People Behind the Certs – Sara Hernandez – saasguru

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.

SH: I’m a Systems Engineer.

Basically, I am a results-driven, technical and strategic professional with 10+ years of leading IT projects in the banking and insurance industries, specifically integration, systems, data migration, software development and infrastructure, and most recently, Salesforce CRM (Lightning).

During the past years, I’ve been managing strategic programs and projects while becoming the lead Salesforce Admin for the LATAM Southern Cone region. I’ve expanded my skills by achieving Ranger status in Trailhead and leading the Salesforce Admin community for Santiago, Chile. In less than a year, I’ve hosted 38 virtual community events, created an open space for sharing knowledge across the different clouds, created Salesforce Saturdays, a space where people can connect, study, and complete Trailhead together, and was selected as a Salesforce Mentorship Program mentor.

I’m an active member, mentee, and mentor of Venezolanas in Tech, a non-profit community with the mission to inspire and empower women to pursue a career in technology where I also had the opportunity to teach about Salesforce and the opportunities these skills can offer. 

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?

SH: As a Systems Engineer, I have worked with different technologies, but one day my former boss offered me to work on a Salesforce project. It was not possible for various reasons, but I followed my instinct and continued investigating Salesforce. 

I started researching and contacting several experts to guide me until I began to gain knowledge, but I needed to acquire experience. 

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One day my boss called me and told me, ”Sara, I need you to help me with Salesforce, and it’s urgent”. That was actually the tipping point where I started my association with Salesforce. My first day was to do a step to the production of an important development for the company, and since that day on, I have continued to work with Salesforce.

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?

SH: Certificates always helped me validate my knowledge, and I was passionate about it. But my challenges in getting certified and acquiring a job in the Salesforce field have always been the language part and coordinating my personal time to study. 

My top tips to the aspirants who are getting ready to enter the Salesforce universe are: 

• Select a target date 
• Organize the topics and content 
• Study on a daily basis
• Practice and more practice 
• Have patience and perseverance, although the exam can be stressful.

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

SH: Research, learn, and validate my knowledge.

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?

SH: I am highly thankful to Ms.Noemi Hernandez for guiding and motivating me daily to continue growing professionally.