Introduction

Salesforce Technical Architects serve as executive-level strategic advisors who focus on business transformation with unrivaled domain expertise in functional, platform, and integration architecture. They communicate technical solutions and design tradeoffs effectively to business stakeholders and provide a delivery framework that ensures quality and success.

Bhaskar Vashishtha is one of them. Bhaskar is a formidable analyst with a zeal to achieve a key leadership position wherever he works. He holds a comprehensive technical and management skill set with 14+ years of expertise in providing CRM (Salesforce) consulting and architecting solutions for more than 30 clients. He has contributed to several projects at various levels and in a range of roles.

It was 2018, and Bhaskar was working at Accenture New Zealand. There he got a chance to work with a famous CTA, his name is Steven Herod. While reporting to him, Steven always asked Bhaskar to ‘think like an architect while looking for a solution’. This statement pushed him to start the CTA journey.

Further Insights into the session:

1. How can a person get started? (23:10)

Bhaskar says that it is important for one to get themselves on that journey. It is important to how much time would one take for completing the CTA journey. He says that a CTA aspirant should first make an Excel or a list of things that are needed to be done. They have to revise every single component. It is necessary to know the personal gaps that they have and overcome them one by one.

2. What certifications are required to get CTA certified?(6:40)

There are certifications for Application Architects and System Architect. All of these certifications are needed to be done to apply for CTA. 

3. What are the required skills?

Bhaskar highlights that a person does not require coding skills to become a CTA. But they have to be aware of the code for the solutions. It is necessary to understand the code and build a solution. The most important thing is to be aware of the things you're presenting. It is also important to have expertise in the Platform rather than being a Domain Expert.

4. What is the timetable that can be followed?(13:00)

Bhaskar says that 2 hours of self-study every day is very important. Along with that, an hour of a study session with the study groups that can be formed through Slack communities has to be taken. The time of these study sessions has to be increased day by day. It is also important to take of mental and physical fitness. Without that, it would be hard to study necessarily. It is important to follow a healthy lifestyle throughout the CTA Journey.

Bhaskar says that 2 hours of self-study every day is very important. Along with that, an hour of a study session with the study groups that can be formed through Slack communities has to be taken. The time of these study sessions has to be increased day by day. It is also important to take of mental and physical fitness. Without that, it would be hard to study necessarily. It is important to follow a healthy lifestyle throughout the CTA Journey.

5. What are the study tools that can be used?(55:47)

Bhaskar informs that anyone can get the content for studying through the Partner Community if the company is a Salesforce Consulting Partner. From there they can enter the Partner Learning camp and then they will get the content. A person can also get the content throughTrailhead. 

6. How to handle the CTA Board Review?(41:01)

Some of the tips that Bhaskar gave were that it is important to feel confident. There will be 45 minutes where you will only be the one talking followed by Q&A. Time Management is the key while presenting. One should not repeat their problem solutions. One needs to be able to correlate, connect the dots and present it fluently while thinking about the E2E solution. All that time it is important that one is not demoralised.

Conclusion

When Bhaskar was asked about how can a person stay motivated throughout the journey, he replies, one should join communities and attend cohorts. The prerequisite certificates themselves become a motivation along. One has to always keep communicating with other CTA aspirants to keep each other motivation

At last, when he was inquired about the changes that have happened in his life after becoming a CTA, he says that in his personal life, now he has more time to spend with his kin, and in his professional life, there is more value and respect to the work that he presents.

Summary

The following mindmap is the summary of the whole session. If a detailed session is required, please refer to the link given below: