Talent Hub Talk

Jitendra Zaa on the significance of having a mentor and community when undertaking the CTA journey

In today's episode, we're joined by USA based Salesforce CTA, Author and MVP, Jitendra Zaa.

Throughout the chat, Jitendra shares his early career background, how he initially became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem and why he commenced on the path of working towards the CTA.

We talk about how he persevered and overcame challenges getting his first foot in the door with the Salesforce experience he had, and how his career has taken him across the world.

Having previously set up a 600+ team overseas, we touch on what he looks for when he interviews candidates, and how Salesforce professionals can put their best foot forward in interview situations, no matter their level of experience.

We discuss his journey to CTA, the importance of working with a mentor to adjust your approach, test yourself, and why he considers himself an Engineer at heart.

 

Jitendra gives a really candid insight into the value of building a support network with others on the same path, and giving back to others in the global Salesforce ecosystem through initiatives such as his speaking engagements and blog, Jitendra Zaa.

 

Make sure as well as checking out his blog that you're following Jitendra on LinkedIn or on Twitter @jitendrazaa to stay connected, and if you have any questions, then Jitendra is happy to chat with you online.

 

You can check out our episode sponsors, FlowRepublic for details about the Elite Salesforce Academy coaching programme mentioned in this episode, and a big thank you for their support in bringing you this episode.

 

We hope you enjoy the chat!

Rui Fonseca on the world of Salesforce CPQ

In today's episode, we're joined by CPQ expert and Practice Lead, Rui Fonseca, who is based in New Zealand.

 

In this chat Rui shares the story of his own Salesforce career, how he came to specialise in the CPQ space, and how his Salesforce career has led to an array of professional experiences around the world.

 

We talk about what makes a CPQ project complex, and which skills are required and best suited to the CPQ space. There have been acquisitions which have driven the evolution of the products over the years, and so Rui also sheds some light into the changes and developments that he's seen over the years.

 

Rui has had an exciting career to date. Having worked in several other international locations, he also shares what he finds inspiring about working and living in New Zealand, what the current Salesforce talent pool is like there, and why it's never been a better time to base yourself in the country most southwestern in the world.

 

Make sure you're following Rui on LinkedIn so that you reach out with any questions you have on CPQ, and we'd like to thank our episode sponsors, Form Assembly for their support in bringing you this episode. 

 

Form building can be a tedious and complex process when collecting loads of data for enterprises. Solve this issue with ease through FormAssembly, an all-in-one secure web form builder with a robust Salesforce integration. This seamless web to lead form building connection boasts features including sophisticated data collection, the option to pre-fill forms, create and update records, and more! Their advanced compliance standards offer prime solutions for companies in the government, finserv, healthcare, nonprofit, and higher education spaces. Visit www.formassembly.com/talenthub to find out why FormAssembly is the #1 Enterprise form building platform for Salesforce and how it can be customized to fit the needs of your company!

 

We hope you enjoy the chat!

Tsezarii Zhydetskyi on the value of mental preparedness and network, on the journey to CTA

In today's episode, we're joined by Germany based Salesforce CTA, Tsezarii Zhydetskyi.

Throughout the chat, Tsezarii shares his early career background, how he initially became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem and why he commenced on the path of working towards the CTA.

We talk about his experiences in Salesforce Consulting, which decisions led him to select the roles that he's undertaken, and why he ultimately chose the architecture route.

We discuss his journey to CTA, in terms of technical capability, his approach to the Review Board, and the mental preparation that required him to tailor his daily routines to maximise his productivity, even when he was pushed to make time sensitive decisions.

 

Tsezarii gives a really candid insight into the value of building a support network with others in the Community also on the same path in order to learn from eachother, and he shares the highlights of those experiences.

 

Make sure you're following Tsezarii on LinkedIn to stay connected, and if you have any questions, then Tsezarii is happy to chat with you online.

 

Don't forget to check out our episode sponsors, FlowRepublic for details about their Elite Salesforce Academy coaching, and a big thank you for their support in bringing you this episode.

 

We hope you enjoy the chat!

Chris Mail on his Salesforce consulting journey and insight on current and future trends

In today's episode, which marks 100 episodes of Talent Hub Talk, we're joined by experienced Consulting Practice leader, Chris Mail, who is based in NSW Australia.

Throughout the chat, Chris shares his early career background and how he initially became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem, actually working for Salesforce themselves back in 2008.

 

Chris talks us through starting and running a successful Consulting business of his own, which went on to be acquired by Deloitte, and how he then progressed in his career to become a Partner at PwC.

 

We talk about topics such as the obstacles and celebrations he faced along the way, the differences between boutique and larger Partners, how the platform itself has evolved, and where he sees the future headed for both himself and other professionals in the Salesforce ecosystem.

 

Chris gives a really candid insight into his own experiences and observations and has a fascinating perspective given his tenure and range of roles in the Salesforce ecosystem.

 

Make sure you're following Chris on LinkedIn to stay connected, and continue to follow his journey.

 

We hope you enjoy the chat and if you're new to the podcast, then make sure you head back and catch up on the episodes that you've missed!

Salesforce careers in the current market Q&A with Ben Duncombe

In today's episode, Ben answers all of your questions around Salesforce careers in the current market. Is it best to move roles now, or wait? Should you move for the same job title, and what's happening in the world of Salesforce contracting? If you want to get a comprehensive and candid update from someone who speaks to numerous Salesforce professionals every day on the ground in ANZ, then you don't want to miss this episode!

 

Make sure you also grab yourself a copy of our Salesforce Market Survey for the data around current market trends, and that you're following Ben on LinkedIn for further content Salesforce truth bombs and content.

