insight-driven partner to the business — deflected 20% of the company's 9,000 annual employee-relations cases to AI-driven resolution without losing the accountability the function is built on.
Leading Through The Agentic Shift
I'm not just watching the AI transformation. I'm shaping the conversation around it.
Speaking and moderating on enterprise human-agent collaboration — featured on panels like “Together: Humans + Agents at Work” alongside BCG X's Managing Director & Senior Partner, and leading Salesforce's internal AI Mastery Series on leadership in the agentic era.
Human or Agent? A lighthearted look at where the line actually falls.
See Agentforce in action as your barista — give it a prompt (your order), the reasoning engine (the barista), and the action (making the drink).
Trailblazing Women Summit Japan: Visionary Leadership: The AI Collaboration
Building Leaders
My record is in the people I've brought forward.
Women's LEAD Development Program — Founded the Women's LEAD Development Program, now running in all six global regions, whose alumni outperform company benchmarks on retention, promotion and engagement.
Executive Equality Sponsor — Salesforce's Internal Equality Global Board member, work that reaches 50,000+ employees.
Faculty — Salesforce's senior executive leadership programs.
CCL Certified Coach — Coach and mentor employees around the world for career development and navigating corporate complexity.
Executive Leadership
Speaking on the biggest stages — and building teams that reflect the world.
Fireside Chat on Executive Presence alongside Dame Inga Beale: Breaking Glass Ceilings at Lloyd's of London — the first female CEO of Lloyd's of London, taking on the role after the institution had operated for over 325 years with exclusively male leadership. A session on hard-won career lessons, and the extraordinary personal story behind them.
The teams I build reflect the markets I lead in. My work spans continents, and so do the people I hire, promote, and sponsor along the way.
Executive Leadership Council (ELC) Gala
Dublin Leading for Success Training
National Diversity & Leadership Conference (NDLC) Award
Disney Data & Analytics Conference — “Decoding the Black Box of Your Career”
Global Impact
I've led people strategy on every continent.
Click a pin to explore each stop
Career Snapshot
Three decades of technology change. One throughline.
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2014–Present
Salesforce
Twelve years — from building a $15M growth function to leading employee relations and the HR people agenda into an Agentic Enterprise.
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2021–Present
SVP, Global Employee Relations
Promoted to rebuild the function into a global center of excellence supporting 83,000 employees across 32 countries. Transformed ER into a proactive, agentic function.
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Senior HR Executive, Latin America — Mexico City
In addition to SVP, Employee Relations leadership — expatriate assignment as the senior-most HR executive for the region, leading people strategy for ~4,000 employees across six countries.
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2014–2021
VP, Global Account-Based Marketing & Director, Global Executive Industry Advisory Boards
Built a $15M function that grew pipeline 25%+ YoY and launched Salesforce's first five Industries Advisory Boards.
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2021–Present
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2005–2014
Oracle Corporation
Managing Director, Executive Forums, Global Customer Programs — directed 13 global CXO advisory boards influencing nearly $6B in annual revenue.
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1988–2005
MCI WorldCom Communications
Sixteen years leading through the internet's arrival and Y2K. Progressive senior leadership roles spanning Western U.S. Regional Management, Call Center Operations, Government Market Sales, and Technical Services Manager.
Cindy Tyeskey-Gage Keynote
Connect
Connect with Cindy Tyeskey-Gage
For executive recruiters, board members, and fellow people leaders who want to talk transformation, governance, or leading at global scale.