Salesforce has been the platform that thousands have used to scale. What can we learn from them?
With over two decades of experience at industry giants like SAP and Salesforce, Damien has witnessed — and driven — the evolution of enterprise software firsthand
Recently, our Technology and Innovation students at Monash University had the privilege of hearing from Damien Scales— a seasoned enterprise software executive, strategic thinker, and one of the most engaging speakers we've welcomed.
With over two decades of experience at industry giants like SAP and Salesforce, Damien has witnessed — and driven — the evolution of enterprise software firsthand. As a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a qualified executive coach, he also brings a unique blend of technical depth, leadership, and coaching expertise to every conversation and team he works with. It's the key to his success.
From Software to SaaS: A Journey of Transformation
Damien walked us through software transformation from traditional enterprise deployment to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). He framed this shift as a move from complexity to accessibility — enabling businesses to adopt software in the same frictionless way we now buy books on Amazon.
He spoke about the power of modern platforms, which can be continuously updated with hundreds of new features and easily configured to meet changing customer needs. The key takeaway: software is no longer static—it's living, adaptive, and customer-centric. The ability to adapt allows their customers to scale faster and smarter than ever before.
Curiosity, Coaching, and Collaboration
One of Damian's standout messages was the value of being curious. Asking the right questions, he explained, is fundamental to truly understanding a problem. Technology alone is not the answer—combining services, systems, and insights creates value. This understanding allows for the configuration of systems for scaling and growth, which is always changing.
He also stressed the importance of domain expertise: "If you're starting a business, become an expert in that space. Your degree might help, but what matters most is a deep understanding of the problem you're solving."
As a qualified corporate coach, Damian shared his passion for mentoring, its positive impact on individuals and the broader startup ecosystem, and why this is a big part of his values.
Practical Tools for High-Performing Teams
Perhaps most memorably, Damian introduced the concept of a "teaming agreement" — a practical and collaborative way for student teams to align on how they'll work together.
He shared a simple yet powerful framework that asked teams to define:
• What we will do
• What we won't do
• The values that matter to us
• The behaviours that support collaboration
This tool encouraged students to have honest conversations about how they work best and how to create a shared culture of accountability, empathy, and cohesion.
Inspiration with Impact
Damien's session reminded me that successful innovation incorporates deep technical understanding, constant curiosity, and purposeful collaboration to create new value.
We're grateful for his time, insights, and generosity in sharing such a wealth of experience with the next generation of innovators.
#technology #innovation #startups #SaaS #enterprise #leadership #studentlearning #teamwork #coaching