People Behind the Certs – Ishrat Bhatti

SG: Let’s get started. Why don’t we start from the beginning? Please tell us about your education/ career before entering the Salesforce ecosystem.

IB: I have a BSc in Pharmacology and MPH in Health Policy and Management. I worked in Hospital Administration in Canada before transitioning into Salesforce.

SG: That’s awesome. Now we would love to know what was the tipping point when you said, “I want to make this change,” and what was the trigger for that?

IB: I worked with the Texas Department of State Health Services as a Covid Specialist during the pandemic. I managed and traced all Covid cases for 900 long-term care facilities in Texas on the “Salesforce Service Cloud.” I was in awe and immediately fell in love with the platform’s capabilities. It was like a one-stop shop where I could build the data model, create automation, and do data analytics all on the same platform. This was huge!! 

In my previous work, I had to use SQL to query healthcare databases and create reporting dashboards in Tableau. I was inquisitive and wanted to learn what was behind the scenes in the setup menu. I started my journey on Trailhead and later joined WeAreAmplify’s Admin Cohort. Finally, I was able to pass my first Admin certification in October 2021.

SG: You achieved many certs along the way. Can you share three things with us?

1. Why do you value certificates?

2. What are the challenges associated with the process?

3. What are your top tips for being successful in cert exams?

IB: Yes, sure.

1) I value certificates because it validates our knowledge and increases confidence.

2) One of the significant challenges is that you need a tremendous amount of time, effort, and dedication, especially when you have to learn a new cloud and do not have enough hands-on experience.

3) Trailhead and quickly practicing the new concept in your dev org. Super Badges usually are great Use Cases to solidify your knowledge base. 

SG: What do you enjoy most about your work as a certified Salesforce professional?

IB: I can help organizations change the way they manage their business for the better through the power of technology. It’s very gratifying to see how you have transformed a business and to reflect on the Trailblazer story from where they were to where they are now over a period of time. 

SG: Time for gratitude!! Finally, is there anyone (individual or company) that you would like to take this opportunity to thank for their role in helping you along your journey? If Yes, what was their role in your success?

IB: There are so many amazing individuals I have met in the Ohana. 

But I want to thank Becca Morgan, my instructor at WeAreAmplify, and my Trailblazer Mentors – Tony Nguyen and Michelle Hansen. 

Coming back to the workforce after several years and significantly pivoting to IT, I felt a bit lost. They were basically the equivalent of having a GPS. I am completely appreciative of the guidance and the real-world advice they offered me.