{"id":50758,"date":"2019-11-06T18:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T18:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=50758"},"modified":"2022-11-01T20:49:44","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T03:49:44","slug":"from-instructor-to-consultant-alek-gokierts-salesforce-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/blog\/from-instructor-to-consultant-alek-gokierts-salesforce-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"From Instructor To Consultant: Alek Gokiert\u2019s Salesforce Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I thought I knew CRM \u2013 then I was introduced to Salesforce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TrainTheCrowd Founder Alice Becker introduced me to Salesforce more than 10 years ago when she brought me on as a trainer. It was the beginning of an exciting journey for me \u2013 I was an instructor within a couple of months and, next thing I knew, running around the country training groups of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The principles weren\u2019t new to me. I\u2019d been in tech for a while and understood CRMs and databases. There was a whole new jargon to learn but I thought I understood what the platform could do \u2013 take contact details, manage contacts etc. But even back then, the automation and out of the box functionality was really quite amazing. It was capable of much more than I\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be an instructor, I had to get a certification and, when I eventually left TrainTheCrowd, certifications helped me understand the depths of the product and gave me much more clout. Now I have nine certifications under my belt. My stretch goal last year was to get my Certified Application Architect<\/a> \u2013 I scraped in with an exam on New Year\u2019s Eve!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll probably battle the beast that is the Certified Technical Architect sometime in the next four years, but in the meantime my consultancy work is really about understanding what the platform can do and being able to discuss those capabilities to find solutions. While I\u2019m not doing the development itself, I have a comprehensive knowledge of where I can take the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How tech can help people, not just what tech can do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most rewarding aspect of working with the Salesforce platform is seeing how it can help people \u2013 in their businesses and how that then flows on into their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love seeing people get real value out of a platform \u2013 how it\u2019s saving them time or solving a problem \u2013 and knowing they can spend that time doing something they love, or even just having a time out and a coffee. Anyone can teach you how to log in to a system. The reward comes when you can make that system really work for them. The potential for automation and artificial intelligence<\/a> to further increase those capabilities is really exciting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my most satisfying projects was helping a whole division within retirement living at Leadlease adopt Salesforce. It\u2019s not enough to just turn up and say \u201chere\u2019s your Salesforce system, do this, see you later\u201d. With this project I got into a real rhythm with the user group, constantly listening to them and implementing a two-week release cycle. And that had been unheard of at Lendlease which is a big, slow-moving machine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I was embedded in the same team as the users, they were being heard and the changes they needed could happen quickly. Sales people would ring me up and say \u201cHey, I\u2019d love to see this, could we try it?\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This wasn\u2019t management \u2013 this was people on the ground realising the potential of the platform to make them more efficient and effective. We\u2019d crowdsource ideas from user groups and explore how far we could stretch the program to meet those challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s always been my focus as an instructor: not just to tell people what a platform can do, but to engage with them on finding all the possibilities and potential of a platform to help them. We’re not just a bus driver getting people from A to B. We’re a tour guide, leading them through that landscape and getting them to their perfect goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power of community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Salesforce community is a really powerful resource and one that I love being part of \u2014 both giving and receiving help and advice. Trailhead is fantastic and even better when combined with a mentor who can offer real-world context. I\u2019m always happy to put my hand up if people want assistance bedding down that theoretical learning with practical examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an instructor, I relied a lot on the Trailblazer Community<\/a>. Steve Molis in particular was a really important mentor for me – always willing to answer questions and share insights. I really respect and admire the way he dedicates his time to sharing knowledge with whomever needs it. I learned a lot from him about how to learn and how to teach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate community event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The community aspect of Dreamforce<\/a> has also really developed over the years \u2013 for me the event is about getting people together to talk, collaborate and build relationships. The conversations I\u2019ve had at Dreamforce have really benefited my career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My favourite sessions are the product roadmaps. The product owner is standing right in front of you, you can ask them direct questions, and they are always happy to engage. There is an attitude of \u201cOk, here is the customer so how can we connect best, how can we solve their problems with our product?\u201d. That one-on-one interaction is pretty unique in my experience of tech conferences and I value it enormously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s great for me to be able to take back to my clients. Instead of saying something vague about a great new product that might be coming out soon, I can give them specific information about what they can expect and I can be in touch with the product owner about the client\u2019s feedback and needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Networking is great, but if you can\u2019t bring something back to the table for your clients, then it\u2019s not worth much to them. As a trusted adviser, that\u2019s a very important part of my role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Dreamforce I can also share knowledge with internal staff who don\u2019t go. I can play back useful sessions or go to presentations that I know are going to be valuable to other teams. And I\u2019m always discovering new products or new approaches. For example, I\u2019ve attended some of the Women In Tech sessions which give me a whole new perspective on developing a career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always have sore feet at the end of Dreamforce and just pass out on the plane home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fave five<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Trail:<\/b> Einstein Analytics Trailmix<\/a> \u2014 I love data and Einstein really brings it alive.<\/li>
  2. Event:<\/b> My first Dreamforce was new and overwhelming and amazing.<\/li>
  3. Advice:<\/b> My dad always said \u201cDo a job once and do it right.\u201d He\u2019d tell me to always go in with your best foot forward and give it all you\u2019ve got. <\/li>
  4. Job:<\/b> If I could do a job that involved skiing every day, that would be cool! But otherwise I\u2019m doing my dream job now.<\/li>
  5. Trailblazing hero:<\/b> Joany Badenhorst, the top female para-snowboarder in Australia. She had incredible bad luck in chasing Paralympic medals, crashing on practice runs just ahead of her races in both 2014 and 2018. But her passion for life inspires others to overcome adversity. Her drive and focus on achieving her goals bring a perspective that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    See #AwesomeAdmins and Trailblazers live from Dreamforce on Salesforce LIVE<\/a> and follow along on social<\/a> as we bring you all the ANZ highlights live from San Francisco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Want to blaze your own trail? Check out Trailhead \u2013 the fun way to learn Salesforce<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n