We recently sat down with Thunder VP, Partnerships, Blaine Kahoonei, to learn a little more about our partnership paragon. Here’s what he had to say!

Q. Blaine, tell us a little bit about your role at Thunder.

As the VP of Partnerships, I’m leading our Alliance team to help strengthen Thunder’s key partnerships to drive our business forward. Alliances is an interesting position in that it requires an attuned mix of business strategy, opportunity analysis and assessment, coupled with marketing, and go-to-market execution.

Q. What made you want to join the Thundercats?

I wanted to become a Thundercat because I saw a lot of opportunities here to make a difference with Salesforce customers. I also saw an opportunity to work with a team of energetic, positive people that bring a good work culture to the organization and collectively want to make a difference.

Q. You’ve been rockin’ the Salesforce ecosystem for quite a while now, in fact you got your start at the mothership! How has your past experience prepared you for leading partnerships at Thunder?

The culture at Salesforce aligned quite well to my personal value systems; one of getting involved, giving back to the community and making a positive difference in the world. While at Salesforce, I was very fortunate to meet some incredibly smart, driven individuals that shared those same values, empowering our community of customers, partners and each other to do their best whether through our best-of-breed technology, programs or shared experiences to elevate our collective ecosystem. Through fostered relationships, we shared and understood what we needed to be successful and collaboratively found solutions to innovate and evolve our business. As a leader here at Thunder, I’d like to share those same values, those experiences, with the Thunder community of customers, partners, and staff for success.

Q. The Salesforce ecosystem is like no other, why are partnerships so vital to its success?

I’ve always looked at partnerships as an important part of business and life as a whole. The word partnerships expresses the importance of a reciprocal relationship from one party to the other. It accounts for and acknowledges the necessity to think about others involved in a decision or objective, perhaps a certain degree of empathy. In understanding each other’s needs or goals; collectively coming to an agreement on how we can help one another; we work together to address a problem, find a solution, or work for a common good or outcome for all parties involved.

This applied methodology can help Thunder in all of its respective relationships, to further grow its business goals.

Q. Outside of work you are big on volunteering, you were an Advisory Board Member for the Purple Maiʻa Foundation and you are a Business Mentor for Blue Startups. We love this, as Thunder is all about giving back to ‘Ohana. Can you tell us why you value this so much?

I believe there are so many benefits that can come when individuals take some time to help the broader community around them. We all can easily get focused on ones that are closest to us to invest our time and energy in, but if we make some time to influence and assist those in the slightly outer rings of our community, there are vast positive changes and outcomes that can be achieved for all to benefit. This effort is an intrinsic component of Aloha. I try to practice it in every way I can.

Q. Last one! As a leader at Thunder, what are you most excited about in the near future for the rapidly growing company?

I’m most looking forward to working with this incredibly talented team of individuals to practice and exemplify Thunder’s values to its community. I’m also very excited to help organizations get more out of their Salesforce technology investments.