Behind the Certs – Mitali Telang

SG – Let’s get started. Why don’t we begin at the beginning? Please tell us about your education/ career before coming into the Salesforce ecosystem.
MT: I completed my Bachelors in Computer Applications from Dr. B.M.N. College of Home Science, S.N.D.T. University in Mumbai. After that, I continued my education with a Masters in Computer Application from V.J.T.I. university. During the course, I realised I had a knack for coding and problem-solving. Moreover, I liked the idea of solving new challenges every day.

SG – That’s awesome. We’d love to know the tipping point, that moment when you said ‘I want to make this change’ and what was the trigger?

MT: I was a campus recruit with Deloitte U.S.I. Deloitte trained me as a Siebel E.A.I., where my primary focus was integrating Siebel CRM with different systems. My transition to Salesforce happened when the opportunities for Siebel were thinning in the market. Deloitte was very keen to build up the capability for an emerging technology of Salesforce. So I was given a choice to transition to Salesforce. I made the choice and have been on the Salesforce journey ever since.

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

1. why you value certs
2. challenges associated with the process and,
3. your top tips for being successful in cert exams?

Certification is a way to validate knowledge in a particular area. Though it does not replace practical experience’s value, it does give a certain amount of reliance on a person’s capabilities.

Studying for any certification is a time demanding process. It isn’t easy to manage work and studies. Though there is a lot of documentation available from Salesforce about certifications, parts of it are still unclear. A lot of research is needed from various sources to prepare for the certification holistically. 

My top tips would be: 

1. Do not use dumps – dumps would only help pass the exam. They will not help in gaining any knowledge or learning that helps in day to day jobs. 
2. Do not get into number games – do not get intimidated by the number of certifications people might have. Everyone has a different learning journey, and it is never ending.
3. Organise the content in a structured way that will assist revision. Make your salesforce trivia cards.
4. Try to gather as much practical experience as possible. Practise with Trailheads and blaze your trail.

SG – What do you enjoy most about your work as a certified Salesforce professional?
It has been over a decade in the industry, but my drive to solve challenges has only grown. My passion is to unravel complex systems, design new solutions as per the requirements, and overcome boundaries set by Salesforce while designing the solution and technical architecture. As we know, no two projects are the same, which makes my job challenging and exciting.
The most gratifying moments for me are when I see the impact of the systems we have implemented. The work we do enables us to transform a lot of lives and businesses positively. Moreover, it makes someone else’s job a pleasure for them by helping them save time on clerical/admin jobs and focus more on customer service and needs.

SG – Time for gratitude!! Finally, is there anyone (individual or company) 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?

There are a lot of people who have helped me shape my career.

My Parents have been the pillar of support since the very beginning. They have always supported my dreams and aspirations and continue doing so.

My companion: Nisar Sultan Khan, supports my ambitions and encourages me to be a better professional and a better person every day of my life.

Superb Teachers: A big thank you to Khan sir, Kavita ma’am, Neetu ma’am, and all the faculty from Dr. B.M.N. College for Home Science (B.C.A. department) for their incredible support and neverending confidence in students like me. It is due to their vision and efforts that I am what I am today…

My Charlie’s Angels: Mayura, Sayli, Neha Pawar, Radhika Thanki, Manjeet- This gang helped me realise who I am and what I could become. Not only are they my childhood friends, but my lifelong coaches who are just one call away!

The Visionaries: Manish Motwani, Nataraj Tammana, Charu Desai – They always led by example and set very high leadership standards. They both had the vision to achieve excellence in their field and pass on the love and mentoring to juniors. Due to their training, I can seamlessly toggle between various projects without dropping the quality standards and deliver excellence for the client.

The Salesforce Shaolin Masters: Palak, Pragati, Varun, Sagar, Anshul Kumar, Kamal Mehta, Rancy – for being great coaches and mentors of Salesforce. They are the Gurus who rule the Salesforce world and trained me to be a warrior worthy of being their apprenticeship. Their unwavering focus and impeccable training methods ensured that I got accredited with a black belt in the Salesforce ecosystem.

My 3 am friends: Rachita, Areeb, Swapnil, Vipul, Mayank, Rinchin, Manjiri, Rani, Payal, Sharath, Shruti Mehta, Sandesh, Ankit Shukla – An aphorism that ‘True Friends are only discovered in school days…’ was turned on its head by this gang. They are my most trustworthy colleagues who metamorphosed into lifelong friends. They were always there beside me when I need a shoulder to cry on or a punching bag to vent out.

My lovely Coachees: Akriti, Rashi, Aditya, Nam, Kratika, Mousumee, Arpan – I was blessed to get coachees like you who could consume knowledge at the speed of light. You gave birth to the teacher/coach within me and helped me become a humble and grounded human being.

My Pillar of Support: Tanvi Bhatia – She has played many roles in my life, from a schoolmate to a pillar of support in a new country. It’s due to her aid and cooperation that I could settle swiftly in Sydney. Tanvi is like a wise tree that bears fruits of knowledge and protects me from the sun and rain.

First Colleague in Australia: Akshata Shenoy – She was my first work colleague in Australia. Her dazzling attitude towards work and mesmerising smile made me fall in love with my first Aussie Job. We both will soon be at a soccer mom’s club, sipping away our coffees, discussing the future of our girls!

Deloitte Australia Leadership: David Tan, Chris Mail, Ramez, Kedar Mudhalwadkar, Mo Salem, Mary Lusito, Priscilla Short, Nicole Aebi-Moyo, Michael, Elizabeth Terrell – You have been the leaders, mentors and coaches that framed me into an efficient problem solver. I learnt life hacks and tricks from you that helped me survive and prosper in the consulting world.

The A-Team: Alex Humby, Sean Jolly, Christina Joya, Jannefer, Evelyn, Kaifi, Chris Hunter, Ou Wen, Gary, Simon, Kanika, Johann, Megha Rawat, Warren – This is the team where everyone is either a Superman, a Wonder woman or a Dark Knight. They helped me become one of them and truly pushed my confidence in the upward direction with an incredible Velocity.

Home away from Home: Sumit, Niren, Nikhil, Smita – Being a first-generation migrant is not easy, especially if your parents and friends are thousands of miles away. Thank you for being my family away from home, extending the love and warmth of the much-needed relationships that keep the work-life balance and help me succeed in all spheres of life.

The saas of SaasFocus: Atif Saad, Amit Choudhary, Shikha Mahajan, Arun Nair, Karan, Digamber, Kapil, Nutan, Ryan, Chris B, Garima, Sandeep – The sassy contemporaries and living legends who know how to deliver those challenging projects with a smile on their face. Your support and cooperation helped me become a better Architect and an able delivery master.

The Classy Architects – Nadeem, Anupam, Nikhil, Varun – The Architect study group who help me learn at a breakneck pace. Every minute I spend with you guys is gold, which makes studying so enjoyable and worthwhile. I cannot thank you enough for your collaborations and knowledge sharing, which paves the way for premium learning.

The Capgemini Rockstars: Ramez Morris, Rajath, Prem Sharma, Sahil Sachar, Pritam, Simon B, Hargobind Singh, Kayleen –
You have always led with reverence. I’m exultant to have acquired this spirit from each one of you. Thank you so much for being so supportive. Your confidence in me is my most significant motivator.

So many more have helped me shape my career, and I feel grateful to have met them. I have learnt from every conversation and acquaintance I have had in my life. I am thankful to everyone who has spared a moment for me.