Coastal’s Salesforce Incubator Program Boosts UK Graduate Employment

Four years after its launch, the Coastal Salesforce Consultancy Incubator Program has become a key pipeline for University of Kentucky graduates entering the Salesforce workforce, with 42% of program participants coming from UK and many transitioning into full-time roles at Coastal.

The 12-week program, in partnership with UK and 12 other universities, uses a “crawl, walk, run” methodology to train students and recent graduates. The first third of the program focuses on getting participants comfortable with the Salesforce platform, the second on honing consulting and communication skills, and the final on hands-on project building, delivering demos, and certification preparation.

“What is great about the program is that most of our incoming interns have zero experience in the field,” said Sarah Madison, Coastal’s People and Culture Manager. “By the time they get through 12 weeks of training, they are ready to be client-facing.”

The program is open to students across disciplines and is degree-agnostic, with successful participants coming from fields as diverse as computer science and communications. Coastal evaluates interns based on curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and how well they collaborate with clients.

To date, 158 students have completed the program, with UK graduates making up 66 participants — the majority of interns and full-time hires. Coastal reports that 40% of interns overall transition into permanent roles with the company, underscoring the effectiveness of the program in building a skilled tech workforce.

With a physical office in Lexington, Coastal has established a strong connection to the region. The program’s focus on hands-on learning and professional development has positioned it as a valuable resource for UK students and a steady pipeline of talent for the company. The partnership between UK and Coastal continues to play a significant role in preparing students for careers in the growing field of cloud-based technology.

The application to the incubator program can be found here.