 

We hope you find the episode useful! If you do, please do let us know in your podcast reviews

Sam Wadhwani - The unspoken word on the CTA journey

In today's episode, we're joined by Salesforce CTA and author of The Accessible Architect website, Sam Wadhwani.

Throughout the chat, Sam shares his early career background and how he initially became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem, having worked with Siebel previously.

 

We talk about his own personal journey to CTA, both in terms of technical capability, and the mental challenge of undertaking such intense preparation, which forced him to look differently at the idea of balance to achieve success.

 

Sam gives a really candid insight into the less spoken about challenges of the CTA journey, including overcoming disappointment and highlighting the benefits of self assessment in order to play to your strengths and listen to your inner-voice.

 

Sam is committed to supporting others on this journey in terms of wellness, mental stamina and emotional well-being through his work with The Accessible Architect. Make sure you're following Sam on LinkedIn to stay connected, and that you check out The Accessible Architect for invaluable content. If you have any questions, then Sam can also be tweeted at @accessiblearch.

 

We specifically reference the article, It's Okay to Feel Incapable in the episode, which you can read here, and don't forget to check out our episode sponsors, FlowRepublic for details about their Elite Salesforce Academy coaching. A big thank you for their support in bringing you this episode.

 

We hope you enjoy the chat!

Colin Johnson on co-founding a successful Salesforce ISV and the early days of the Salesforce ecosystem

In today's episode, we're joined by Co-Founder and CEO of Salesforce ISV partner, Aprika, Colin Johnson.

Colin shares his early career and background, how he initially became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem, and how he has successfully launched a number of products in the ecosystem, since.

 

Colin shares how Aprika first came about, how the business has evolved over the years, and how they leveraged the power of the AppExchange.

 

We discuss what makes a product business successful, how to best market a Salesforce product, and how to know whether the business has a promising future, when still in the early days.

 

Colin explains the power of the Salesforce Ohana and what he most enjoys about being involved in the ecosystem, and even shares some memories of the early Salesforce events that he attended. 

 

Make sure you're following Colin on LinkedIn to stay connected, and that you check out Aprika for how they might be able to help you. If you have any questions, then Colin can be reached at colin.johnson@aprika.com or on Twitter at @aprika_colin.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Doug Merrett on Salesforce security, compliance and resilience

In today's episode, we're joined by the Founder of Platinum7, Doug Merrett. Platinum7 are the Salesforce security, compliance, and resilience consultancy specialists.

Doug shares the story of his own Salesforce career, including 13 years with Salesforce itself, what led him to launch Platinum7, and how he has found starting his own business.

 

He explains the history of cloud security, the perceptions that continue to be overcome, and the challenges that companies are facing in today's environment when it comes to managing risk.

 

We talk about how the Salesforce team itself fits into the security and risk landscape within an organisation, where the conversations ideally need to be driven from, and which departments are involved.

 

Make sure you're following Doug on LinkedIn, and that you check out Platinum7 to find out how they can add value and assist in your own organisation.

 

We like to thank our episode sponsors, Form Assembly for their support in bringing you this episode. 

 

Form building can be a tedious and complex process when collecting loads of data for enterprises. Solve this issue with ease through FormAssembly, an all-in-one secure web form builder with a robust Salesforce integration. This seamless web to lead form building connection boasts features including sophisticated data collection, the option to pre-fill forms, create and update records, and more! Their advanced compliance standards offer prime solutions for companies in the government, finserv, healthcare, nonprofit, and higher education spaces. Visit www.formassembly.com/talenthub to find out why FormAssembly is the #1 Enterprise form building platform for Salesforce and how it can be customized to fit the needs of your company!

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Mia Pacey on effectively transitioning into a Salesforce role within your current organisation and finding a passion for the platform

In today's episode, we're joined by Salesforce Administrator, Golden Hoodie recipient, and Salesforce Women in Tech co-leader for Sydney, Mia Pacey.

Mia shares her early career and background, how she became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem initially in her role, and how she has continued to upskill in the platform.

 

Mia talks us through the Salesforce products and tools which she uses and how she has learnt more about each through her preferred methods of learning, of which she explains, isn't the same for everyone. She also gives us some insights on the differences between not-for-profit and commercial Salesforce orgs.

 

Having recently been awarded the Salesforce Golden Hoodie, Mia shares with us how it happened, how she felt when it was announced and what it means to her.

 

Through her own experiences, Mia shares valuable tips and advice in this episode for others who are looking to get involved in Salesforce projects in their current organisation where they perhaps aren't currently in a Salesforce role.

 

Make sure you're following Mia on LinkedIn to stay connected, and that you check out the Salesforce Women in Tech group for upcoming get-togethers.

 

You can find Mia's YouTube channel at Pace Yourself for useful tutorials to help you on your journey.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Mo Salem on achieving the Salesforce CTA and working with the platform across the globe

In today's episode, we're joined by Salesforce CTA and Director at Deloitte in Sydney, Mo Salem. 

He shares his early career and background, how he became a part of the Salesforce ecosystem, and how he has climbed the career ladder with strong company tenure.

 

Hailing from Egypt and having also spent time working in Dubai and London, Mo explains his move to Australia, his reasons for selecting this part of the world, and how each of the four locations contributed in their own right to the Salesforce journey that he has embarked upon up until now.

 

Having recently achieved his CTA credential, he talks us through his preparation, self-motivation, and experience of pursuing the ambitious goal, plus how it felt when he finally passed.

 

Mo shares valuable tips and advice in this episode for putting your best foot forward, preparing yourself for possible failure, getting your family on board with the commitment, and how he found time to study.

 

Make sure you're following Mo on LinkedIn to stay connected, and that you check out our episode sponsors, FlowRepublic for details about their Elite Salesforce Academy coaching.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!