Talent Hub Talk

Cameron Cronin on the early days of Salesforce consulting, his personal journey to CTA, leading teams and experiencing different cultures

In today's episode, we're joined by Cameron Cronin, who is a Salesforce Certified Technical Architect and Principal Director at Accenture, based in the UK.

 

Hailing from Australia, Cameron first began his Salesforce career in Sydney a decade ago, and he shares with us what it was like to be a part of an emerging market, and how his skills and experience have led him across the globe. We think you'll find it fascinating to hear about the market back then, and how it has changed, in detail.

 

Having previously worked at Tquila UK, a highly regarded organisation that was able to cultivate talent to convert a high number of CTA's, Cameron describes his time there, and the reasons why so many achieved the elusive credential and have gone on to do great things in their careers. As one of their first CTA's, Cameron talks about what his own CTA journey was like, and how the Architect role itself has changed over the years, as Salesforce has evolved and acquired further capabilities. Having been a CTA for a number of years, he sheds light on the traits of the very best Architects, and how he identifies whether a person is near ready for the Review Board.

 

As a manager of large teams, Cameron gives insight into his own journey as a manager, particularly given that he is technical himself, and the qualities that he looks for when hiring, including on the non-technical side. 

 

All in all, a really interesting episode to kick off 2021, from a valuable perspective by Cameron given his tenure in the ecosystem. Make sure you're following him on LinkedIn, and that you check out our episode sponsor, FlowRepublic, who are masters in coaching and mentoring aspiring CTAs.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Brooks Johnson on pivoting from a career in the military to Salesforce Development

In today's episode, we're joined by Brooks Johnson, who is a Senior Salesforce Developer and creator of the Brooks Johnson Salesforce Developer YouTube channel, based in the US.

 

Brooks comes from a non-technical background, having served in the US military for a number of years, and so his story is particularly interesting. He shares how he first became acquainted with Salesforce, the concept of coding, and the Developer career path that he set his sights on.

 

We discuss which tools and resources he used to upskill, and which of those he'd recommend to others in a similar position with the ambition to pivot into a Salesforce career, particularly within the development space. 

 

Brooks is a passionate and skilled content creator, and we enjoyed finding out more about the topics he covers on his YouTube channel and how they can help others. He's had an inspiring career path since becoming a Salesforce Developer, and we talk about the opportunities which have come to him, and his plans for the future.

 

Make sure you're following Brooks on LinkedIn and YouTube to benefit from his content and videos, in which we're sure you'll find a lot of value.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

 

Pei Mun Lim on effective project management and empowering others in their learning

In today's episode, we're joined by Pei Mun Lim, who is an experienced Project and Programme Manager in the Salesforce space, based in the UK.

 

Pei shares her insights around how she first carved out her career in the industry and the path that has led her more specifically into the Salesforce ecosystem. She explains what her first projects looked like, and the lessons that she's learnt along the way which have enabled her to grow in her effectiveness. 

 

She explains the Project Manager Iron Triangle principle and the key differences between the responsibilities of a Project Manager versus a Programme Manager, as the two are often confused.

 

Pei shares her views on the skills and values within team members that she has found to be the most successful on her projects, and the management style which she adopts to steer her team and their deliverables to the best outcomes.

 

Pei has been helping others by sharing her skills and knowledge in recent times. She explains the ways in which she's been doing this, how she hopes it can assist others in their learning, and in getting the best out of their implementations and their teams.

 

Make sure you're following Pei on LinkedIn to find out how you can get involved in her courses yourself.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Karishma Lalwani on work speaking louder than individual differences, and the journey to CTA

In today's episode, we're joined by US-based Salesforce CTA and Director for Product Management at Salesforce, Karishma Lalwani.

 

Karishma shares her story of why she first embarked upon a career in I.T and computer science, and how it has led her to the point in her career that she's at today.

 

Having achieved the Salesforce CTA credential, she sheds some light on what this journey was like for her, why she set it as a goal for herself, and how it has enabled her to progress from architecture, into the role that she holds today, with Salesforce.

 

Having worked in situations frequently where females are under-represented previously, she talks us through how she has approached this, the observations she's made, and how she has overcome challenges around self-confidence in the past.

 

 

We talk about what traits some of the very best Architects that she's worked with possess, and why these are important, and she shares tips for aspiring Architects to adopt.

 

It was very interesting to hear about what Karishma is passionate about for the future of the platform, and so make sure you're following her on LinkedIn to keep up to date with her future speaking engagements and content.

 

We'd like to say a big thank you to our episode sponsor, FlowRepublic, the elite Salesforce academy. You can find their website and further details about their courses, here.

 

Enjoy the episode!

Saurabh Gupta on the data privacy space and launching a product on the AppExchange

In today's episode, we're joined by Saurabh Gupta, Founder of Plumcloud Labs, a Salesforce partner, and AppExchange product business, specialising in the data privacy space.

 

Saurabh comes from a Siebel background himself, and we spoke to him about his career in the Salesforce ecosystem, the roles that he's played, including his previous role at Salesforce, and what prompted him to launch Plumcloud Labs.

 

We talk about the idea for the product and how he saw the opportunity and gap in the market, his strategy for scaling by bringing specific expertise into the team, and the process of launching a product on the AppExchange.

 

Saurabh shares valuable insights around starting and running a business, the growth of the data privacy space, and the future for Salesforce enterprise customers globally. We think you'll find the episode an interesting listen and so make sure you're following Saurabh on LinkedIn for further updates, and that you check out the Plumcloud Labs company page and website for further details.

 

Enjoy the chat!

