HomeAuthor InterviewsInterview with Tameem Bahri

Interview with Tameem Bahri

Tameem Bahri is the author of Becoming a Salesforce Certified Technical Architect, we got the chance to sit down with him and find out more about his experience of writing with Packt.

Q: What is/are your specialist tech area(s)?

Tameem: Salesforce, CRM, Software Architecture, Integration

Q: How did you become an author for Packt? Tell us about your journey. What was your motivation for writing this book?

Tameem: During the past few years, I have had the pleasure of coaching several brilliant Salesforce Architects to become Salesforce Certified Technical Architects (CTA). I noticed a common challenge that the CTA candidates were facing (including myself when I was a CTA candidate); this certificate is like no other in the Salesforce world. You don’t realize the depth and breadth of the required knowledge until you actually experience it. Luckily, I had fantastic mentors who helped me prepare for the review board, but I know very well that this is a luxury that most of the time is not available for everyone. Some brilliant architects have great potentials but are simply not supported by CTA mentors. I have created this book to become the personal mentor for all the candidates eager to become CTAs.

Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?

Tameem: I have been planning for this book for at least six months before been approached by Packt. When that happened, it was an additional motivation for me to start writing. I had support from the fantastic Packt team throughout the journey.

Q: Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?

Tameem: It was a great experience overall. Of course, there were some challenges with the tight timeline. Commitment and good time management are essential to avoid being drowned underneath piled-up work.

Q: What’s your take on the technologies discussed in the book? Where do you see these technologies heading in the future?

Tameem: Salesforce is one of the fastest-growing technologies in the market. This is expected to continue and increase in the coming ten years at least. SAAS and Cloud computing are also expected to continue growing in the coming years.

Q. Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?

Tameem: I certainly can’t speak about all books on the market. However, what I believe is unique about this book is the fact that it uses an example-led approach to deliver practical knowledge and experience. During the past few years, I noticed that most CTA candidates struggled with specific knowledge gaps. This is why the book starts by focusing on these generic knowledge domains before moving on to Salesforce-specific knowledge.
Besides, CTA candidates generally lack the practical experience of creating and presenting scalable end-to-end solutions to the review board judges. This book will walk the reader through this experience. The reader will learn how to make the most out of the limited presentation and Q&A stages to further explain and justify a proposed solution.
This book is the only one I am aware of, written by a CTA and reviewed by another.

Q. What are the key takeaways you want readers to come away from the book with?

Tameem: The main takeaway is to help Salesforce Architect understand the extent of an end-to-end solution by observing real-world examples. Another key takeaway is understanding the value of documenting a solution efficiently. The readers will learn that they can document a significant part of the end-to-end solution using a limited number of well-written artifacts.
The reader will practice creating and documenting solutions the way a CTA does, using seven mini-scenarios and two full scenarios. This will help the reader in passing the CTA review board and acquiring the prestigious CTA certificate. Furthermore, it will help the reader explore how to design high-quality solutions that deliver impactful and lasting change to the enterprise using the Salesforce platform.

Q. What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?

Tameem: Practice and practice more. You will gain a lot of knowledge by reading a good book or watching a nice video tutorial, but the best way to ensure this knowledge sticks with you forever is to practice what you have learned.

Q. Do you have a blog that readers can follow?

Tameem: Not yet. I usually publish my thoughts and articles on LinkedIn.

Q. Can you share any blogs, websites and forums to help readers gain a holistic view of the tech they are learning?

Tameem: Sure, here are some good blogs that I recommend
https://www.salesforceben.com/
http://bobbuzzard.blogspot.com/
http://gemmablezard.com/
https://unofficialsf.com/

Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?

Tameem: I felt supported at every stage. This is my first book, and I was a bit hesitant to start. The support and backup I received from Packt were essential to complete this book. I would undoubtedly recommend Packt to other authors.

Q. Do you belong to any tech community groups?

Tameem: I am a member of several groups such as:
Salesforce.com Technical Architect
Salesforce.com UK & Europe
Salesforce.com Champions
Chief Technology Consultants
Software Architects and Enterprise Architects
Salesforce Power Users

Q. What are your favorite tech journals? How do you keep yourself up to date on tech?

Tameem: I am subscribed to several newsletters and blogs. In addition, I follow the outcome of several research institutes such as Capgemini research institute and McKinsey Insights. On the Salesforce side, Trailhead and Salesforce Partner Learning Camp are the best tools to keep up to date with Salesforce technology.

Q. How did you organize, plan, and prioritize your work and write the book?

Tameem: I organized my time to ensure I spend 2-3 hours daily writing the book. From time to time, I planned some days off to refresh and get recharged. Not more than two days as I wanted to ensure I still maintain momentum.

Q. What is that one writing tip that you found most crucial and would like to share with aspiring authors?

Tameem: Time management is essential to maintain a work-life balance and avoid feeling under pressure.

You can find Tameem’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here

Becoming a Salesforce Certified Technical Architect – Available on Amazon.com