Nicole Saunders

As Director of Community at Zendesk, I oversee the Community Team (part of the Global Digital Experiences team), set strategy, define policy and governance, develop and launch new community products, and engage our user community. Our programs include: an online community, virtual events, user groups, community champions, customer advocacy, and an annual global virtual community summit.

With the goal of increasing our customers' connection to one another, professional development, and relationship with Zendesk, I collaborate with several internal teams on customer support, product development, voice of the customer, training, customer education, customer marketing, customer advocacy, content marketing, knowledge sharing, social media, growth & monetization, customer success, and data and analytics.

Previously, I helped to grow Jaunt, a VR startup in Silicon Valley, where I ran all social media channels and event marketing. Prior to that, I spent 5 years as a social media and branding consultant to early-stage tech startups in the Denver area, helping them to establish their brand voice and grow their social media presence. I was the lead on the launch of Built In Colorado, an aggregator for the tech startup community there, and founded the 'Built In Brews' networking series.

In 2010, I was a founding member of the Mile High Young Professionals in Denver, and served on their board of directors for three years before relocating to Silicon Valley to join Jaunt. During that time, I also helped aspiring founders find one another first in Boulder and then as the Silicon Valley Ambassador for CoFoundersLab.