Michael Diamond on launching a consulting business during a pandemic and being future fit for a post-COVID world

In today's episode, we're joined by Michael Diamond, Founder of Arcturious, a recently launched Salesforce Partner based in Sydney.

 

Michael comes from a sales and account management background, and we spoke to him about his career in the Salesforce ecosystem, the roles that he's played, his MBA, and what prompted him to launch Arcturious.

 

Starting a business during the COVID period comes with its own set of unique challenges, and Michael shares not only the reasons behind some of the decisions that he's made but how he has shaped the culture and set the business up to thrive in a post-COVID environment.

 

We talk about how the market has changed and the reasons why it's evolved, and signs which indicate what the future of work could look like in Australia. In a time of emerging trends, we talk about how they've implemented a virtual first approach.

 

Michael shares valuable insights around resilience and adaptability, and we think you'll find the episode an interesting listen, wherever you sit in the Salesforce ecosystem. Make sure you're following Michael on LinkedIn, and that you check out the Arcturious website and company page for further details.

 

Enjoy the chat!

BONUS EPISODE: Jim Hutcherson and Dipanker "DJ" Jyoti on co-authoring "Salesforce Architect's Handbook"

In today's bonus episode, we speak with US-based Architects, Jim Hutcherson and Dipanker "DJ" Jyoti, about the release of their book, the "Salesforce Architect's Handbook", and the value that it can provide aspiring and existing Architects.

 

We discuss their Salesforce careers, how they first came to meet, where the idea first originated from, and the gap in the market that it caters for.

 

If you're aware that there is material available out there, but like many, can find it a little sporadic and disjointed to wrap your head around, the "Salesforce Architect's Handbook" brings it all together for you, reignites your passion for architecture, and is a must-read if you're aiming for the CTA. 

 

You can pre-order your copy online here for a January delivery date, with 20% of profits being donated to St Jude Children's Hospital:

 

https://amzn.to/2KCcpuY

 

Electronic versions can also be purchased at www.apress.com and Kindle.

 

Do make sure you're following Jim on LinkedIn and Twitter, and DJ on LinkedIn for upcoming announcements and insights.

 

We'd like to thank our sponsors, FlowRepublic, the Elite Salesforce Academy for their support in bringing this episode to you, and we hope you enjoy both the podcast episode and the read!

Glenda Birch on leading through change effectively, and supporting customers within a landscape of adaptation

In today's episode, we're joined by Glenda Birch, who is a Managing Partner at DXC, leading the System Partners brand.

 

We enjoyed hearing Glenda's story of discovering the sales industry and the Salesforce space, including how she has progressed in her career to the position that she's in today.

 

As a passionate female in tech, we talk about her leadership style, and her thoughts on diversity and creating cohesive teams for the future. She explains how she has led through change and crisis during this period, and we discuss the importance of flexibility, motivation, and a commitment to the well-being of team members.

 

COVID has impacted customers globally in many ways, and Glenda explains how their own have adapted, and how DXC has pivoted to support project outcomes and deliverables.

 

Glenda explained how different regions across the country have become more exposed to Salesforce, outside of the traditional Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane markets. She shares her insights and predictions into which cities could potentially grow in the near future as Salesforce hubs, and we discuss the possible impacts around talent pipelines.

 

A really interesting episode this week, and so make sure you're following Glenda on LinkedIn to connect with her. You can find out more about DXC on their website, or by following their company LinkedIn page for future updates.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Guy Farrer Fisher on career progression, striving for, and achieving the CTA

This week's guest is Guy Farrer Fisher, a Salesforce CTA and Senior Manager at a large Salesforce Partner based in the UK.

In this episode, we talk about Guy's initial study for a career in I.T and how it led to him entering the Salesforce ecosystem, as an Admin, Developer, and finally moving towards Architecture, which culminated in Guy preparing to take, and pass, the CTA Review Board.

 

Guy recalls his CTA journey, how he prepared and identified his gaps, and what it felt like after the exam, waiting for his results.

 

We discuss 'thinking like an Architect' and how Guy went about learning this skill with a CTA coach, and how it has assisted him in his professional role.

 

Guy shares the assessments he has made previously when making career choices, and what he's excited about for the future of the Salesforce platform.

 

Make sure you're following Guy on LinkedIn, and that you check out our podcast sponsors, FlowRepublic, who are referenced throughout the episode if you're interested in discussing coaching options for your own CTA journey.

 

We hope you enjoy the chat!

 

Gaurav Kheterpal on the SAIMA initiative, the power of Community, and a spotlight on the Salesforce ecosystem in India

In today's episode, we're joined by Gaurav Kheterpal who is based in India, and whom you may have seen speak at a Salesforce event previously, given that he's an active and generous contributor within the Salesforce ecosystem.

Gaurav shares his journey with us, both prior to Salesforce and within his current role; and as a holder of 33 Salesforce certs, we talk about his views on certifications and the approach he takes.

 

Gaurav talks to us about the SAIMA initiative, which is a free-spirited community group for global Salesforce Architects to collaborate and study for related topics, and his own Architect journey.

 

It was great to hear more about the Indian Salesforce ecosystem from Gaurav, and whilst travel is limited in the current climate, we travel in the mind as we talk with Gaurav about Salesforce events over the years, across the world that he's been involved in.

 

As a very active figure within the world of Salesforce, we recommend that you follow Gaurav on LinkedIn and Twitter, via his handle, @gauravkhterpal, to enjoy his content. Gaurav can also be found on the Salesforce Stack Exchange and via his blog. Make sure you also check out the SAIMA Group, for opportunities to get involved.

 

We hope you enjoy the episode!